Celebrating Learning

The whole school turned bleu, blanc, rouge on Friday 14th for Bastille Day!

Little Dorrit and Gargery learnt about the Eiffel Tower and the famous Bastille Day firework which happens there every year. Children had a chance to design their own Eiffel Tower firework and take it home! Reception children learnt about Paris with Barnaby bear and wrote postcards “from Paris”! They also worked really hard decorating their classrooms with beautiful buntings and big “Bastille Day” banner.

The year one and two children did 3 workshops: an art workshop, discovering the paintings of the Impressionist Claude Monet and reconstituting their own versions! They also did a Geography workshop, learning about different cities and food speciality from each region. At the end, they drew in their paper plate which dish they would love to try! Finally, each class did a quiz based on all the songs they learnt during the year, producing a beautiful “accordion of learning” ! They looked great! Special mention to Mr Oxenham and Mr Paul who organised a baked camembert tasting for their class!

The year three and four children rotated around 4 workshops. They got to discover the city of Paris through the very fun movie Ratatouille with Miss Spears, learning about Paris’ sewers, bridges and river! With Miss Fareeda, children were taken for a tour around the world of all Francophones countries, playing two different board games and giant puzzles! Mr Young held a workshop on the origins of Bastille Day itself, through a board game, children learnt about “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” and the very unequal society which gave ground to the revolution. With Mr Cannock, the children learnt about a very special group of men in Congo who called themselves “Sapeurs”. They are members of the “Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People”. Their movement embodies the elegance in style and manners of colonial predecessor dandies. The children designed their own sapeur outfit, using very vibrant patterns and colour block colours.

The year five and six children also rotated around 4 workshops. With Miss Rhys-Evans and Mr Kittoe they discovered 4 famous French singers and played a memory game, scanning QR codes and listening to extract of their songs. The children were taken on a tour of Paris in Peggoty class with Mr Bakas and Miss Worley, get on and off the “metro” and learning about famous landmarks of the French capitale. Next door with Mr Windle, children learnt about the origins of Bastille Day itself, through a board game, children learnt about “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” and the very unequal society which gave ground to the revolution. Last but certainly not least, children had a very fun workshop with Miss Jacobs learning about typical French regional food, reading the very clever story of “La grenouille a grande bouche”.

All children got to play Boules on the rooftop playground and enjoy a delicious French lunch!

Merci tout le monde!

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On Day 3 of our French trip, we first packed up our suitcases and said our goodbyes to the Hardelot Center as we headed for the Chateau d’Hardelot. We were lucky to have a very sunny morning for our guided tour of the Castle and its gardens. We also enjoyed some contemporary art installations, the children’s favourite one was the big river ! We had our picnic at the Castle before going to Cap gris nez to admire the British Coast line. Some of us were lucky enough to spot a seal! Others learnt about the different boats which travel up and down the channel.

Words of the children – Hardelot 2017

“The market was my favourite bit because I bought a lovely hat!”
“My favourite part was the corn weaving because it looks very cool.”
“My favourite part of the trip was going to the beach!”
“My favourite part was the forest because it was epic and the beach because we dug until we found water!”
“Breakfast was my favourite part of the trip! I loved the croissant, pain au chocolat and the baguette!”
“My favourite part of the trip was sleeping in a room with a friend because it made me overcome my fear of being homesick.”
“My favourite part was the beach because I found a crab!”
“My favourite part of the trip was the market because we got to find out what French people like”
“My favourite bit was making the beds because we had to work together and be responsible.”
“My favourite thing was meeting my penpal because you got to make new friends.”

What did you think of the Hardelot Center?
“It was very cool, I loved the rooms and the big forest”
“It was great, especially the forest!”
“I think stayig in the middle of the woods in awesome!”
“I really like it, it was like home.”
“I loved it and I really enjoyed the food!”
“It was really nice and clean and comfortable.”

The trip in one sentence:
“It was a great trip, I hope I can go again next year!”
“It was amazing I wish I had gone in year 4 as well!”
“It was the best trip I have ever been on”
“The Hardelot trip was wonderful!”
“Fun, joyful, exciting and good for your French.”
“It was an amazing trip where we did great activities!”

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