Tuesday 28th April

Good morning. We have all had a great nights sleep! 💤 The children settled fast after a busy day yesterday. Everyone slept soundly (all night) which was a welcome treat for the adults! The children will all have plenty of energy for the day ahead !👍🏼

Morning from Valley Farm

Tuesday1

First stop - sandwich making for our packed lunch. A great opportunity to choose a filling and create our perfect sandwich!

The dining hall was a buzz of excitement as the children got to choose from a range of cereals and cooked items, including toast, sausage, hash brown, beans and scrambled eggs. Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day whilst here as we are always on the go.

Tuesday2

Both Ennion and Bingley had no joy with the mammal traps 😿. We have reset them and hope that the drizzly weather keeps the birds away for a few hours. 🤞🏽

Tuesday3

Mammal Trapping Tues

Rivers and Streams is a new activity for White Court so we were excited to see what it entailed! The children clambered down the banks into a local stream to measure the speed, depth and flow of the water using special equipment. Aiden, Teddy and Lacey enjoyed squelching in the thick mud that had settled on the stream bed as they tried to measure and record their data. Teddy said that he wanted to get back in the stream as he had enjoyed getting stuck! Zak thought the cool water felt good on his hot feet!

Everyone learnt how to play pooh sticks as we measured the flow of the river. Sadly, the wind was blowing against the flow of the river’s current which slowed down the speed. It took a few minutes for the sticks to emerge on the other side of the river, so we watched the bullocks grazing in the meadow and drinking in the river. 🐄🐮

Tuesday4

With tired bodies, Bingley group were not phased by the challenge of the orienteering activity. With only compasses, maps and a set of clues in their hands, they embarked on their greatest challenge yet. Who would return first? Who would be the quickest? Who would be able to answer the clues (correctly)to send them on the correct route?

It was very close, but ‘The Winners’ were crowned ‘Flatford Compass and Orienteering Winners’. Team work definitely makes the dream work!

Orienteering Tues

During the pond dipping activity, the children in Ennion literally stood in the pond to see what creatures lay below the water’s surface. Wading out to the great depths of - halfway up their wellies and armed with nets, the children took to catching as many creatures as possible. Using the classification charts, they identified each creature they caught before sharing with the group and returning them all (except for their most exciting find) to the pond.

Back in the classroom, the children took a closer look at their creature under the microscope. Excitingly, Kora, Emily, Teddy and Evie caught a water scorpion that they named ‘Frederick’ whilst the Terrific Tufted Trio caught several water beetles which are known for sticking their bottom up out of the water to collect air bubbles which helps them to breathe.

Tuesday5

Bingley group spent the afternoon completing the Rivers and Streams activity. We started by thinking up movements of each part of the water cycle. Then we walked to a stream and went in. We measured the width and depth of the stream. Elsie said it was fun going in and Isabella said she wasn’t sure at first as her wellies were not that high but then it was fun. We compared the stream to the river near Bridge Cottage but did not go in!

Rivers and Streams Tues

Mammal trapping…take 2.🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

Woooohhhoooooo! We caught some mammals! Cody and Tom caught a shrew called ‘Connor’, Ella and Camilla caught two voles while Luca and James caught a shrew called ‘Jack’

Tuesday6

Dinner Time! Everyone was ready for their evening meal. Meatballs and pasta. It was delicious!

Dinner Time Tues

The campfire, hot chocolate, singing and dancing was great fun! It was a lovely evening altogether. Sydney said that she liked the campfire because it kept her warm and she liked the singing. Poppy said she enjoyed the songs and trying to make one rhyme.