This week, we delved into the realms of history, English, art, and mental health. We engaged in thought-provoking discussions and made creative explorations.
This week marked Children’s Mental Health Week, with the theme “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself.” To promote self-awareness and emotional understanding, we watched an insightful clip from Disney’s Inside Out 2, which explores a range of emotions. This prompted discussions on how understanding our feelings can empower us to face the world with confidence. In the film, one of the characters, Anxiety, says each of us is a complicated web of ‘sophisticated emotions’ and all of those emotions work together to help us navigate our experiences. Joy, the main character, tells us we ‘can’t just bottle up our emotions.’ Connecting with our emotions throughout our life and prioritising the simplicity of joy, happiness, and even sadness is essential. We responded with creativity, crafting powerful artwork that illustrated our strengths and emotions, further reinforcing the concepts of self-acceptance and personal growth. What super messages!
In our history lesson, we embarked on an intriguing exploration of Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova expedition. Our key inquiry focused on whether the mission was ultimately thwarted by bad luck or by poor planning. To enhance our understanding of the various factors contributing to the expedition’s failure, we participated in a ‘diamond nine’ activity. We were able to identify and rank major issues related to the disastrous outcomes of the expedition. A hot topic of conversation was the decision of Scott’s team to take ponies along on the journey. Sadly, these animals were ill-suited to withstand the extreme cold conditions, leading to their untimely deaths.
As we dissected the elements of Scott’s decision-making, we weighed the significance of both luck and planning. For instance, many team members suffered from frostbite, yet some of us argued that they were aware of Antarctica’s harsh realities ahead of time. Could they not have reduced this risk through more effective preparation? We had fun debating the events of Scott’s mission and most of us agreed the expedition failed due to a combination of both bad luck and bad planning.
In English, we turned to Scott’s own writings, reading extracts from his poignant journal entries during the Terra Nova expedition. The accounts were deeply moving, particularly the mention of fellow explorer Titus Oates, who bravely walked out into a fierce blizzard, knowing he would not make it back. Oates’ poignant declaration, “I’m just going out and I may be some time,” resonated with us. We felt an enormous sense of admiration for Oates and we have attempted to better understand the emotions he experienced at such a critical juncture. Inspired by his sacrifice, we were challenged to draft our own diary entries as if we were Oates himself, capturing his final moments, as well as the crushing realisation of the Norwegian team’s arrival at the South Pole before the British. Here are a few extracts from our writing so far…
I know not what day it is but time no longer seems important. Although it is difficult to record my final thoughts, should this be found I wish for others to know I faced the challenges with bravery. (Luke)
The weight of despair presses heavily upon my chest. However, for my team, I must bow out of this adventure. (Dylan)
Today, as I write this in the biting cold, I find myself in a pessimistic state. Time feels as though it has stopped. (Mia)
I am drained of life, of hope. I find myself in a deep state of sadness and I cannot slow Scott and his team any more. As sad as it is, I choose to suffer no longer. (Thea)
As if that wasn’t enough, our artistic journey took an exciting turn when we collaborated with the National Portrait Gallery in London for a virtual workshop focused on the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh. Titled “The Yellow House,” the workshop introduced us to Van Gogh’s life in the South of France in 1888, where he found inspiration to create a series of mesmerising paintings.
During the session, we explored Van Gogh’s works, analysing the techniques and emotions conveyed through his art. Through observational sketching, we practised our artistic skills while learning to appreciate the beauty that surrounded Van Gogh. We used cutting and folding techniques to create our own version of an artist’s house, encapsulating the essence of creativity and expression that Van Gogh embodied.
Friday saw our first ‘Food Bank Friday’ collection at school! We were inspired to take action after listening to the beautifully written and illustrated story ‘The Invisible’ by Tom Percival and read to us by Sachin and Harrison. The book tells the poignant tale of Isabel, a young girl whose family struggles financially, forcing them to leave their beloved home. While they move to a new part of the city, Isabel notices the people around her who are often overlooked, those who feel invisible in society. Her decision to make a
difference transforms her community and reminds us all of an essential truth: we all belong.
Here at Little Hadham Primary, we reflected deeply on the themes of belonging and kindness. The School Council met to explore practical ways we can support those in need. As always, we shared thoughtful ideas and as a school have come up with a brilliant plan to support the food bank on a more regular basis – hence Food Bank Fridays! In Willow Class we chose to donate items for self care such as toothpaste, soap, shower gel, and deodorant. Thank you for supporting us with this endeavour. All donations will truly help make a difference in someone’s life.
