Y5 visited to Kew Gardens this week. We had a pollination workshop to support our work on life cycles and learnt how bees pollinate plants. We then had a go at transferring some pollen from one flower to the stigma of another flower to show how pollination worked. We also visited the famous greenhouses and were lucky enough to see the corpse plant , which is the world’s smelliest plant in bloom , as it only blooms for a very short time every few years. I have attached a picture!

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/corpse-flower-bloom-titan-arum-kew-gardens- b2565732.html

5G were also daring enough to go up the tree top walk and experience what it was like to be above the top of the trees. It was a great trip and the children had a memorable experience.

On Friday May 24th, Elmgrove Primary School competed in a huge maths challenge with 65 other schools. This is not the kind of maths you or your child do in school. We play games like T-shapes, Pentominoes, Dominoes, Dice, Surprise Problems, Code Breaking, and the classic 24 game. This is advanced maths. The children who took part in the competition were Abdul (5ST), Tajae (5G), Mustafa (5G), Antonia M (4W), and Sofia (4W). Daily practice is the key to our success. Mr Gorsia gave us tools to use at home, and he taught us all the tricks and tips, which helped us to practice for the competition. Before the game, I was nervous but determined to do my best. I had worked really hard for the past weeks to get ready for the challenge! When they were about to announce the winners, I knew we would win! They then revealed the winners of the competition, which was us, Elmgrove Primary School! Cheers and happiness erupted from everyone! I was so proud of our team's achievement. We won first place! We'll be in the finals in June! Hip hip hooray! We're putting in a lot of work right now to win the finals!

Written by Sofia 4W

3 Hokusai and 3 Rousseau students stepped back in time this week to delve into the rich history and vibrant culture of Ancient Egyptians. Through hands-on activities, they not only learned about Ancient Egypt but also brought its wonders to life. One of the highlights of our workshop was creating Shabti dolls. These small figurines held significant importance in Ancient Egyptian beliefs, serving as companions to the deceased in the afterlife. Guided by their imagination and historical knowledge, the children carefully moulded and decorated their own Shabti dolls, each one unique and imbued with personal touches. Inspired by ancient hieroglyphics and symbols, the children adorned papyrus scrolls and also delicately carved intricate designs into bars of soap, mimicking the craftsmanship seen in ancient artefacts.

Beyond the creative activities, our workshop fostered collaborative learning and critical thinking. Through group discussions, interactive games, and storytelling sessions, the children absorbed historical facts and engaged in lively debates about life in Ancient Egypt. By immersing themselves in the culture, they developed empathy and appreciation for a civilization that continues to captivate minds centuries later. Year 3s we are so proud of you!

Year 3 visited the Science Museum this week and also participated in the ‘Wonderlab’ workshop. It was a day filled with wonder, excitement, and invaluable learning opportunities! Our budding scientists explored the properties of light and sound and experimented with gravity and forces. The workshop offered a wealth of immersive experiences that truly ignited their passion for science. Our visit to the Science Museum and the Wonderlab workshop was nothing short of extraordinary. It not only enriched our curriculum but we also hope to have inspired a lifelong love for science in our pupils. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of them for their enthusiasm, curiousity, and eagerness to learn. Thanks to all the parent helpers for their continued support in making such enriching experiences possible for our students.

On Friday 22nd March 2024, six children from both Year 5 and Year 6 (Rihana 6L, Danish 6B, Abdul 6B, Maria 6B, Abdul 5ST, Masih 5G) took part in the Aylward 24 Game Competition. We started training in January and attended a club after school every Friday where we would play against each other. At home, we also trained using the 24 games cards that we were allowed to take with us. We trained at home for at least 20 minutes every day. On Friday 15th March 2024, Mr Gorsia orangised a 24 game showcase event after school. Adults from across the school came to 6 Burman to observe and test our speed and skills. We enjoyed the showcase as it was a chance for us to show the adults in the school how much work and dedication we had put into training for the 24 Game. Thank you to all of the adults who were able to come to the showcase.

In the competition, there were 5 rounds in total, that lasted 7 minutes each. Each table had a Bentley Wood student from Year 9 who acted as a referee for the competition. As a school, Elmgrove won 1st place with ease, which meant we had won the trophy 3 years in a row. In the 5th round, the top four players would go to a table and compete to see who was the best individual player at the 24 Game. All the students on the top table came from Elmgrove, which meant 1st, 2nd and 3rd place was won only by students from our school. It felt amazing to see that after months of training that we had achieved 1st place as a team representing Elmgrove. Thank you to all of the adults that sacrificed their time to take us on this trip and trained us to win. We had an excellent time competing and enjoyed our victory.

Written by Maria 6B and Rihana 6L