Blog : Learning

Every school is full of coachable people who are also great coaches. In busy schools human resources are often over looked, yet they are the most valuable asset available to inspire, develop and support learning.

This short film summarises a recent project where a primary school have  initiated a coaching strategy that makes the most of their assets. Year 6 learners have become learning ambassadors coaching Year 5 ‘clients’, Year 5 are leading Maths lessons in early years and staff are ‘buddying up’ to develop great teaching practice.

The ‘Sensational Human Body’ project inspired accelerated learning in literacy with amazing results. In this short clip two learners reflect on their experience in their own words.

Two  year 6 classes went through a thematic immersive  learning process based on the five senses. A series of five one day sensory learning encounters inspired excellent classroom based teaching and learning throughout the half term period. The project  had a positive impact on literacy standards sending assessed levels on an upward curve and enriching the whole curriculum.

For Sight  we had a Jackson Pollack workshop exploring the relationship between the way we see colour and texture. Touch / smell, aromatherapy and reflexology, Taste, a food based tasting game show and a smoothie making workshop and for Hearing, the children made radio broadcasts that helped them reflect on their learning and create persuasive adverts to inspire their peers about learning through sensory experiences. Children used digital tools to create papercraft animation, shadow puppetry, radio broadcasts, short films and green screen presentations to demonstrate and share their learning and understanding. This integrated approach uses digital creativity with great results and helps makes the whole process enjoyable and gives the learners the opportunity to actively lead their learning.

The children also organised a sharing event for parents and families where they prepared a senses workshop and shared their various films and podcasts.

Reception children become heroic learners by saving a stranded Teddy Bear and doing amazing phonics! Ted Bear hit’s a rock, the boat sinks and he is stranded on the pond, can the reception children save him?

Over two days the adventures of Ted, the classroom bear inspired creative learning with great results in phonics and design /construction and everything else!. The children were planning a teddy bears picnic when Ted went missing!

Using simple a green screen film the children were set a challenge by Ted, could they rescue him in time for the teddy bears picnic? Part 1 of the film was a great stimulus with children exploring solutions and deciding to make boats, rafts, canoes etc and discovering lots of new simple words in the process.

The design challenge involved testing their craft in the water play area and lots of science about floating, sinking etc. Part 2 of the film concluded the session with a great resolution, worth watching for inspiration and of course the epic drama!

Follow Chef Tara as she makes her very simple, delicious and healthy ‘Berry Cherry’ smoothie.

Introducing a brand new game show that will certainly tickle the taste buds!

Some children disregard food groups because they have a preconceived idea of taste . Taste or Twerp? encourages children to sample foods whilst blindfolded!

This whole class session is an imaginative way  to explore touch, smell and – of course – taste! Children are completely engaged and inspired to read, write and speak and listen about their experience.

Taste or Twerp? is a fun and educational way for children to broaden their horizons on healthy and tasty foods. This workshop is part of a series of creative learning encounters that explore the human body as stimulus for literacy and independent thinking skills.

Contact us for further information about dynamic curriculum enrichment, development and staff coaching.

Don Pablo delivers a special message about outdoor learning and shares an offer you just cant’ refuse!

As part of a current design and build project in a primary school, we are close to completing a new eco learning centre for children, teachers and families.

The new building will be an excellent base for outdoor learning and forest school activities. The whole curriculum will be enriched with Maths being delivered through Fibonacci principles and science lessons on the roof!

This project is part of an ongoing scheme of work called ‘Nature Knows Best’ which is an excellent example of making the most of the wonderful learning opportunities afforded us by Mother Nature.

Year 4 pupils from Greenacres Primary School in Tamworth staged a unique and innovative celebration event in true Viking style by setting fire to a longboat created in their History lesson!

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” William Butler Yeats

With a local radio station due to visit Springhead Primary School in Talke, the children tuned up on their audio broadcasting skills and made some inventive adverts to promote their school.

Children and teachers have developed a range of uses for the audio software audacity across the whole curriculum. They are now developing their technical abilities with the software and through their natural enthusiasm for audio broadcasting, raising standards in literacy.

Children share their thoughts about audio broadcasting and how making podcasts help them learn.

Audacity is such a simple tool and kids can quickly lead their learning improving and developing the speaking, listening and writing skills.