Pirate Day - Newts

Yesterday we were pirates for the day and it was a lot of fun!

We did some tremendous activities like making a multi-coloured parrot using colourful feathers and learning pirate dances and shanties.

We went on an exciting adventure to find golden coins! We were about to share it out when we realised it had been stolen!

Blackbeard left a note admitting that he had stolen our treasure and marooned us on a desert island!

We now need to build shelters and find food so we can survive.

By the end of the week we will find a way to escape off this island.

We will persevere!

Newts pirates

Adrian Townsend Visit

We were very lucky yesterday to have author Adrian Townsend come and visit the school. He talked to years 2 to 6 about how he gets his ideas, what helps him write and his writing process.

He then read one of his short stories from Gran's Gang to the children. 

He even brought in a potato and a hose to help!

Thank you very much to Adrian Townsend for an entertaining afternoon.

Day 4 - More mammals, Orienteering and the S Factor

Turns out we're pretty good hotel developers as we managed to lure 3 furry friends into our mammal hotels for the night!

The first was down to the skill of Blossom and Ruby who attracted a female long tailed field mouse called Polo into their luxurious hotel.

The second was a female yellow necked mouse called Leona who decided to spend the night in Leo and Sam's palatial abode.

Finally, our third was a guest in Jacob and Lewis' 5* accommodation and was another long tailed field mouse but this time male and called Mickey.

Before they settled their bill and bid us farewell we took made the most of their stay and did some mouse weighing, measuring and drawing.

 

Then it was hometime...

 

 

 

After lunch it was time to impress with our compass and map reading skills.

Our top tip: To put Red Fred in his bed.

 

Once the sun had gone down there was only one thing left to do..... the S Factor!

Well done to the Kestrels for winning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3 - Earthquakes, mammals and chickens

First of all, begin we begin our third blog of our trip, we have some great news to share with you all..... last night we were extremely privileged to see not one but two foxes and wait for it......... A BADGER!!

 

 

After a well deserved sleep after a rather late night, we arose to pandemonium. A force 7 earthquake had struck Stubbington!

Fear not though as the Moorlands Rescue Team were on hand to offer assistance. So equipped with a mobile phone, blanket, first aid kit, torch, rations box, shovel and ladder we made our way showing courage, grit and determination.

 

 

(We weren't very impressed with having to check the sewers were clear of casualties)

 (superman!)

After lunch we were given some shocking news. Stubbington conservation area is to be turned into a car park if the planners have their way. We knew this couldn't be the case and so we decided to take action and prove to the nasty planners that the conservation couldn't be touched as it is home to an amazing array of plants and creatures.  To do this we set off to collect evidence of tracks, markings, homes and of course our favourite.... droppings.

However, this wasn't enough to ensure the safety of the woods. We needed to find animals. Therefore we decided to become hotel developers and create mammals hotels amazing enough to entice them in for a little visit. To do this they needed to be 5*:
*Safe
*Dry
*Warm
*Have food
*Have drink

(Very proud of our hotels!)

Then it was time to position our 5* hotels ready to receive their guests for the night. Once inserted into the tubes it was our job to camouflage them.

Tonight we were in for a real treat. Two weeks ago Stubbington hatched 2 adorable chickens both of which we were given the privilege to handle and stroke.

 

Before supper, we had some unexpected and rather unwelcome visitors..... pirates!


 
















One of these dastardly pirates had committed a theft of stealing a precious chest of treasure and we had to find out who. After 40 minutes of charging around the grounds interrogating a whole host of fiendish rogues the culprit was found... Squire Buoy who was literally caught red handed!

Day 2: Eggs, sandcastles and fossils

First sleep achieved by all resulting in three very proud teachers.

After a very hearty breakfast we were off to save Egg Sheeran from certain doom. To be able to assist our fragile friend we first needed to earn some money in the form of counters by carrying out a variety of team challenges:

 

 Finding the green paperclip in the grass.

                                                How many balls can one person hold?

 Get the ball from start to finish without leaving the tubes.

                                   Turn over the flying carpet without leaving it.

 Get the chicken, seed, fox and farmer across the river.

                        Ordering ourselves in different ways without talking.

 Passing hoops around the string and human circle.

                                      Saving Hampshire from nuclear destruction.

Then came planning, shopping and making time. How could Egg Sheeran survive being catapulted through the air, landing on a concrete surface and still live to sing another day?

 

Aim and.......     fire!

                                                                      KERSPLAT!!!!!

                                               But then on our final attempt...... Success!    

 After yet another scrumptiously delicious lunch and a hearty rendition of Happy Birthday for the lovely Maya who has turned 10 today, we were off to the beach.

Task 1: Rockpool building.
             Collecting a whole range of living molluscs and sea creatures to add to our mini aquatic 
             environments.

We found some beautiful anemones.


Task 2: Sandcastle building challenge.
             Points awarded for height, creativity and decoration.

Even the oldies couldn't resist joining in on this one!

Task 3: Fossil hunting.
             Well done to Ashley who straight away found a shark's tooth and Faith for finding an eagle
             ray crushing plate!
            

Now another day is almost over, we are preparing for one more adventure before we climb into our bunks - a late night trip to the badger hide. We're keeping everything crossed in the hope of seeing our black and white furry friends. Eeeeeeeeeeeek we're so excited!