Hamsterley Primary School Spike and Prickles are all set for winter thanks to our amazing Garden Club helpers! Their cozy homes are ready, and the children have been busy worm hunting to help them fuel up for hibernation

Butterknowle Primary School Key Stage 1 pupils have been working on their agility this week in PE. They played lots of fun games that involved quick changes of speed and direction. It was quite tricky to avoid bumping into each other! They also incorporated some maths into the lesson by counting in 2s and 5s when working out points in a team game.

Hamsterley Primary School After School Cookery Club: Chocolate Fireworks! This week at Cookery Club, the children had a sparkling time making their very own chocolate fireworks! Using melted chocolate as the base, they carefully decorated their creations with colourful sprinkles to look just like fireworks bursting in the night sky. The activity was a wonderful way to combine creativity with practical cooking skills, and the results were very eye-catching. The children were very proud of their tasty treats and are looking forward to sharing them with their families!

St John's Chapel and Wearhead Primary Schools Class 1 had a blast creating their own mini fireworks in a jar today! Using warm water, oil, and food colouring, the children watched in awe as bursts of colour danced and swirled like magic. A fun and fascinating way to explore science and creativity all at once!

Hamsterley Primary School KS1 DT Topic: Exploring Shelters in Our Village Class 1 are beginning to learn about shelters as part of their Design and Technology topic. To bring their learning to life, they went on a walk through the village to spot the different types of shelter all around us. On their walk, the children noticed: ~ Houses with porches and conservatories ~ Sheds and garages in gardens ~ The bus shelter ~ A gazebo providing shade and cover ~ Some fascinating entrances to community buildings The children discussed what makes each shelter useful, how they are built, and the different purposes they serve. This walk has given them lots of inspiration for their own DT projects later this term!

St John's Chapel & Wearhead Forest School Adventures! This week in Forest School, our young nature explorers got crafty and caring they made their very own bird feeders! The children created tasty treats to help our feathered friends through the colder months. After hanging them up, we went on a peaceful bird-spotting walk and were thrilled to see robins, blackbirds, and even a cheeky blue tit or two! It was a wonderful way to connect with nature and learn about the wildlife around us. Well done, Forest School crew your kindness to nature is inspiring!

St John's Chapel & Wearhead Slime time in Science Club! Our budding scientists had a blast this week in Science Club as they got hands-on and made their very own slime! From mixing ingredients to experimenting with textures and colours, the room was full of excitement, curiosity, and a little bit of mess (the fun kind!). It was a fantastic way to explore chemical reactions and learn through play and the results were ooey, gooey, and totally awesome! Well done, Science Club!

Hamsterley Primary School This afternoon, Class 2 had a fantastic time at Forest School. With Bonfire Night just around the corner, we got creative by making leaf fireworks , splattered mud fireworks , and even enjoyed a tasty chocolate breadstick sparkler . We also loved exploring naturefinding insects and digging deep in the pit to see what treasures we could uncover! A gentle reminder: please remember never to light fires without a grown-up. Stay safe and enjoy the celebrations tomorrow! #ForestSchool #BonfireNight #OutdoorLearning

St. John's Chapel and Wearhead Primary School Class 1 have started a new topic this week called Starry Night . Yesterday, we discovered what happens when we go to sleep including who is awake at night. Today, we have been on a hunt to find nocturnal animals who were sleeping in our classroom! They snuck in during lunch time! We had to stay really quiet while we were hunting so that we didn't wake them up! Amazing job everyone!

Hamsterley Primary School KS1 Science Spotlight: Brilliant Bunting Investigation! This week in science, KS1 have been busy exploring the properties of materials through a fun and practical investigation. The children tested a variety of materials to determine which would be the most suitable for making buntingthinking carefully about qualities like strength, flexibility, and weather resistance. After making thoughtful predictions, they used their chosen materials to create two sets of bunting: One set was hung outside, exposed to the elements The other was displayed inside the classroom After the half-term break, we'll revisit both sets to see how they've held up and whether our predictions were correct. Will the outdoor bunting survive the autumn weather? We can't wait to find out!

Bees have enjoyed learning about and making some Anglo Saxon jewelry. The children thought about the materials and techniques that would have been used during Anglo Saxon times.

Woodland Primary School The children were spectacular this afternoon presenting their harvest festival around the theme of thanks. A smorgasbord of readings, poems, artwork and songs made for a truly entertaining event that garnered some lovely feedback from our audience, including a handwritten note from Rev. Lloyd.

Woodland Primary School The Squirrels have been busy composing spooky halloween music this afternoon and taking it in turns to be conductor for our class band.

Woodland Primary School The Owls enjoyed their recorder lesson with Mrs Unwin from Durham Music Service today. They are looking forward to continuing their lessons after the half-term break.

Woodland Primary School Halloween lunch was a terrific success today.