Secondary School Science Spectacular!
Years 4, 5 and 6 carried on from a superlative Science Week with a superb visit to the British West Indies Collegiate School. Year 3 had been visited by two of their pupils during Science Week.
Head of Science, Mrs Nicola Haynes, welcomed the children and introduced them to Science at KS3 and 4. The children had the opportunity to see what the fantastic laboratories at the school are like and carried out their own scientific investigation.
Using Bunsen burners for the very first time and a range of chemicals, the children learned the different coloured flames metals produce when burned. They also learned lots about the etiquette of working in a laboratory and even got to quiz a few A-level pupils on what it’s like to learn science at such a high level.
It was a spectacular scientific afternoon and Mrs Haynes was a wonderful science teacher! Thank you for allowing us to visit.
Years 2 – 6’s Science Fair – March 2013
This term and throughout Science Week, children in all classes from Year 2 – 6 have been busy observing, experimenting and reflecting on all kinds of scientific knowledge. Now, through our Science Fair, it was the turn of our young scientists to share their discoveries with their fellow students, parents and visitors!
In science, in addition to discovering a great deal of new information about a topic, children are encouraged to develop their science enquiry skills (the scientific method). These skills underpin the essential processes required for carrying out investigations, drawing conclusions and forming scientific understanding. The children were encouraged to communicate these skills through their Science Fair activities.
We hope that through watching this short movie, you will see how practical investigation and developing an understanding of scientific enquiry skills is a huge part of our science programme here at Provo Primary School.
If you fancy singing along to the background music as you watch, and learning more about elements of the scientific method, you can print out the lyrics here. It’s such a catchy tune!
KS2 Science Week Library Challenge
As part of World Book day, Year 5/6 took on the challenge of working in teams to complete a specially designed non-fiction quiz. The quiz was organised to ensure the children had to think carefully about how a library references its books. They also had to focus on key words in each question to work out where they would find the answer. The children worked together superbly and used their solid understanding of how to approach a non-fiction book (using contents, glossary and index) to identify the page/s needed. It was a really close competition with teams finishing just seconds after each other!
BIG Writing means Business!
‘Big Writing’ is something Provo Primary have been focusing on for quite a while in Year 5 and 6. Children will tell you ‘VCOP’ (Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers, Punctuation) is a HUGE part of good writing! We have also been fortunate to have our amazing PTA help us move even further towards higher quality writing sessions by raising money to buy the fantastic interactive whiteboard software which supports this.
KS2 Gym Showcase – Balance Bonanza!
The parents in Key Stage Two were in for a fantastic treat this Thursday, the 14th of February. Children from Years 4, 5 and 6 took part in a gymnastics presentation that was truly breath-taking!
The children had spent the last eight weeks working hard to create and perfect an individual gymnastic routine based on balance. They had to include at least ten balances, at different levels, including simple, complex and yoga style moves. Their focus was primarily on how they could use their body to hold, balance and most importantly control their movements in these positions.
It was a big step-up from last year’s routines as the children all had to perform their routines individually this year. Moreover they had to include at least two challenges. These could be anything from forward rolls, high dives, cartwheels, handstands, headstands to backward and forward walkovers. The children had to select the challenges they felt most able to carry out independently in a routine.
On the day the children were absolutely amazing. They performed their routines showing off a huge range of skills and ability levels. They all performed to music and did so with grace, poise and a superb effort to control and really hold those balances!
KS2 Gym and Handball PE Showcase
Thursday 14th Feb, 9:15 – 10:15am @ Graceway Sports Centre
All children in Key Stage 2 will be participating in our Spring Term PE Showcase next week.
Gymnastics showcase: This term, our gymnastics unit has focussed on balance and all presentations will exhibit an array of skills linked to this theme. Children in Years 4, 5 & 6 will be presenting their routine individually this year!
Handball showcase mini-tournament: We are pleased to introduce this new sport to our PE curriculum this year. Children in Years 3 & 4 have been refining the skills required to play handball, from positioning and passing to travelling with the ball and shooting. Children have been divided into 4 teams for the mini-tournament. Each team will participate in 3 games, following a round-robin league format.
The showcase will also be an opportunity to learn more about our second new sport that has been introduced to our PE curriculum this year – squash.
We look forward to seeing as many parents and supporters at the event as possible!
NASA – Here we Come!
We are learning all about Space in Year 5/6 and we decided to take on a bit of a challenge! The children were set the task of designing a lunar satellite model to understand how NASA actually collect data on exploratory missions, using these satellites.
The models had to be designed to very specific requirements to ensure they would be able to launch and also withstand crashes. They had to weigh no more than 100 grams in total with 10 grams of sensors, probes and cameras included. The children worked superbly well in their teams ‘Shooting Stars’, ‘Starstruck’ and ‘Star Wars Is Jealous!’
They spent time considering the best choices of material in terms of strength and weight and debated for a long time on how to best secure their satellite so that in a one metre drop test it would survive! They also exchanged information amongst teams to confirm everyone was following the same rules, keeping the investigation a fair test. We created some fabulous models!
