Humanities

Year 8 drew mind maps in History. Year 5 learned about the history of our school in their Humanities lessons, sketching our 16th century Barn and comparing it with the recently-built Sports Hall to see the differences in architecture over time.

Year 3 explored a treasure trove of replica Tudor artefacts, learning all about catgut lute strings (yuck!), ruffs and the stocks.

Pupils Published in Mind’s Eye Prep

We were thrilled to see four of our Year 8 pupils published in Mind’s Eye Prep’s 2020 edition. Produced by the senior school and featuring a selection of the best writing by prep school pupils in the South East of England, this year’s magazine featured articles by Theo, Erik, Alex and Molly. Tackling a range of topics, their pieces were extremely well written and thoughtful. We’re so proud to see their writing reaching a wider audience.

Year 5 acted out a scene depicting the school’s opening for Kipling Day. Year 7 celebrated National Poetry Day in English, thinking about the theme, “vision”.

Earth’s Saviour

This is not a landfill, this is where the world will end.

The smell and heat it produces, can destroy our lives.

These aren’t resources, These are what we rely on to live.

If we run out of these, we won’t be able to survive.

Recycling isn’t what we should ignore, every part can change eternally.

Reusing them isn’t just a second chance, it’s our big U-turn.

Animals are suffering, stop this from continuing.

Every day thousands die, act fast to save our world.

You might think this is a joke, but it’s definitely, definitely not.

Yinjun (Year 8) One-to-one lessons for bilingual pupils continued.

Members of Year 6 completed a project over the Autumn half term break on Roman villas, producing some exciting creations out of recyclables. Year 4 made crosswords with letter tiles to help them learn their spellings.

Year 7 made models of the Earth in Geography to demonstrate its structural components.

Year 4 made their own rainforest environments out of shoeboxes. Year 7 made Christmas cards in Spanish to practise their seasonal language skills.

After practising the testudo (tortoise) formation with lunch trays in History, Year 4 made their own Roman shields.

Year 8 made coastal landforms and features out of Play Doh in Geography.

View from a Window

I wake up. I open my eyes to the dappled sunlight streaming in through the window, scattered by the leaves of my plants. I yawn, rubbing the sleep off my eyes, and sit up. I go to my balcony. I am instantly hit by the dizzyingly sweet aromas of the marigold and honeysuckle that I grow on the terrace. I gaze over at the sun-kissed city drawn out below me and feel at peace. I am above the hectic bustle of city life, just out of reach, but not far enough to be alone. I look beyond the sandstone and white buildings to the sea.

Holly (Year 8) Year 5 delved into the world of Harry Potter and made some creative adverts for a new shop in Diagon Alley.

Year 3 studied hieroglyphics and learned how to write Egyptian numbers.

Spring is Coming

Spring is coming by many signs; The chorus of daffodils all in a line An orchestra of birds singing beside The snow of winter has disappeared, no sign Flowers are blooming like opening hands The rivers unfreeze as the children stand by Birds build their nests and birds learn to fly Spring is coming, just look at the signs. Steven (Year 7)

Year 7 studied Macbeth and undertook a creative writing assignment to write newspaper reports about the death of King Duncan. Great work here by Oliver.

Inverness Daily

The year 1040 YOUR DAILY SCOTTISH NEWSPAPER Price: 2p

Deadly Daggers Destroy Duncan

R.I.P King Duncan

In the early hours of the morning, the king was sadly murdered with two sharp daggers while he was sleeping. We still don’t know who has done it. Astonishingly the king was murdered in Macbeth’s castle.

Evidence of the murder inside the king’s chamber included the two guards’ sharp daggers covered in King Duncan’s rose red blood. Macbeth was so angry at the guards for

murdering the king that Macbeth quickly murdered them without wasting time, because of this horrible act that they had done. Macbeth said, “King Duncan was an amazing king and I am distraught that this happened in my castle.” Malcom might have done this but would he kill his father? His guards said that he was in his chamber but he could have gone and given Duncan’s guards money so that he could do the deed for him and that night when he was sleeping in his quarters he heard cries of murder, and he fled the country.

