In Year 2 we have been learning about keeping healthy. First we looked at exercise and being active and then we moved on to thinking about a healthy diet. We learned a healthy diet is a balanced diet. We explored food packaging and the traffic lights on different items and then we helped design a balanced meal for Lola after reading the story 'I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato'.
This week Year 1 began their first Design Technology topic, Fruit and Vegetables! Today we were exploring a variety of both, using our senses to feel and smell them. We discussed where fruit and veg come from, how we know when they're ripe for picking, how they are healthy for us and how different people have different preferences about which taste the best. Our main task was to decide how to sort them into 'fruit' or 'vegetable' categories. Some of us were very surprised to find out that it's all about the seeds! We cut them open and examined the different types of seeds inside and then sorted them into categories. The children agreed that the most surprising 'fruits' were butternut squash and cucumber! The children followed up with some excellent questions, such as, 'Where do vegetable seeds come from then?" This topic will eventually lead to design and taste our own healthy smoothies, so stay tuned!
This week we have been reading the book, "The Enormous Turnip", and so have been discussing vegetables that grow over/underground. Today we enjoyed doing some vegetable printing, thinking carefully about where to 'stamp' them, over or under?
This morning the children participated in a fitness morning to encourage focus, fitness and fun!
On Wednesday we were joined by volunteers from the Ordnance Survey and some willing parent helpers to dig, cut, chop, pull, push, heave, jump away from frogs, sweat and generally work every muscle they have to prepare some of our outdoor areas for the start of something new. We are so thankful to each and everyone of them, without their hard work we would not be where we are now.
Over the next few months classes will develop their areas, spend the money we raised from our Move'athon and our donation from The Barker Mills Foundation. There may even be another Groundforce day! Ask your child about their area for more information.
We had a fantastic day completing our non-stop 15 minutes of activity for our Groundforce Move-a-Thon. Thank you to everyone who managed to collect sponsorship money - all of this will go towards our plans for improving our school grounds!
A big thank you to TMC who supported us with the day and made it lots of fun!
This morning Year 1 went on a local walk around Sandpiper Road. The children used a map to follow the route we were taking and help identify the names of the roads. As we were looking at the names of the roads we talked about the different birds they were named after, where the birds could be found and a fun fact about them
Year 3 would like to say a big thank you to Ita, who visited us last week from Quorn to talk to us about Healthy Eating and the Eat Well Healthy Plate!
We had a great time learning about how you can have a balanced diet and we impressed her with our knowledge of different foods and ingredients.
We were also joined by Chris from Southampton City Catering, who produce our wonderful school meals.
We would like to say a big Thank You to all of them!
We have come to the end of our jungle topic and decided to venture into the kitchen for the first time this year.
We made some delicious monkey milkshakes and all had a go at chopping and mixing. We thought they were delicious.
Year R finished off their Up the Beanstalk topic by having an exciting snack time up on the field.
The children brought in their favourite healthy vegetable snacks to share with their friends and played games together, enjoying the lovely weather while it lasts.
We have been learning all about healthy eating in Year 1. We have learned that it is really important to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day to keep healthy.
One fun way of getting your 5 a day is through drinking smoothies. In groups we designed and created our own. We thought about what healthy ingredients we would put in and also what equipment we would need. After that we chopped up our fruits and vegetables and put them into a blender. They tasted delicious!
A little bit of French:
Over the last couple of weeks Oakwood children have been lucky enough to have a very special visitor: Lucia DiMaiolo.
Lucia studies languages at university and spent several months studying in France, so not only is she fluent in speaking French, her accent is also authentic.
She came in to help with written french and talk to Year 6 and Year 5 (featured below) about her favourite subjects, what it is like to live in France and her favourite / tasting experiences, which include frogs legs, Croque monsieur and dare I say it...McDo, an affectionate french term for MacDonalds.
On that note, you can also see some of the delicious sandwiches designed by Year 4.
In case you're interested, here is a croque monsieur recipe to try at home :
http://www.theslowcook.com/blog/2011/05/27/kids-make-croque-monsieur/
Topic
This half-term, children will be continuing their journey towards becoming more fluent and enthusiastic readers. We will be guiding them through higher-level texts, building their enjoyment and giving them confidence to access novels. 
Logs are an integral part of Year 3 homework and we ask that children work on a different log for no less than 10 to 15 mins at least x3 a week. We also ensure that children have opportunity within school time to work on their logs. The logs system not only supports key English and Maths skills but allows children to achieve them through a series of small steps which installs confidence and a sense of pride when they achieve the different badges. The Year 3 teaching team do our very best to test children's logs daily, in dedicated curriculum time but often in breaks and lunchtimes. We are always impressed with our children's enthusiasm for their logs and but this can mean that we have children waiting to be tested. We have reminded children that it is not only their Year 3 teachers that can test them, but that any adult in the school.As part of our topic, Year 1 have explored different fruits. First of all, the children had a tasting session where they discussed how tropical fruits tasted, what they looked like and how they smelt.
After this, in groups the children designed their very own smoothie choosing which ingredients to include.
Working as a group, the children chopped and prepared the food before putting it into a blender. They then tasted and evaluated their smoothies.
After a weekend holiday to Mrs Rogers' house, the chicks returned to school refreshed and ready for the children. Seven chicks have successfully hatched and are already developing adult feathers on their wings. Year 4 have been handling the chicks today and making sure they are clean, watered and fed.
Thanks to Mrs Lyons, her team in the kitchen, and all the lunchtime staff, everyone was able to have a scrummy Christmas dinner today!
Once again, the school offered dinner for free to all pupils, not just those in Key Stage 1, and nearly everyone took up the offer - the kitchen cooked over 450 servings!
There was a traditional roast turkey meal, with lost of choice for dessert, including a proper Christmas Pud and custard.
The jokes in the crackers were the only things which were bad!
(What do you call someone who makes clothes for rabbits?*)
(Where would you find chilli beans?**)
(Who hides in the bakery at Christmas?***)
We look forward to the final event in our Christmas Calendar tomorrow - our Christmas Service.
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(* A hare dresser)
(** At the North Pole)
(*** A Mince Spy)
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