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
Year 5/6 got super festive in the last week of term and cooked up a storm… a snowstorm!
The children spent a careful two days creating their melting snowmen masterpieces. They started by making cookie dough which then had to be refrigerated overnight. Once chilled the children set about moulding their snow puddles and cutting some festive cookie shapes. Finally they were able to ice them and add the melting marshmallows before adding an array of chocolate chips and other decorations to create a crowd of Melting Snowmen.
I’m sure that you won’t be surprised to hear that they didn’t stay melting for long!
Year 5/6 Presentations that Pack a Powerful Punch!
Year 5/6 have been working hard since September learning all about the impact Martin Luther King had on how we live our lives today. We have studied his life and the sacrifices he made and how he carried this all out peacefully.
As we have been studying how people in the past affect the way our lives are shaped today, we decided to take on a challenge. The children were given the task of choosing someone in the past who they felt had made an important difference. They then had to use their imagination to present in a vivid and persuasive way their findings on their chosen person to the rest of the class.
Kindergarten and Year 5/6 Play and Learn Together!
Year 5/6 had the great pleasure of spending some time with Kindergarten one Thursday afternoon and what an afternoon! Each Year 5/6 pupil ‘buddied’ up with a Kindergarten child and they then moved around a round-robin of activities. The children went from solving jigsaws to reading together to creating beautiful butterflies! It was a great learning experience for both age-groups. Year 5/6 are always eager to spend some time with the younger children, they are a caring and thoughtful group and they don’t often see the Kindergarten with break and lunch timetables differing. This was a fantastic opportunity for the Year 5/6 children to not only practise patience and listening skills, but also to hone their teaching skills and perhaps most importantly make new friends! It was so interesting to see the interaction between each partnership and how positively the younger children responded to their older peers. It also took the Year5/6 back to their days in Kindergarten and lots of fond memories for all. We went away with big smiles and a keen interest from all the Year5/6 to return… and soon!
How do Foods affect our Teeth?
Our first science topic this term is Healthy Lifestyles and Year 5/6 have been investigating just how we find out what different foods and drinks do to our teeth. We didn’t want to do the experiments with our actual teeth, so we used eggs as their shells are similar to the the materials found in the enamel of our teeth. We decided to look at the effects of acids on our teeth. Acids are made by plaque bacteria, which cause tooth decay and cavities. Some foods are acidic too, like vinegar and soda. We immersed an egg in vinegar and… after leaving it for just a little bit, we could already see some results! Our ‘vinegar’ egg was on the point of turning transparent and it felt more than a little soft! Scary results indeed!
Owl Pellet Dissection Lesson
Year 4, 5 and 6 students had an opportunity to participate in an owl pellet dissection lesson using laboratory sterilized barn owl pellets. Owl pellets are neat little packages of mostly fur and bones that are regurgitated by an owl after it has finished digesting everything else. The students worked together to discover what the barn owls had been eating by dissecting their pellets. By carefully sorting and organizing the bones they found, students were able to reconstruct a skeleton of a rodent, in this case a vole. Thank you Miss Bonnie for providing such an interesting lesson.
Thanks South Caicos for an Amazing Adventure
Our Year 6 class, from the Providenciales Primary School, had an exciting week visiting the neighbouring island of South Caicos, where we were welcomed by the entire local community.
Just after arriving on the TCI Ferry from Providenciales on Monday, June 11, the buzz was all over town that there was a group of very enthusiastic visitors to the small island of the Big South.
Read on to find out more about our amazing adventures and to meet some of the wonderful community people who helped to make our trip so special.
Test Taking Tips from Year 6
Year 6 have been ‘exammed out’ over the last couple of weeks with both the T.C.I Middle School and the British West Indies Collegiate Year 7 entrance exams, but they still have one more set to go next week; their end of Year 6 UK National Curriculum S.A.Ts! They have worked exceptionally hard throughout and have never given up even though it has been hard-going at times. Well done each and every one of you.
Here are their class exam tips for those sitting these exams or others in the future:
- Wear your school uniform to set yourself to school mode.
- Sleep well before your tests – go to bed a little earlier than usual.
- Eat a good breakfast.
- The earlier the tests, the sooner they are over!
- Try not to over-think it.
- Check over your work.
- Try your best.
- Read the questions carefully.
- Work harder questions worth more marks.
- Don’t spend too long on a question, go back at the end to re-try.
- Do something fun after the tests to celebrate and have something to look forward to.
- There is always a school for you out there.
- And…….. RELAX!
Click on ‘Read more…’ to read some of the children’s thoughts about their test-taking experiences.
Year 5 and 6 En El Restaurante
In Spanish lessons in years 5 and 6, we’ve been learning about how to order food in a restaurant. Using Spanish menus we created ourselves, we practised and performed a role play, in which we played waiters and customers at eating establishments that serve all our favourite dishes! We had lots of fun creating each scene, and some of us even added a bit of our creativity and imagination to the scenes! Take a look at our videos and see if you can understand our conversations. Click on ‘read more…’ to see the Year 5 Video. [Read more…]
Key Stage 2 PE Showcase
This week, children in Key Stage 2 were excited to present their PE learning in our end of term showcase event. Older children participated in a Gymnastics Show while children in Years 3 and 4 participated in a 4-on-4 Basketball Tournament. This was the second of two such showcase events this term and we were very pleased that is was again well supported and praised by parents. We’d like to say a big thank you to Adina and all the staff at Graceway Sports Centre for the use of their amazing facilities, which have enabled the children to learn and improve so much this term!