At Inverness Daily we wonder why Macbeth acted so fast and why there were smaller hand prints on the wall. Maybe a woman did this? It couldn’t be Lady Macbeth though because she acted so worried and she even fainted. Within this large, cold castle could there be a murderer? What could happen next?

In the next few days will there be a funeral for King Duncan? Will his sons attend? They seem to have quickly fled the country. We hope Macbeth will be crowned and other people will be grieving for the loss of King Duncan. Year 8 discussed mythology in their Classics lesson.

Year 5 recreated scenes from Harry Potter in English.

Townsend-Warner History Prize

This year, we were proud to enter our very best Junior King’s historians for the Townsend-Warner History Prize. Every year the test is tough, and 2021 was no exception. At the beginning of the Summer Term, we learned that Year 8 pupils Luca and William had advanced to the second round, making them among the top 255 pupils qualifying from a field of 1,250. Junior King’s has a strong record of achievement year after year in the Prize and we were so proud to have Luca and William representing us in the second round this year. Year 6 visited Forest Park in English to use the woodland environment as a stimulus for their creative writing.

Year 5 practised performing the poem ‘Chocolate Cake’ by Michael Rosen.

Year 4 looked at flags of the world in their French lessons, writing about their chosen flags in French.

‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair: hover through the sunshine and fresh, Kentish air’: members of Year 7 acted out scenes from Macbeth in the sunny orchard. Year 4 learned about the Victorians and practised their deportment.

Pupil Articles Shortlisted for Mind’s Eye Prep

In the Summer Term, six of our Year 7 pupils had articles shortlisted for possible publication in Mind’s Eye Prep magazine. Isabelle’s account of animal testing was well researched, while Sophia’s piece focusing on mental health – entitled ‘Mind Out!’ – gave insight into issues faced by young people today. Olivia’s article, ‘Leatherbacks Lost Forever’, highlighted another important cause – the threats to the turtle population – whilst Nick’s exploration in ‘Antarctica’s Mega Meltdown’ illuminated the ever-pressing concerns of climate change. On a lighter note, Millie offered a refreshing look at the benefits of crocheting in her article, ‘Hooked!’, and Josie examined the scientific discoveries of black holes in her editorial, ‘The Hole Truth’. We are very proud of their achievements. Year 4 read newspapers and discussed their features in English.

Year 3 looked at instructional writing in English and created their own “fruit pizzas”.

Year 5 gave individual poetry performances in Junior House Garden in English, focusing on tone, emphasis, speed, volume and gestures.

Open Window, Collioure by Matisse

Long green vines hanging on the wall successfully create a photo frame. Boats swim slowly on the salty sea, Rainbow coloured walls shine in everyone’s eyes, and the sky is like a melted pink marshmallow. The cherry window opens widely to the beautiful view and the flowers turn excitedly to the bright sunlight.

Flora and Darren (Year 7)

Year 5 presented their Spanish prep on their favourite things about Spain to the class. Year 6 wrote and performed post-exam poems based on being present in nature.

Annabel N (6P), Lili S (6M) and Freya J (4W) were selected as prize winners in a series of national short story competitions that were open to children aged 7-12. The Federation of Children’s Book Groups hosted three competitions in honour of Short Story Month in May, with renowned authors setting story starters for the themes Myths, Magic and Mayhem in the three competitions. We were thrilled that Annabel and Lili won 1st and 2nd place in the Myths competition respectively. The judges commented that “their entries really stood apart from the crowd with great use of language, description and ideas”. Freya was also awarded 3rd place in the Mayhem competition, with the judges saying they “were really impressed with her story”.

In Language Support, Year 6 read the first Harry Potter book and made a poster about it. Our librarian Mr Cox brought the Year 6 boys a selection of exciting summer reading material.