Shamrocks Class are feeling relaxed and rested after our Sleep Week activities! Each morning we began the day by working out how much sleep we'd managed to have the night before and discussing the quality of that sleep. We completed mindfulness colouring exercises and researched how much sleep children should have at different ages. We looked at tips for winding down before bed, making sure we exercise enough throughout the day (but not too close to bedtime), how long to leave between eating and sleeping and techniques to help us drift off into a peaceful sleep each night.

We were lucky to have an online lesson delivered by Aneeta from BEAM (emotional health and wellbeing team) giving us lots of practical suggestions and advice on dealing with worries - therefore helping us to get better nights sleep! The children discussed how they knew they were feeling worried or anxious, recognising what triggers that anxiety and lots of practical tips and advice on how to deal with this...from getting outdoors and exercising to sharing their worries with trusted peers and adults. The children discussed what works for them individually and we noticed how different things work for each of us. Aneeta finished by sharing some tips for successfully approaching exams like the SATs without becoming too worried or anxious. It was a really useful session!

Mrs Chapman led a Mindful Music Assembly where we sang lots of calming and peaceful songs and discussed how music can help us to relax and unwind.

To finish off Sleep Week we had a pyjama day where £87 was raised for Crane Counselling services. Shamrock's class were also treated to a fantastic sleep themed Drama Workshop led by Derwen College NarraTours Performing Arts Team which was the highlight of our week. The professional delivery of such a well planned and informative class was incredible and I was so proud of the effort and participation by each and every one of the children in Shamrocks! We participated in a warm up before being taught the lyrics and actions to a song which we then performed in a round. Next, we were introduced to a sleep themed song, written by the students, who taught us the chorus, so we were able to join in their final performance with them. The Derwen College students then entertained us with some performance art based on sleep myths and facts (we learnt lots of important sleep tips). Finally we were taught Makaton sleep word signs and symbols and participated in a mindfulness meditation to conclude. It was such an enjoyable and informative session!

Thank you so much to Mark Hignett from Oswestry Town Museum (https://oswestrytownmuseum.co.uk/) who visited Shamrock's class to talk to them all about Life in Oswestry during WW2.

We learnt about an inspirational German evacuee, Vera Buchthal, who was evacuated to Oswestry and petitioned to attend Maths lessons alongside the boys at the Oswestry Boy's High School. She  went on to create one of the first software startups in Britain, also inventing new flexible working methods like remote work and job shares, making employment easier for women with families.

Mark also talked to us about Park Hall Training Camp and the Prisoner of War Camp nearby. 

In addition to this he bought in lots of WW2 artefacts such as a fire helmet, gas attack warning rattle, gas mask, genuine letter written by a WW2 soldier and some naval gun shells.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative, hands-on visit. Mark also kindly left us lots of posters, postcards, information sheets and replica recipe books, identity cards and ration books to look through and display in school. We are very grateful for all of his time and knowledge!

Thank you so much to Jess who brought in some genuine WW2 Gas Masks which belonged to her Grandad and Great Gran; a child's and an adult's gas mask. We had an interesting lesson researching why Gas Masks were thought to be necessary and how they worked. 

Shamrocks class also did some great sketches of the masks!

Thank you to Charlie who brought in some of his Great Grandad's WW2 medals and to Harvey who brought in some coins which would have been used when WW2 was happening and a spring loaded pocket coin holder owned by his great, great grandfather who was also a soldier in WW2!

Sophie Johnston from the Mental Health Support Team visited Shamrocks class to lead a session on 'Coping with worries'. 

She talked to us about what to do when you have a worry, who you can talk to and most importantly about how everybody has worries - they are entirely natural!

We thought about who we would go to with our worries (both in and out of school). Sophie shared how she was also available to speak to in school and encouraged Shamrock's class to share any concerns with an adult in school who could contact her directly if needed.

This week we learnt what to do if a toddler, child, or adult is choking. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G9PuAwoowI&feature=youtu.be

We visited the St John's Ambulance website and Year 6 remembered previous learning from their Life Line trip. 

By the end of the lesson Shamrock's class were able to:

1. Recognise when someone is choking
2. Administer first aid to a casualty that is choking (including back blows and tummy thrusts)
3. Seek medical help if required for a choking casualty.

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During sleep week, all children have been talking about online safety. We recapped online safety rules and then played on the 'Think you know' website. Super skills and excellent discussions in class!

Shamrocks Class discussed in more detail why we should be careful when sharing personal information online.

We watched as video showing that a 'young boy' in a chat room turned out to be a 40 year old man who showed up at a girls' school after she shared which school she went to online. We discussed the difficulties in knowing that someone is who they say they are online when we cannot see their face. 

We discussed the danger of sharing photos online - people could steal the photos and use them to pretend to be you or use them in places without your permission or you could giveaway personal information such as your school or address from clues in the photograph. 

The children in Shamrocks have been developing a range of skills using Tinkercad this term. Today the children were challenged to put these skills to the test! They were asked to design a mosque, which relates to our learning in RE. We had some amazing designs...