Crew Young recently joined the other E24/Y9 Crews on a fieldwork visit to Alton Towers, where they learned how forces and energy transfers apply on all of the iconic theme park rides. Following expert tuition in the physics of movement and motion taught in the on-site classroom, they then put the theory into practice on rides such as Oblivion and Smiler.
This week 7Pioneer have undertaken their first ever Learning Target in Hums which is ‘I can write an imaginative piece of informative, persuasive writing’
Working and learning in secondary school may feel like a big step step up from primary school for the class and although at first completing this learning target seemed like a huge mountain to climb, they all reached the top!
This piece of writing was in the form of a job advertisement and description of a role in the First World War such as the Navy, Royal Engineers or Royal Flying Corps. It was great seeing the students explain the roles and responsibilities, skills, qualities and requirements for each job.
Here they are in action – super focused and working hard to create beautiful work! 
Each member of crew brought either a photo or an item in which either makes, or represents, something that makes them happy.
It was lovely hearing about the hobbies that Crew does. For example, Callum and his fishing to Marcus and Fortnite to Florence, Rosie and Dylan and their various types of dancing. There were also lots of lovely photos of crew member’s dogs – I always love a cute dog photo!
It was great for crew to share their interests and hobbies with the everyone, why they enjoy them and how it makes them feel. It acted as a great starting point which sparked some very interesting conversations!
This video is of Pioneer working hard, creating beautiful work and showing craftsmanship and quality.
We then did some peer critique doing the protocol ‘milling to music’. What a great way of getting students out of their seat, appreciating other students work and writing purposeful feedback.
Some great moves from Explorer! When the music stopped students went to the nearest table and peer critiqued (we did this twice). Students then actioned their feedback by improving the work from the suggestions given. In purple pen they explained this and wrote a personal target they needed to achieve in next weeks lesson. All in all an excellent week in Art for E24! Keep it up!
At XP East we continue to celebrate our students’ individual successes and achievements, and encourage the positive contributions that they routinely make to the wider community. In doing so, they demonstrate compassion, integrity, respect, courage and craftsmanship and quality often beyond their years.
I am delighted to hear that Ella has recently passed all of her assessments and is now a fully-fledged St John’s Ambulance Cadet.
Inspired by an activity run by Mrs Parker and Crew Finch last year, in Crew this week we spent some time talking about whether reading and watching the right sort of news can make us happier and trying to find examples of ‘happy news’ articles.
It could be all of these things and more. Here are some articles which brightened up our day; hopefully they will brighten yours too!
Trash man builds free library out of 20,000 books found in bins
Millionaire helps boy studying under a street lamp
Giant inflatable sculpture unveiled in former Leeds church
The community hub made from salvaged wood
Jonas Brothers surprise fan in hospital who missed concert for chemo treatment
Homeless man reunited with family after 24 years of separation
Our E24/Y9 students are focusing on media in Spanish sessions. Students in 9 Explorer will be tested on the Spanish er verbs in the present tense on Tuesday, and they will be expected to hand in their reading comprehension on TV viewing habits on Thursday this week. Thank you, Mr Pearson
Last week we had a baking crew session, making chocolate muffins. Crew worked really well as a team, dividing out the different roles of mixing, measuring and washing up to name a few. They helped each other throughout with everyone getting stuck in and having no passengers. Eating muffins was a lovely addition to our weekly Monday check-in – shame we can’t do it every week!
Year 9 have been lucky enough to experience another fantastic day of fieldwork, helping them build background knowledge for their STEAM expedition, ‘Slow Down’. In a few weeks time, their learning will culminate in a final product that answers the guiding question:
What does physics and maths have to with saving life?
This Thursday, the year group visited Alton Towers’ education department to learn about how they assess the safety and functionality of their roller coasters. Students were briefed on how they might want to design their own roller coasters using the principles of physics and mathematics.
They also applied their knowledge of algebraic substitution by calculating gravitational potential energy, as well as velocity at each hill of their roller coasters and centripetal acceleration. Students were then given a workbook to fill out as we travelled through the park – they were able to explain why they felt so weightless during the drop on oblivion, and were able to calculate GPE on the coasters across the theme park using the knowledge gained in the workshops. Plus, we all had a lot of fun on the rides!
We will be picking up this new physics and maths content once we get back into school this coming week and applying it across the STEAM sessions.
E24 started off their immersion for the expedition ‘Why do we still need Charity?’ Creating contextual studies from the artist: Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. What a great start to beautiful work! Some have been carefully using a craft knife to remove sections: creating contrast. Others have been using pen to block out areas. All students will do both pieces of work.
This is just some of the beautiful work they have produced. Keep up the hard work! Can’t wait to work on the final product with you (we are creating a product that runs alongside Hums).
