THURSDAY – KEEP LEARNING
Keep learning for mental wellbeing
Learning at home is just as important as it is in school. Home learning is a different environment to school but can still give you the opportunity to discover a variety of new skills.
This week, reflect on the wonderful meals we have on offer in our school and bake your own cornflake tart. The recipe is easy to follow and the end product is very tasty. You will find the link here: Cornflake Tart Recipe.
Alternatively, take yourself back in time with the Enigma machine. This was a device used by the German military command to encode strategic messages before and during World War II.
Learning at home is just as important as it is in school. Home learning is a different environment to school but can still give you the opportunity to discover a variety of new skills.
Today we can test our levels of concentration by completing the ‘memory train’ game. You can play with household members or family/friends that you are allowed to see from a safe distance.
- Start with a player saying, “I am going shopping. I pick up a…..”
- The next player repeats the phrase and adds another item. The third and fourth players do the same.
- The game continues with each player mentioning all the previous items and then adding another item each time. Players drop out of the game if they make a mistake. The player able to repeat the phrase for the longest time wins.
You can play as many times as you like and you can use any phrase to begin with, for example “I am going on holiday. I am packing my….” or “I am going on a picnic. I am taking ….”
This week get the whole family involved in learning how to make a rainbow pizza! This is a fun opportunity to spend time with your loved ones as well as contributing towards your ‘5 a day’. To make things a little easier you can purchase ready-made pizza bases to simply add your toppings to. You will find the link to the recipe here: Rainbow Pizza Recipe.
Alternatively, visit the BBC web page On this day in History to expand your knowledge of historical events. You can choose to search any date from the past, and if you find the event interesting there are options to research it further.
We have previously talked about the group ‘Sing along with us’ who used ‘Makaton’ in their performance on Britain’s Got Talent.
Makaton is designed to help hearing people with learning or communication difficulties. It uses signs and symbols, with speech, in spoken word order.
Watch Jade and Christian perform once again using Makaton in a High School Musical medley.
Alternatively, if you’re interested in learning Makaton yourself, have a look at this website.
Art can be a great way to express our feelings and allows us to be relaxed and mindful when we need some quiet time. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or not, you may like to try some guided drawing. Disney fans will love Simba from the Lion King and Elsa from Frozen.
Several children’s illustrators are sharing their secrets. Find out how to draw characters by Rob Biddulph here and Ed Vere here.
As the weather improves you may find that you are using your garden more. Did you know that an average garden accommodates more than 2,000 different species of insect? Very few of these insects cause significant damage to plants and many more can help to control the ones that do. By providing the right habitat, you can greatly increase the number of beneficial insects in your garden. One way to encourage and increase comfort for insects is to build a ‘bug hotel’. Instructions and resources needed are here. Please note: You will need permission and supervision from a responsible adult.
If you find insects too creepy crawly, you could always try a spot of bird watching. 10 tips for novice bird watchers offers advice and information to get you started.
This week your ‘star baker’ challenge is a cereal marshmallow treat. This recipe is straight forward and you won’t need many ingredients: https://www.spoonforkbacon.com/marshmallow-cereal-treats/
If you have been enjoying baking, you may wish to start keeping a record of everything you have baked during lockdown. Maybe you could place recipes and photos of your finished products in a book to create your own cookbook!
Alternatively, you may wish to create a paper paddle craft such as a kayak or canoe. Following instructions is an important part of being successful in all aspects of life. The tasks on this pdf will allow you to build upon developing these skills. Enjoy!
Since lockdown we have witnessed many rainbow pictures displayed in windows across the country. Rainbow pictures started in Italy, with the slogan ‘andra tutto benne’ meaning ‘everything will be alright’ and has since been adopted in countries across the world. The aim of the rainbow is to make people smile when they walk by but it also offers a message of hope.
Do you struggle to remember the colours of a rainbow? Watch Roy G Biv for an unforgettable way of remembering the colour spectrum of a rainbow.
Alternatively, if you want to try creating your own light effect rainbow at home using a CD then follow the link create a rainbow. Good luck!
Recently on the talent show Britain’s Got Talent, a group named ‘Sing along with us’ gained the golden buzzer. The group used Makaton, more commonly known as sign language during their performance and wowed the judges. You can view their performance by following the link BGT Sing along with us.
To have a go at learning Makaton yourself follow the link Makaton singing hands – This is me to sing along to the sounds of the Greatest Showman. Alternatively, for those who are enjoying baking in lockdown, follow the link good food biscuit recipe to make vanilla and raisin biscuits. Please note: Ensure there is a responsible adult to supervise.
You may remember that 8th May marks the 75th anniversary of V.E Day; the day Germany surrendered in WW2. If possible, spend some time learning to bake with a member of your household then you can decorate. NOTE: Please ensure a responsible adult is available to supervise.
Alternatively, music is becoming increasingly important during the current crisis. Music allows us to voice our feelings through lyrics and many different genres (e.g. rap/classical/pop). The following link, using your voice, contains videos and activities to help you understand and develop your vocal skills. There’s even a quiz for you to try!
I’m sure Netflix has had a fair share of viewings during this time of lockdown but have you ever wondered how films are actually made?
Calling all Spielbergs – If you’re into film, this VISUAL STORYTELLING activity is a great way to get your movie career started whilst learning new skills. The use of film has been extremely successful in engaging young people with literacy and can create more independence with learning. Use the activity sheet to learn how directors bring ideas to life with actions rather than words. Test your drama skills, use your imagination and remember the rule ‘show, don’t tell’. Grab your clipboard and 3, 2, 1 – ACTION!
Visual storytelling is a technique used by filmmakers to tell their stories using action rather than dialogue (words or speech). Instead of characters explaining how they are feeling or what they are thinking (which might be quite dull for the audience), it is easier to give the audience information through the character’s actions and movements.
This rule can be remembered as Show, Don’t Tell!
Example 1
Instead of having your character shout, “I am so ANGRY!” you could show them slamming a door, frowning and kicking a chair. There would be no doubt that this person was angry and the audience would understand this straight away.
Visual storytelling can also be used effectively to show what a character is thinking. A character might not speak their thoughts aloud, but their actions and movements can help the audience to understand thoughts and ideas.
Example 2
Instead of having your character saying, “I’m going to steal the robot’s gun and escape!” you could show her looking from the robot to the gun and then to the door of the spaceship.