Marvellous Minstead

Sycamore

Sycamore Class visited Minstead Study Centre. They enjoyed exploring the site and beyond. They are a lovely group of children and it was a pleasure to be on residential with them. For parents of children in Sycamore Class there are more photos on Google Classroom.

Birch

Birch class have finished learning how to work out our 3, 4 and 8 times tables. We now need to learn these times tables so that we can recall them quickly. The children have had a go at Mr Curran's maths video game to help them remember these times tables.

 In geography we have looked at our local area and seen how land is being used, categorising it based on what it is used for. We have learnt several new words to do this, such as residential, agricultural and urban.

Maple

As part of their DT topic, Shade and Shelter, Year 1 children have been designing and making pet shelters. They have selected materials that will be waterproof and have tested them by leaving their pet shelters (pets inside!) out in the rain. I hope that they stay dry!

Year R children have been making thank you cards for a family member to show their appreciation as part of their PSHE 'Belonging' unit. What super writing, Year R!

Aspen

This week Aspen class have been diving into their learning about the Earth and Space. In Geography they have been exploring maps and the relative distance and location between cities. In Science they have been exploring how ancient civilisations believed the Earth was flat, and how scientists discovered the curvature of the Earth and the idea that the Earth was actually a sphere. Through completing a simple experiment, they were able to see just how the orbit of the Earth can impact how much we can see with mere observation.

Elm

Elm class the children were making a spinach pesto pasta sauce, they each prepared the ingredients using the method as instructed.

Let the Christmas festivities begin…

Maple

Maple Class have been extremely busy rehearsing their Christmas performance, 'Wriggly Nativity'. They have worked very hard to learn all the songs and look fantastic in their outfits. For those of you who have seen it - we hope that you enjoyed the show!

Rowan

In art, Rowan have been thinking about still life and how to create still life art with different methods. The children had to sketch a candle, make some grapes out of clay and paint a vase of flowers. The children can't wait to compose and paint their own still life paintings next week. 

Year 2 also loved being the choir for Maple's nativity this week - they practised hard and looked amazing in their costumes!

Birch

Birch class have been looking at wildlife recently. They have looked into animal classifications and have now begun to look at nature around us. This week they have been investigating the pond.

Sycamore and Aspen

We had a fantastic time at the Christmas Fair - Thank you Friends of Stanmore

Elm

 This week in Elm we had the pleasure of attending a sheep and ox heart dissection at Winchester College ahead of our science unit - Circulatory System. The children were engaged and got to explore the different aspects of the heart with some even being confident enough to have a feel themselves!

Shapes, Stomp and Speak Out Stay Safe!

Maple

Children in Maple Class Y1 have been learning about 3D shapes. They were challenged to build the tallest tower that they could and talk about which shapes were the best for tower building. 

In Year R, children are showing off their phonics skills by spelling words and learning about circles and triangles in maths.

Rowan

This week Rowan have been working hard to count the sides and vertices of 2D shapes. The children had lots of fun making the shapes in different ways and making patterns with them. Whilst they were doing this, they noticed that the number of sides a 2D shape has is the same as the number of vertices

Birch

In science, Birch have been thinking about animals with different types of skeletons. We learnt about vertebrates and invertebrates and thought about how we can identify animals with endoskeletons and exoskeletons before sorting some unknown animals into groups

Sycamore

This week, Sycamore Class have transformed into musical maestros! They have used their junk modelling instruments to channel the skills of “Stomp: The Musical” to join together to form a band to create a short musical arrangement. 

Aspen

This week Aspen class has a special visit from the NSPCC, learning about how to speak out and stay safe. It was a valuable visit and inspired the children to use their voice and encourage others to speak out and stay safe. We always encourage children to have five trusted adults that they can speak to about their worries or concerns. They were incredible during the session. 

We also had a wonderful trip to Winchester College this week to have a wildlife talk from the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Once again, their behaviour was impeccable during the visit. 

Elm

This week in year 6 we have been drawing on our Maafa knowledge and connecting this with our Trailblazer artwork. The children researched Maafa inspired artwork or took inspiration from other trailblazer artists to create their own. Some children used red, black and green portrayed in 'Union Black'  whilst others used 'No Woman, No Cry' by Chris Ofili.

