April 2017 Archives

Penpol Pupils go on a Virtual Reality Expedition with Google!

26th April 2017 by Jacob Woolcock

On Tuesday Penpol School had a very special visit from Google who had some exciting new technology to show off to the children.

Google Expeditions is a new project designed to introduce primary school children to Virtual Reality in the classroom. Mark from Google bought 60 Google Cardboard headsets to Penpol along with 60 smart phones and tablets to get the system set up and running. Throughout the day every class, from Year 1 to Year 6, had the chance to get some hands on time with the technology by going on a virtual school trip!

Led by their class teacher, the children were transported virtually around the world to unusual and exciting destinations including the Amazon Rainforest, underwater deep sea diving, onto the vast icy planes of Antartica and even into outer space to see the Moon and Earth from a whole new perspective. The excitement amongst the children was electric, with loud gasps every time the teacher took them to a new location to explore.

Virtual Reality works by taking a 360 degree photo of a location and then using special software to make the viewer feel like they are in the middle of the action. With the Google Cardboard and attached smartphone the children can then explore their surroundings simply by moving their head. The classroom disappears and they are taken on an incredible school trip.

You can learn more about Google Expeditions here: https://edu.google.com/expeditions/

Throughout the day we took as many photos as possible to remember this amazing event, so please enjoy a selection of them below…

Terrific Tri-Service Station

25th April 2017 by Amanda Aspden

Class 1 visited the Tri Service Station in Hayle. Andy Hitchins the safety officer, showed the children around the station and told them how the station acts a fire station, ambulance and police station. We were lucky enough to see the fire engine, ambulance and police car during our visit. We learnt all about what to do if the smoke alarms at home goes off and how the Tri-Service Station helps us all in emergencies.

We had a look in the police car and even had the opportunity to sit in the driving seat or be locked in the back. The children loved playing with the loud police car siren and learnt all about why police cars, ambulances and fire engines have loud sirens.

I liked the police car because we heard the siren – Ethan.

Chris Wolstencroft (Lola from Class 7’s dad) showed the children the fire engine. We learnt all about the role of fire ladies and men and what they do to help us and animals in difficulty. We looked at all the different equipment on the fire engine – the different hose reels and jets for squirting water; the four ladders of different heights; the cutters for cutting vehicles; the breathing apparatus and protective clothing and the walkie talkies. The children had the opportunity to sit inside the fire engine and hear its siren.

The firemen wear masks so the smoke can’t go in your mouth – Ada

Finally, the children were given the opportunity to squirt the water from the hose and put out a pretend car and tree fire. The whole morning was great fun and really informative. We all had a great time!

I liked squirting the water from the hose – Amelie

If any parents have smoke alarms that don’t work Andy Hitchins said they will fit or replace them free of charge and to contact him at the Tri-Service Station to arrange a meeting.

I liked getting wet because I squirted the hose – Phoebe

Class 6’s Brilliant Moving Pictures

20th April 2017 by Elizabeth Nidds

Children in class 6 had a very busy Spring term in DT in their ‘moving pictures’ topic. Over the course of the term, each child designed and made many different types of moving pictures. These ranged from pop up Chinese new year cards, to making their own class flap book all about themselves, to Easter cards that could be ‘cracked’ open to reveal the message inside!

I liked making the flap book about me because I liked writing all the information under the picture – Jasmine

I enjoyed making my Easter egg card as I liked decorating it how I wanted – Isla

I really liked the All About Me book because I could tell the reader about everything I like doing – Patrick

Their biggest project however, coincided with their History topic ‘the Titanic’. Each child was given the opportunity to design their own moving picture based on the skills and techniques they had used in previous weeks. The children came up with many unique and individual designs using cardboard flaps, lollipop sticks and even designed parts of the pictures that were to pop up. Once the design was finished, it was onto creating their masterpieces

I liked being able to make my own Titanic picture the way I wanted. I did much more on it than I thought I would when I designed it – Bella

Class 6 worked incredibly hard on their pictures and each child produced their own unique picture. They have all worked very hard on their moving pictures and are looking forward to designing and making puppets next term. Well done Class 6!

I enjoyed making my Titanic picture because I got to do lots of cutting and sticking and use lots of different colours – Tess

Penpol Pupils Celebrate New Infant Play Equipment

19th April 2017 by Penpol School

With the sun shining and summer well on the way, you really would think that things just could not get any better.

Well, at Penpol they certainly have!

That’s because the children have returned after the Easter holidays only to be greeted by a brand new, fantastic, three-tower, multi-activity climbing frame.

When I came to school I couldn’t believe my eyes. It’s the best day ever! The slide is amazing because it is super fast! – Dylan – Year 1

Part funded by the Penpol Friends Association (PFA), this amazing piece of equipment has a climbing wall, net ladder, super fast slide, fireman’s pole and many more challenging features. There are also three roll bars for the children to practise their tumble turns. To make things extra safe there is a rubber surface around the climbing frame.

I love playing on the new climbing frame because it’s such fun. My favourite bit is climbing up the ropes – Harvey – Reception

The reaction has been fantastic and the children have swarmed on to have a go. It has certainly livened up playtime activities for the children in the infant playground

I felt really excited because it looked such fun. I love playing on it on with my friends. – Lydia – Year 2

We are very grateful to the Penpol Friends Association for their fundraising and hard work. Without them none of this would be possible.

A big thank you to the PFA! – Everyone at Penpol School

Class 6 have been writing and following instructions

15th April 2017 by Linda Ruffell

Class 6 have been playing games in the English lessons.

Children in Class 6 have been learning all about instructions and how important it is to follow them in chronological order.

The children were asked to design their own board games, write out a set of instructions and then try out their games with a friend.

It was fun making up your own characters for a game – Corran

The children had great fun explaining their rules and then trying out their games. Children could be heard giving out instructions, counting and explaining what happens if you land on a certain picture.

I really liked playing Tess L game ‘Candy Land’ as she thought of some good obstacles to stop you winning’ – Finn

Finn explaining to Isabella and Reuben how to pay his game ‘Pokemon Crush’

Oliver and Brodie playing their inventions ‘Lego Game’ and ‘Pacman Adventures.’

I loved playing the games, especially rolling the dice and getting to move on two spaces – Tess

THE JELLY FRIENDS American blog

Year 6 Pupils Star at Youth Speaks

“Penpol pupils are curious, creative and courageous learners. Our school community believes in authenticity as the foundations of deep-rooted learning. Through our rich and relevant curriculum, we nurture community-minded, forward-facing international citizens of the future.”