Year 3 have been learning all about animation and multimedia in computing. The children planned a storyboard then created a backdrop and puppets for their animation. Finally, they used ‘onion skinning’ to create an animation using the Stikbot Studio app. The children finished their animation using iMovie to add a title and accompanying music. Have a look at some of the children’s fantastic animations below :
Reggie came to meet the children at Laygate today and what a welcome he received!
Reggie is a 13 week old cavapoo owned by Mrs King. He will be coming into school regularly as a therapy dog to spread happiness and good vibes around the school. 
What are the benefits of having a school dog?
Therapy dogs have been working in UK schools for the past five years but have been commonplace in schools in the US and Australia for many years. Research studies have shown the benefits of therapy dogs in schools which include:
- Cognitive – companionship with a dog stimulates memory, problem-solving and game-playing
- Social – a dog provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility, wellbeing and focused interaction with others
- Emotional – a school dog improves self-esteem, acceptance from others and lifts moods, often provoking laughter and fun. Dogs can also teach compassion and respect for other living things as well as relieving anxiety
- Physical – interaction with a furry friend reduces blood pressure, provides tactile stimulation, assists with pain management, gives motivation to move, walk and stimulates the senses
- Environmental – a dog in a school increases the sense of a family environment, with all of the above benefits continuing long after the school day is over.
What an effort from the children (and parents who took on the job of creative stylist) for Comic Relief’s Crazy Hair day! Here are some photos of the crazy, creative dos….
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- Y3D
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- Y6 busy making bird houses
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- Bearded ladies from y6
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- Y6 busy making bird houses
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- Wow! What a creative style.
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- Year 5
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- Year 4/5
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- Year 4
Safer Internet Day 2022 took place on 8th February with the theme ‘All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online’.
The teachers across ks1 and ks2 introduced the children to Google’s Be Internet Legends programme which teaches young children how to become smart and confident explorers of the online world. The children were very excited to receive their own 3D-printed Internet Legend trophy in pieces which they could take home to finish with their families. To unlock assembly instructions, the children were required to correctly answer twenty quiz questions on topics like strong passwords, standing up to cyberbullies and keeping personal information secure.
The children were very excited to show off their finished trophy. Some of the children shared photos of their finished project via Google Classroom whilst others brought them back to school the next day. A very fun, challenging but informative day. The teachers were extremely impressed with the children’s knowledge of internet safety. Well done Laygate School.
https://parentzone.org.uk/article/safer-internet-day-2022-free-resources-educators
Here is the link to the game that can be played at home:
https://beinternetlegends.withgoogle.com/en_ie/interland
Lovely feedback from one of the ks1 pupils
Year 3 hard at work
Two year 3 boys working together to answer the internet safety quiz questions
To celebrate Chinese New Year on the 1st February 2022, the children from KS1 and KS2 took part in a Chinese Ribbon dance workshop.
Chinese ribbon dancing is a traditional art form that originates in ancient China and has been performed for over 1000 years. Using sharp, rhythmic movements and long colorful ribbons dancers perform to traditional Chinese music. The people of the Han dynasty created and performed the ribbon dance in gratitude and honor. The ribbons symbolise the sleeve of the hero who saved a Han Dynasty emperor from an assassin by using the silk from his sleeve to block the sword.
Year 3:
Year 4/5
Year 6
As part of out Design Technology unit of work, the children in year 3 have been learning about electrical circuits and how they are used in a range of everyday products. The children were given the following design brief:
To design and make a greetings card that lights up.
You are going to design and create a bespoke, one-off greetings card for a person of your choice. You will need to consider the purpose of the card and an appropriate theme linked to Christmas. It must include an electrical element and be attractive and appealing.
The children used online research and reading to help develop the design criteria and communicated their ideas through discussion and annotated sketches. The children decided whether they would design a card with a traditional or religious Christmas theme and whether to make it 2D or 3D.
Here are some photos of our creative designers and engineers and their work: 
We used copper wire to make ‘paper circuits’ using a folded over switch.
Each group were given a battery, two wires and a bulb. They were then set a challenge to work together to make the bulb light up. The children were delighted when they solved the problem and figured out how to create a working circuit.
Our fantastic, talented children from LKS2 and UKS2 have been practicing hard to learn a range of songs and dances for their Christmas performance. We can guarantee you will be awe-struck by their amazing singing voices and adept dance moves. We hope you enjoy.
The KS2 team.
Below- full video (lower quality)
Below- links to the video split into two parts (improved quality)
The children from year 1, year 1/2 and year 2 have been working hard learning songs and actions the last couple of weeks to bring to you an amazing and memorable Christmas production. Be prepared to be filled with pride by the wonderful performance below. We hope you enjoy.
The KS1 team.
Our wonderful, talented children from nursery and reception have been working hard to learn songs, dances and Makaton signs to bring you an amazing Christmas Nativity performance. Please watch the video below. I’m sure you’ll be as proud and as blown away as we are! We hope you enjoy.
The Early Years Team.
We received an email from the South Tyneside Hospital asking if we would like to spread some Christmas cheer. The children in year 3 made someChristmas cards and pictures for the children who will be in hospital over Christmas to brighten up their ward. We designed some beautiful pictures and wrote some heart warming messages.
“Don’t worry if you don’t receive lots of presents or visitors. All the matters is spreading love, kindness and care. Happy Christmas, from Ava.”
“I hope this picture makes you smile and cheers you up. Get well soon and merry Christmas, from M.”