Positively You!

We are delighted to be partnering with Winchester University so that our Year 6 children can benefit from the ‘Positively You’ programme. The programme explores strategies for our children to more resilient, confident and creative thereby unlocking their potential and allowing them to be the people they want to be. This aligns with our BEST values: Belonging, Excellence, Support and Trust.

CS Jazz

We were delighted to welcome Winchester College’s Fantastic CS Jazz Band under the direction of Mr Tom Barton.

Maple

We have started our new DT unit, 'Shade and Shelter'. As part of their learning, children were challenged to design a shelter suitable for a pet. They loved selecting a puppy or kitten of their own and designing a comfortable, safe and waterproof shelter for them.Year R children have been learning about parts and wholes in maths. They have loved exploring fun games and activities made up of different parts. Anyone for dominoes?

Rowan

This week, Year 2 have started their new science unit on habitats. The children really enjoyed going up into Forest School to look for different plants and animals that live in the woodland habitat. They saw that there were lots of living and non-living things - we found lots of spiders and centipedes!

Birch

We have now finished learning about the bronze age in our "through the ages" history topic. During art we have been learning about a bronze age style of pottery called bell-beaker pottery. The children have made their final pots in this style. Some of them were made using traditional methods, with sticks, other children chose to use more modern tools. It is worth noting that these pots are not food safe unless you glaze them with a food safe glaze. If the children want to paint them after they take them home, acrylic paint should work fine.

 We have started looking into stop motion animation. As part of this, we have looked at how Wallace and Gromit was made. We also looked at how old cartoon films were drawn frame by frame. We discussed how this works in the same way as a flipbook. We then tried making some simple flipbooks

Sycamore

This week, Sycamore Class had their final dodgeball lesson with Coach Hardie. To celebrate, they took part in a dodgeball tournament against each other in the hall. Coach Hardie was very complimentary about the dodgeball skills that they have developed over the last few weeks, as well as their attitude, developing their cooperation and resilience. 

Aspen

This week Aspen class started their new Science unit, Earth and Space. We recreated our solar system using fruit and vegetables. We took steps away from the Sun equivalent to how many millions of kilometres away each planet is. They had some brilliant questions about our solar system and are so excited to dive in and find out more about the planets. Well done Aspen. 

Elm

This week in year 6 we were building on our Postively You workshops and explored effective ways to help our working and long term memory. This included using colours, rhymes and actions to help embed and we finish with a problem solving puzzle of trying to untangle our crossed over hands

Stanmore loves… Pudsey Bear

25 laps for 25 Years of Children in Need

Our School Council are keen to hold a range of events across the year that engage with initiatives that they feel are important. Children in Need is a charity that supports young people struggling with a range of challenges. Thank you for your donations and for all the super Pudsey accessories. Today we have made a difference to someone who needs our help.

Maple

Children in Maple Class have been learning about human and physical features in their new Geography topic, 'Wonderful World'. They created their own versions of some human features using a range of resources - they were particularly good at bridge building! Year R children are demonstrating their understanding of shapes and patterns - they work independently on these as part of their morning routine.

Rowan

This week in science, Rowan have thought about germs, how they spread and how we can stop them from spreading. The children used glitter to represent the germs and noticed that it can be really difficult to tell who started with the germs once everyone has them. The children also noticed that if they didn't wash their hands properly with soap and water, thew germs got everywhere, even on our shoes! Year 2 have also been working really hard in maths to exchange to help them add and subtract 2 digit numbers. It's been lovely to watch their confidence grow as they practice everyday!

Birch

Birch have been learning about bronze age pottery techniques. As part of this we found natural objects in the forest and printed these into our clay. We also used sticks to make patterns in the clay. As they clay wouldn't be any good by our next art lesson, we rolled it back up and the children made whatever they wanted out of it, some of them have made really nice figures while others have made pots. If you want to decorate them at home, acrylic paint or a pottery glaze should work.

To celebrate finishing addition and subtraction, we used this knowledge to play a simplified version of yugioh with old yugioh cards. The children loved using their maths for a game. Over half the class has asked Mr Curran to do more maths at breaktimes this week!

