Discovery Blog 08.05.2026

Carl’s Class

Carl’s class have been enthusiastically engaging in a wide variety of outdoor learning activities across all areas of the curriculum.

Throughout the academy, our staff team are acutely aware that outdoor learning boosts engagement, wellbeing, and academic skills and therefore, we embrace all opportunities to use nature and the outdoors towards these ends.

As part of our work in science, learning about the lifecycles of plants and how to care for them, the children have been planting sunflower and broad bean seeds. They really enjoyed this and have been actively involved in monitoring and watering the seeds they have planted. They have also loved seeing and identifying the various plants and flowers around the school site.

In geography, the children have been involved with caring for the school environment, ensuring that our indoor and outdoor spaces are litter free and clear of any dangerous obstructions. They loved litter picking and have been eager to go out each day to help maintain a litter free environment.

Our PE focus has been on throwing and catching a ball. It has been lovely to take our PE lessons outside to take advantage of the fresh spring air and beautiful sunshine.

The children have also been engaging with work based on the artist, Guiseppe Arcimboldo as part of our DT and art focus. Inspired by Arcimboldo’s ‘Fruit Face’ work, they created their own portraits using a variety of fruits.

We have extensively used the outdoor spaces for our literacy and maths sessions too.

For the story, ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, we recreated each part of the story’s obstacles using a range of resources outside. The children giggled as they retold the story aloud whilst through the various physical obstacles. Additionally, the children have enjoyed mark-making or just chilling out with an enjoyable read, whilst sitting in the sunshine.

During maths sessions, we have been on shape hunts and used 2D and 3D shapes to sort, make patterns, build structures, or make recreations of people or objects. We have also used natural resources for ‘number’ focused work.

It has been lovely to see the children working and collaborating with one another, sharing their learning experiences: in the mud kitchen, water area, obstacle course, running around playing games, or just sitting together sharing resources. We all love learning together in the outdoors!

Explorer of the week

Becky – Isaac For sharing toys with his friends

Maddi – Dollie For excellent engagement in maths activities and stacking cups in size order

Kirsty – Poppy  For being so independent, feeding, walking and learning 

Carl – Vinnie For engaging well in all of his learning activities

Chloe – Scarlett For developing in her communication and learning more signs. 

Sophie H – Sebi  For being an excellent role model to others  

Vicky – Joey For his enthusiasm and engagement in all activities this week.

Dominic – Toby For his independence when completing fine motor activities

Jacqueline – Morgan For communicating in full sentences with adults. 

Lydia – Saffron For being polite towards her friends and staff.

Alex – Zahra For trying her very best with sewing skills in STEM lessons 

Jenni – Alfie For his enthusiasm and always being inquisitive – wanting to know more.