17th February 2012

CREWKERNE: Children learn activities from around the world

By Marion Draper

MAIDEN Beech Academy in Crewkerne held and extraordinary off-calendar day before the half term break with activities ranging from an earthquake zone to a medieval banquet in the school hall.

Year 5 enjoyed “Crumbs and Crumhorns”, exploring aspects of Tudor life, including dressing in Tudor costumes and making masks and coats of arms, learning period dance, playing Tudor instruments and making Tudor food. They used their paper mache skills to make a boar’s head and fruit bowls for the head table at the banquet, as well as candlesticks, paper flowers and did a bit of napkin folding. They took to the dancing with gusto, especially the part where they had to lift eachother in the air.

Year 6 had “Un Jour to Remember” - fun French themed activities focussing on memory skills. Activities included active learning in a French cafe, playing boules and learning the Marsellaise and writing it in French handwriting.

Deviating from the French theme, they also learned Japanese numbers in the morning through word association.

Year 7 were being scientific with have “Shake, Rattle and Roll - Techtonics on a Plate”, learning about earthquakes. They created an earthquake zone outside and experimented with seismometers, and used the popular 1970s toy Slinky to demonstrate some principles of building earthquake-proof structures. A real challenge for the day was to make an effective water filter using sand, charcoal ,grit ad porous cloth or paper.

Year 8 had a very sobering subject learning about the Holocaust from Ruth Barnett, who came to England on the Kinder Transport to escape the gas chambers. Activities included engaging in a creative workshop around the theme and doing some collaborative work with Holyrood Sixth Form.

Mrs Barnett, who has written about her experiences, was a teacher herself and a psychotherapist. She said she thought Maiden Beech was a “very good” school, adding: “I can tell when I walk into the doors of a school which ones are really teaching and which ones are just training the pupils to pass exams. Here, the children were well prepared and aware of the world around them. You can tell a good school by how much they reflect on what they learn and ask questions.”

Headteacher Steve Smith was very pleased with the work produced from the day and very proud of his staff for organising such and interesting way of learning.

PICTURE 1: WILL IT OR WONT IT? Year 7s try to filter water

PICTURE 2: BEING TUDORS: Maiden Beech Year 5s as serfs and gentry

PICTURE 3: Children show off their paper masks