STEM Week 6th-10th March 2023

By Catherine Dodds19th March 2023

STEM Week theme: To explore the connection between human actions and climate change.

What does STEM mean?

STEM stands for Science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This week, the whole school were involved in STEM Week. The children from Reception to Year 6 took part in a variety of exciting and informative STEM activities throughout the week linked to the theme of climate change and human connections. The activities included:

 

  • STEM challenge (science / design technology).
  • A litter pick- doing our part to help the local area and community.
  • Coding using Lego WeDo 2.0- using modern technology to help combat climate change.
  • Professor Bubbleworks Workshop – science and connections.

 

Why is STEM important?

STEM-based education focused on hands-on learning with real-world applications and helps develop a variety of skill sets, including creativity and 21st-century skills. STEM Teaches Critical Thinking and Innovation and gives children the skills to tackle problems confidently.

 

Watch the video below to see a showcase of all the STEM activities the children have been involved in this week:

 

Awesome Attendance Y6C

18th March 2023Catherine Dodds

In each Friday Celebration Assembly, classes who have the best attendance roll the dice and move around the Monopoly board to win a treat.

Year 6C have only gone and made their way around the whole board because of consistently good attendance. Therefore, as they passed ‘Go’, the children could choose  their own destination for a trip. Year 6C chose a fun day at Quaser Laser Tag in South Shields.

A well deserved fulfilled afternoon.

March 2023

Year 3’s Visit to St. Jude’s Church

16th March 2023Catherine Dodds

15.3.23

In Religious Education, Year 3 have been learning about Christianity and the Church. Reverend Cameron welcomed the children into St. Jude’s Church to discuss the Christian Religion and beliefs and how they worship in a church.
The children looked around the church and found symbols of worship they had been learning about. They helped decorate the Church in in preparation for Easter, tried on the Reverend’s vestments and even had a go on the organ.

Year 3 we’re very respectful inside the church. They used quiet voices and really impressed Reverend Cameron with their questions and answers about Christianity.

Click here to listen to our organ playing

 

Geography Workshop Y6

11th March 2023Catherine Dodds

9.3.23

As part of their  Geography unit, Year 6 enjoyed taking part in the ‘Rivers and Estuaries’ workshop at The Word. The children looked at ecosystems and how to protect local rivers and wildlife.
The children at Laygate love doing their bit to help the future of our community and local area.

 

World Book Day- Year 3

2nd March 2023Catherine Dodds

 

World Book Day is a charity event held annually in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the first Thursday in March.

This year, the children enjoyed dressing up as their favourite book characters and joining in with reading and book themed activities throughout the day. We love reading in year 3!

Take a look at some of the fabulous year 3 costumes:

Number Day

3rd February 2023Catherine Dodds

Number Day is a maths-inspired fundraising day for children across the UK. The money raised will go towards helping the NSPCC run its Speak out Stay safe programme to help children understand what abuse is and what to do if they’re scared or worried.

Children from nursery up to year 6 took part in Number Day. The teachers had prepared fun mathematical activities for children to compete throughout the day. Not only did the children have lots of fun, they also applied and learned a wide variety of maths skills.

Y3, Y3/4, Y5 Number Day Orienteering:

 

Show Racism the Red Card

21st October 2022Catherine Dodds

Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) is the UK’s leading anti-racism educational charity.

Every year, Laygate participate in Show Racism the Red Card’s annual Wear Red Day. The children donate £1 and in turn come to school wearing red to show their support to the cause.

Here are some photos from 2023:

Robotics- Year 6

19th October 2022Catherine Dodds

17.10.22

As part of Year 6’s computer science learning, the children visited Openzone @ The Word to experience some hands on STEM & Robotics learning. They completed a robotics workshop using Spike software and lego pieces. The children worked very well together to build robots attached to motors and wrote their own code to program the robot to move.

Click here to see our robot in action