E24 Pioneer Class Blog | XP East

The art of (silent) conversation

By A Parker29th September 2017

Our 7P students are preparing to write their first piece of reflective writing next week, where they’ll consolidate all their ideas and evidence around what makes a community successful.

Mrs Poncia introduced a new protocol in class this week: the ‘silent conversation.’ We presented the class with five different images (one on each table), gave them some marker pens and the instruction to move around each table, consider the image for a few moments, and then write down what it represented to them… all in complete silence!

This protocol gives students time for some focused thinking, allows them to reflect on the views of their classmates, and helps to stimulate new ideas for them to include in their own work. It also means that all students have the same opportunity to share their thoughts with the rest of the class. It really is a silent conversation!

At the end of the exercise we discussed the common theme, which we agreed was around the sense of ‘belonging’ to a community.

Mrs Parker

Thank you Alesha M

By Jamie Portman28th September 2017

A special mention needs to go out to Alesha M in our HUMAN class. This morning I took a photo of her excellent work on explaining where aspects of community existed within the animal kingdom, and printed it out on an A3 sheet. Students then analysed her work, paying particular example to her choice of vocab, use of conjunctions, openers and sentence structure. This was used as a model to help students to progress withi their work.

Whilst students did this, Alesha and Arendeep explored ways in which would make the extract even better. Arandeep reported back to the class on how a range of sentence types, as well as the use of synonyms for different keywords would improve it even further.

Thank you Alesha!

What Makes a Successful Community?

By K Poncia26th September 2017

Year 7 have been working towards answering their first guiding question: ‘What makes a successful community?’
To begin with, they studied different maps of the local area around XP and XP East schools and noted key landmarks, features and land uses.

Next, fieldwork took Year 7s around Doncaster’s Lakeside. While stopping at different ‘pit stops’ along the way, they were able to make notes of key notices and wonders to find indicators to help decide whether the area is an example of a successful community.

‘I notice that there is a sign saying ‘Welcome to Lakeside’.’
‘I wonder if the lake gets dirty in Autumn due to the leaves from the trees and who is responsible for keeping it clean.’ (Theone C, Year 7)

‘I notice that CCTV is in operation at Keepmoat stadium.’
‘I wonder why they need cameras.’ (Maclaren K, Year 7)

Now, Year 7 are correlating their findings and using them to write an answer to the guiding question.

7P Fieldwork to York National Railway Museum

25th September 2017Jamie Portman

7P recently visited York National Railway Museum as part of our fieldwork for our ‘Society, Steam and Speed’ expedition. When we arrived, the expedition’s guiding question was presented to students:

‘What does the community of Doncaster owe to the Railway?’

The event acted as a kick off to immerse students into the detail of our guiding question. Students explored the museum to find any pertinent links to Doncaster, and begin to consider the transformational impact of the railways during the Industrial Revolution.

Students behaviour was superb throughout.

Check out the brief video below:

C24 Extended Study – ART (X-Block) homework

By D Pearson21st September 2017

Our students in both X and P groups have been asked to take home the original art stimulus (or access the one they bookmarked on their device), as well as their first draft sketch done in class, and produce a second draft at home.

As we will be performing a gallery walk next lesson it is important that they bring the original and both drafts to their art lesson next week.

Group E1 = Art lesson 26.9.17 Group 2 = Art lesson 27.9.17 Group 3 = Art lesson 28.9.17

C24 Y7 Extended Study – Spanish homework

By D Pearson21st September 2017

Our new students have been asked to complete homework on Spanish numbers 1-15 and on asking and giving ages. They need to record their answers on the double-sided work sheet that they have taken home (and reproduced below):

As always they are welcome to receive extra support in supervised Extended Study after school, and I will be present on Thursdays to offer this help if needed. This homework is due in on Wednesday 27.09.17.

Wonderful STEAM homework by Ruby T

By D Pearson18th September 2017

We’re delighted with the craftsmanship and quality that Ruby put into her first STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) homework. See for yourself!