Sycamore

This week, Sycamore Class have been learning about using muscle tension to help them to hold a pose or balance in PE. They then tried to hold the position of a ‘plank’ in our competition! We had two joint champions who were still in the plank position after 6 minutes!

Aspen

This week Aspen class finished their art project on Taotie, the Shang Dynastie's form of bronze artwork. Using clay, we recreated intricate Taotie designs before covering them in plaster. We then peeled the plaster cast away to reveal the design that they made. This resembles a simplified method that the Shang Dynasty would have used to cast bronze. Well done Year 5. 

 We also had a great day for Children in Need and anti bullying week, with the children showing off their Pudsey accessories and odd socks! 

Elm

This week in Elm class we have been working on our new unit of music - Amazing Machines. The children were busy exploring 8 beat counts and using this to count along to pipe music.

Disco dancing and Calypso Sparkle (Copy)

Maple

Children in Maple Class have settled brilliantly back into school after half term. They loved exploring the squashes and pumpkins this week, scooping them out ready for carving for the Disco on Wednesday. Year 1 children drew on their knowledge of the 1950s to create some excellent knowledge organisers - fabulous independent work!

Rowan

In maths, Rowan have been working hard to subtract numbers across a 10 and find 10 more and 10 less than numbers. Using different resources and learning different methods has been really helpful. The children had lots of fun singing and dancing with their friends at the Halloween disco - thank you FOS!

Birch

In English we have been reading 'The first picture'. The children recreated a freeze frame of the moment the cave people saw a painting of a woolly mammoth for the first time. They acted out the next scene to get into the characters' heads before they wrote a short piece of writing about the event. In art we have started to look into pottery, the children learnt about some pottery techniques and got a chance to practice several of them. They grew very attached to their pinch pots; we decided to let the clay set so they could take them home.

Sycamore

Sycamore class have been learning some new vocabulary in French. We have been learning the names for different family members in our new unit called ‘La Famille’

Aspen

This week Aspen class have continued with their unit on multiplication and division. They have been looking at square numbers and how to make them. They used counters to create an array and then figured out which numbers were square, and which were not. Well done Aspen class.

Elm

This week in Elm we have been creating our own Calypso Sparkle Reggae song. The children worked collaboratively in teams., they wrote their own their own lyrics and performed it to an audience.

Belonging, Excellence, Support and Trust

The Stanmore Choir

This week our Stanmore Choir performed at Winchester Cathedral for the Winchester University Graduation 2025. The Stanmore Choir: - Belonging, Excellence, Support and Trust.

Maple

Children in Maple Class have plenty of opportunity to develop their gross motor skills and strength by accessing a wide variety of open ended resources both inside and outside. They loved creating an obstacle course using crates. They realised that they needed to make it into a circuit to avoid 'traffic jams'! Activities including chalking and sweeping are also great for developing body strength and coordination. 

Rowan

In RE, Rowan have finished their topic of Harvest by making Harvest inspired collages using images that help us to remember all the things we can be thankful for. In science, we have been thinking about exercise and the positive impact it can have on our physical and mental wellbeing - the children have really enjoyed doing exercise every day to track their progress.

Birch

 In Birch class we have been learning to play brass instruments over the last few weeks. We are looking forward to seeing how well they can play after they have had time to practise over half term.

Sycamore

This week, Sycamore Class completed their work on the DT unit called 'Fresh Food, Good Food' which recognises the fact that they are getting more independent. So the unit was about encouraging the children to be able to make healthy snacks at home, with minimal support from adults. They made fruit kebabs and hummus with peppers and carrot sticks. 

Aspen

This week Aspen class have been learning about everyday life in the Shang Dynasty. They had to each research a topic in a group and create a poster. They then presented the information to the class and did so with such confidence. Well done Aspen.

Elm

This week in Elm class we have been wrapping up our first RE unit, looking at what justice is across different religions. Our final lesson was focused on presenting justice in different situations.

Potions, paintings and parachutes

Maple

Maple Class loved the autumn sunshine in Forest School this week. They loved making mud potions and searching for the largest leaves they could find. In science, children have started to learn to sort using Venn diagrams. YR children have been learning to represent 3 and 4 in different ways. 