Key Stage 2 Rugby
The children in Years 3-6 have been excited to try their hand at another fantastic sport this half term! We were delighted to offer a course of Rugby ‘taster’ sessions when we received the offer of coaching from the Turks and Caicos Islands Rugby Football Union!
These sessions have focused on the key skills of passing, movement and game-play. Some children, who already participate in the TCIRFU’s clubs, were keen to show off their skills in the sport, while others were excited by the challenge of something new!
We will watch this space and look forward to seeing our students developing a good understanding of another exciting team sport.
Year 6 Debating Dilemma!
Once again the Year 6’s showed off their skills as budding lawyers-to be in a team against team debate. The issue was ‘ Is television a good or bad influence on children?’ Both sides presented their arguments with clear and convincing reasons backed up with data where they could. Dressed to the nines in their smartest attire and with myself as official judge and peacekeeper, it really felt as if we were in a courtroom! Two outstanding debaters were: CD, whose strength and conviction in his own argument was impressive, and MG who had clearly researched and prepared for her part in the debate exceptionally well!
Taking Ownership of the Library!
Inspired by lots of newly bought fiction books and our computer system needing updating, a chance to make a change and take ownership of the how the library is organised was seized by KS2 children this week. Discussion, debate, research and lots of sorting occurred as the children worked together to re-organise all the fiction books from the library shelves into their respective genres, during World Book Day Celebrations last week.
“It felt good to work together to organise the library”…”I like how the different genre stickers will help me find the sort of books I’m interested in”…”I think our new library looks bright and colourful”.
Year 6’s Whoopie-Pie and Other Baked Goodies
Well done to the girls who took the turn to host the Year 6 baked goodie table at our yard sale this morning. There were homemade brownies, Biscotti, cakes and irresistible whoopie pie treats together with fresh coffee and homemade lemonade to tempt the hungry bargain hunting crowd. The Year 6 are raising funds for an end of year residential trip and certainly will have made some well earned money this morning, I’m sure.
Thank you to all the children and parents that helped with baking and supporting this venture. Yum, Yum!
Year 5 and 6 World War 2 Wonder
The Years 5 and 6 are studying World War Two this term and were lucky enough to have a very special visitor this week, Sven Kirkegaad, a granddad of one of the children, who was just a little boy in Denmark when World War Two was going on. He told both classes about his experiences of living under German occupation: the rationing of food; the blacking out of lights as British bombers flew overhead and the nice and not so nice soldiers. Some of the children’s comments were… “He told us some very interesting stories. ” … “ My favourite story was when he was telling us about the German soldier who came to his door, asking for his father and his mother had to race away on a bicycle to find him.” Listening to a firsthand perspective of war really helped the children understand how different and difficult life could be, as well as informing them about a different country’s experience of war. Next week, Year 6 are looking forward to making models of ships which were involved in the battle at Dunkirk and possibly even a few famous Spitfires!
Year 6 TCI Prints on Sale
“Hello! We are a dedicated Year 6 class, ages 9 -11, from Providenciales Primary School and this is our last primary year. We are trying to raise money to go on an educational trip at the end of the school year that means so, so much to us. It is a once in a lifetime experience. We are raising money by selling these unique art prints that you cannot get anywhere else in the world! We created these prints ourselves using photos from the Turks and Caicos and reinterpreted them by using mind-blowing colours and creating these pieces in our Adobe Photoshop classes. We wanted to show the tropical colours of our home!
These limited editions are unique works of art! Each is professionally printed on photo archival paper. The prints are $50 each or $90 for the set of two and are available to buy at the school. We hope you enjoy them!” Click ‘read more’ to see larger photos of the children’s prints. [Read more…]
Fantastic Forces Fun!
Year 6 have been investigating the forces around us and learning all about Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of physics. We decided to have some fun with an investigation on elastic bands and what happens to an elastic band as the pulling force is increased and what will happen to the elastic band as weights (masses) are suspended from it? Will the elastic go back to it’s original size? All these questions needed to be answered so we donned our safety goggles and started investigating! As you can see from the photos we found that elastic bands are stronger than you would think and had some super scientific fun along the way!
Baking Bread Bonanza!
Year 5 and 6 have been baking lots of different breads recently after tasting a wide variety themselves! They looked at a range of basic bread recipes and tried some of these out before then designing their own bread in groups. They had to consider texture, taste, who their buyer would be and how to make it appealing. Some had chocolate chips in, some had lemon and cinnamon, all of the breads were a success and enjoyed by the children and their lucky families! We have now evaluated our breads and what we would do to improve them next time. The Year 5’s and 6’s are now focusing on how to package their bread to appeal to their customer. [Read more…]