Summer topics explored

At the beginning of the summer term, in April, Primary School classes gathered for their new summer topic launch for the ‘Inventors’ shed’. The students discussed and made links with their previous topics ‘Planting a rainbow’ and ‘Infinity and beyond’, thinking about how inventions of individuals or groups of people have helped shape the world. They also discussed important inventions in their lives, such as wheelchairs, and had a look at different inventions such as the first car, telephone and airplane, amongst others.

All students were very engaged, contributed with their different ideas and then participated in different activities. Many of those activities were chosen by the students during their previous Primary Students’ Voice Conference (massage story, making potions, making their own inventions using different materials and playdough, match the Inventor cards, switch activities and breaking ice using different tools).

All students expressed their opinions about the topic launch and the feedback was amazing: students were really enthusiastic about spending the summer term on learning more about inventions and how things work. “I would like to play with the tools and break the ice again,” said one of the students. Another one said: “I want to make more potions.”

During the summer term, Primary students learnt about how important ideas and people in design and technology have helped shape the world. They learnt about different materials, tools and steps they need to follow to make/invent something new. Additionally, recycling was another part of their learning. There were also a few fun visits and trips out of school to support the learning and experience beyond Treloar’s. One of them was the trip to the Milestone Museum. The visit was a link to the topic ‘Victorian and 30’s inventions  and everyday materials’.

 

Summer topic for Key Stage 3

While Primary classes enjoyed studying a variety of inventions, Key Stage 3 students had fun taking part in activities that linked to their summer topic, ‘Who are you?’

 

One of the ‘Who are you?’ activities involved students making an imitation of a human stomach using Weetabix, banana or crackers with stomach acid (orange juice) and saliva (lemonade) and then pouring

the contents of their stomach into the intestine (tights). Unsurprisingly, the students thoroughly enjoyed the task as they could see how our bodies work inside.
KS3 really enjoyed their summer topic, ‘Who are you?’. In their Creative lessons, the groups explored an artist Alberto Giacometti—a Swiss sculpturer, painter, draftsman and printmaker. the focus was on his sculptures of animals and people to support the summer topic.

There were three key questions to support students with their learning:

• What can you see in the picture?
• What materials has the artist used?
• Think of three words to describe how the sculpture would feel?

These questions helped students create their own interpretations of Alberto’s work. To showcase students’ hard work and to celebrate the end of the summer term topic, all the artwork was displayed in the form of an art exhibition.

Students were beaming when they received the fantastic feedback from fellow staff and students such as ‘Wow, KS3 have been working so hard this term’, ‘My favourite piece is the one that someone has used their own body to make the shape’, ‘ The students should be so proud of themselves I wish I was part of making these’.

Topic launches at Treloar’s

At the beginning of every term, teachers launch a new topic or theme for their lessons. Introducing new topics at the start of each term provides breadth and balance to student learning. Read about the previous topic launches by following the links below:

Treloar School & College Primary School new topic launch | Treloar School & College

Treloar School & College Ready, Steady, Go! Early Years topic launch | Treloar School & College