Rowan

In PE, Birch and Rowan have enjoyed using the different apparatus to practise jumping and climbing skills - some of them even climbed to the top!

Birch

Birch have been learning about the end of the stone age and the start of the bronze age. We learnt about technological changes, such as pottery and in art we have sketched some bell beaker pottery, a type of pottery from the start of the bronze age

Sycamore

In our maths lessons we have been learning about addition and subtraction. To help with this, we played a short game called “strike it out” to warm our brains up for when we need to do quick mental addition and subtraction. 

Aspen

This week Aspen class have been learning about air resistance and how the larger the surface area of an object the greater the resistance. They built and designed three different parachutes each, changing a variable on each one, to see what effect it would have on the air resistance. They really enjoyed being creative and testing their parachutes. Well done Aspen class. 

Elm

 This week in Elm class we were finalising our skills of tints, tones, and shades, using them to create a landscape piece incorporating all three

Brilliant Balancing Bikes

Maple

It was Bikeability Week for YR Maple Class children this week. They loved learning to scoot, brake and glide on the balance bikes - what brilliant progress they made throughout the week. Y1 children have started their new art unit; Funny Faces and Fabulous Features and have started to explore portraiture. Who do you recognise?

Rowan

This week, Rowan and Birch were joined by Eli from Christ Church to help us understand why harvest is an important celebration for Christians. We sang some harvest songs and learnt that harvest is a time to be thankful for the world around us. We had a think about the things in nature we're grateful for before thinking about how we can look after nature and protect the world we live in. 

Birch

In geography, Birch class have used atlases to locate the capital cities of Europe. We followed this up with a game of capital cities global, which required them to find capital cities across the world. This sparked a lot of conversation, with children explaining why certain countries and capital cities were special to them.

Sycamore

 Sycamore have been creating instructional writing. They could choose to write about anything that they were an expert in… we had a real range.

Aspen

Aspen class have been having a great time learning some key hockey skills such as passing, blocking and maintaining good control over the ball. They had their first whole class vs class match. It was so hotly contested that in the end no team could score! The defenders and goalkeepers were on top form and even the amazing attackers could not get past them.

Elm

Elm class have been investigating the Benin Bronzes. In small groups the children were given the task to answer a question about what the Benin Bronzes tell us about the Kingdom of Benin. They began to interpret the different images presented on them.

Artists, explorers and a very hungry caterpillar

Maple

Maple Class have loved being artists this week, developing their colour mixing skills and have enjoyed learning to use watercolours. As part of their 'Mix It!' project, Year 1 children worked collaboratively to make a stunning autumnal wreath which demonstrated their knowledge of primary and secondary colours. 

Rowan

In geography this week, Rowan have been thinking about human and physical features that are in our school grounds. We had a think about what we might expect to see on the playground and then went outside to collect our data. We lost count of how many trees we could see! 

Birch

Birch Class have continued to practise their brass instruments (and hopefully are beginning to practise at home). Alongside this they have started to try using other tuned instruments. This week, alongside Rowan class, they have composed a short piece of music on the glockenspiel and tried performing it in time with a partner. Some of them even tried implementing crescendo into their piece. 

 In history, Birch have been looking at the stone age. This week we looked at the tools they used in the stone age and how they changed through the stone age. We talked about why some tools have surviving examples while others have decayed. The children have come up to adults several times on the playground to tell me what they think various sticks would have been used for.

Sycamore

Sycamore Class have been creating a timeline showing the important events of when the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain. They also discovered a very strange looking creature in the school grounds - watch out! 

Aspen

This week in science Aspen class have been exploring friction. They created and planned an experiment where they would roll a toy car down different types of ramps (one covered in foam, carpet and wood) to see which would create the most and least friction by measuring the distance travelled. They discovered that the carpeted ramp created the most friction due to the rough, treaded surface, and the wooden surface created the least friction as the surface was smooth. Well done Aspen.

Elm

This week in Elm we have been using our data collection skills we built on at Stubbington in order to carry out a class experiment. Linking to our Evolution and Inheritance project we are in the midst of answering is our eye colour and height a continuous feature or discontinuous.