African Adventure Day 1

We, the Emergency Relief Team, have arrived at our accommodation beside the African Village. The weather is warmer than we are used to, but we are beginning to adjust.

Our first tasks on arrival involved getting to know our fellow team members. We were divided into sub-groups ( Lions, Elephants and Hyenas) and began with some problem-solving and team-building activities.

We then began to get our bearings around the site, using maps to orient ourselves.

Following a break for lunch, we began to explore the site in more detail. We discovered a number of features, including five abandoned African huts in a village compound; a minefield beside it; an archery range; and a graveyard. In our teams, we used what we had found to build physical maps of the site.

We are beginning to piece together what has happened here after finding a box dropped by the UN. It seems the villagers have been driven out by raiding soldiers, and have no access to food or water. There is also a minefield outside the village which needs to be cleared.

We began to solve the first problem, by finding food in the forest to restock the supplies.

At the end of our first day, we have only just begun, but feel proud of our achievements so far. We have a big task before us, but are hopeful that we will be up to the job!

This is Mosuwe, signing off for today. I'll be in touch again tomorrow.

Here are all our photographs from today.

Duxford - A Grand Day Out

Whilst the Year 6 children were heading off for their 'African Adventure' the rest of the school had an adventure too. We headed towards the Imperial War Museum, Duxford as a starting point to our week's focus on flight. It looked like the children had a great time - I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

Rainbow Class

As the intrepid explorers set off for the depths of Norfolk (How Hill) on Wednesday...

...those of us left in school came out to wave them off. 

We were left with an odd mixture of year groups: almost all of year six; a couple of year fives; no years fours at all; some of year three; and all of reception to year two. We split into two classes for the week. Mrs Stoney kept Reception, Year one and half of Year two (a combination of Red and Yellow class, which has for some time been known as Orange Class), and I took the remains of the older year groups, plus the other half of Year two. This left us with a dilemma to solve. I had some of Blue Class, and some of Yellow class. We had already named this mix Green Class when teaching Year three to Year six in the afternoons for the past year or so. Now, however, I also had some Year twos...from Orange class. Luckily, I was saved from having to name them Brown Class, by a clever Year two girl, who thought of the name Rainbow Class.

So for three days, we were Rainbow Class and I was Mr Rainbow. We took the opportunity to do lots of art and maths, based around the story Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and the classic poem Jabberywocky by Lewis Carroll.

It was a lovely three days and I really enjoyed working with this great bunch of kids.

How Hill - Final Post

Well, our adventure is almost at an end. All that is left is to load the coach and travel back to Earl Soham. The children have been brilliant throughout and the How Hill staff have repeatedly commented on their behaviour, attitude and knowledge - they really have been a joy.

This morning we started with environmental art in the woods...

This was followed by orienteering which was ultimately highly successful as all the children found their way back.

See you at around 3pm.

How Hill - Friday

After an interesting evening which included a massive thunderstorm and resultant power cut the children have woken up ready for the final day of their adventure. Bags are being packed, weaving being completed, chess masters are in full flow whilst we're trying to locate the owner of the rogue grey sock!

Breakfast will be ready shortly - I'm not sure if the children could eat any more toast than yesterday but they seem keen to give it a go. The mist is clearing and it looks like it's going to be a lovely morning for environmental art and orienteering...

How Hill - Thursday Afternoon

After a hearty lunch we completed our carousel of activities.

This was followed by a visit to Toad Cottage. Built in 1840 this was the home to a marshman, his wife and nine children. It was rather cosy in this 2 bed roomed establishment!

The afternoon activities ended up with a game of Hawks and Blackbirds which outlined the difficulties faced by birds in feeding and protecting their young from predators!

How Hill - Thursday Morning

This morning we've been working in three groups; river trip, thatching and owl pellet dissection. The trip along the River Ant was fascinating with the children seeing a range of birds including herons, kingfishers and crested grebes as well as many varieties of ducks and geese.

Owl pellet dissection saw the skeletons of brown rats, water voles and small birds discovered much to the delight (or disgust) of the children!

Thatching required a substantial level of teamwork to enable their team members to remain dry (ish) during the ultimate waterproof test.