Junior King’s Online

Starting the Lent Term in Lockdown

As we were preparing to open the school to pupils once more for the start of the Lent Term in January, schools across the UK were once again asked to close their doors to help limit the further spread of the coronavirus in the community.

After the success of our initial launch of the Junior King’s Online Eduction programme in the Summer Term of the previous year, teachers once again taught their lessons online, with pupils logging in for a comprehensive, creative remote education. Unlike the first full UK lockdown in 2020, on this occasion our Nursery was allowed to remain open, bringing life to a corner of our site and joining children of key workers, who we continued to care for through this second school closure.

Our pupils proved adaptable, responsible and resilient in the face of this further lockdown, despite the mid-year disruption to their in-person teaching, and once again they impressed with their attitude to online learning, resulting in some truly excellent work. On the following pages, you will see a snapshot of what pupils accomplished away from their classrooms; a glimpse into a very different start to 2021.

Reception learned all about winter weather Year 3 learned about springs and springy materials in Science, discovering that they could make musical instruments out of materials that vibrate to make a sound. Here are Henry and Cassiopea with their improvised instruments.

Nursery kept winter at bay, reading in front of the “fire”

Pop Art by Pippa and Henry (Year 5)

A Boy’s Best Friend (A Sonnet)

Maya and Nala my beautiful dogs. Ears like velvet and nose as black as night, They sleep all day and night and lay like logs. Walkies they love but give others a fright. Maya’s seven and comes up to my waist, Fawny brindle in colour with hazel eyes. Nala is ten weeks and goes around with haste, She dreams when she sleeps and takes deep sighs. They play ball and tug on thick knotted rope, They jump and bark at a knock on the door. I have to stay fit to allow me to cope, I teach them tricks and they give me their paw. Love and cherish, enjoy when we play, I have pride when they obey what I say.

Oscar F (Year 7)

Year 6 designed their very own seal rings in Latin. They learned through translation work that rings with a seal on the top were used to sign contracts on wax tablets in Ancient Rome. Designs here by Madhu and Yurino.

Year 2 learned about Sikhism. Unable to visit the impressive Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend as they would have done in normal times, pupils watched a video about it. Here are Rafferty, Amara and Daniel’s Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag), with the Khanda symbol carefully drawn on. Year 1 learned about life in and around castles and designed their own coats of arms. Here are Luca and Isabella modelling their work.

In DT, Years 7 and 8 designed and constructed phone stands

Devita and Serena’s (Year 4) river feature drawings for Geography

Nursery investigated ice in the school grounds

Year 5 undertook a design challenge in DT, building the tallest tower possible using only 10 sheets of A4 paper. Pupils had to think outside the box and get creative with limited resources. Great work here by Emma and Ciall. Arcimboldo-inspired collages and compositions for Art by Hannah and George (Year 7)

Isabelle and Charlie R (Year 2) learning about 3D shapes in Maths

Year 3 studied the Egyptians through a range of creative activities, including making their own Pharaoh collars and constructing sarcophagi replicas; Zen, Findlay, Hajun and Jessica with their creations

Stefanie and James (Reception) practised their addition and subtraction skills with a board game

Limerick

There was a young pup called Basil Whose hair, when wet, would frazzle He loves going for a walk Chasing birds that squawk And flashing his white teeth in a dazzle

Lewis (Year 4)

Limerick

There once was a boy called Chip Who wanted a pancake to flip He tried it in Ealing It stuck to the ceiling And his kitchen turned into a tip!

William (Year 4) Maia and Olivia (Year 1) built towers for Rapunzel as part of their themed learning

Year 8 made abstract collages to inspire compositions; work here by Alec and Wendy

In PSHE, Year 7 were challenged to try new things; here are Nehemiah, Bayo, Anaïs and Sophia’s new things

The Nursery children made a beautiful heart for all of their friends who were unable to attend school during the lockdown. The children loved staying in touch with their friends, near and far, through photos and videos. From New York to Switzerland, Wales to Canterbury, the heart symbolised how their missing friends remained a part of the Nursery community and how much they looked forward to being all together again. Year 3 made illuminated positive message boards with interchangeable messages in DT. Lovely work here from Melody, Amory, Alex and Juno.

Ozzy (Year 6) created this fantastic comic to tell the story of the Peasants’ Revolt

THE PEASANTS REVOLT 1381

by Ozzy Durran 6M

Festival of Literature

We very much enjoyed taking part in the Festival of Literature, which allowed us digital access to some wonderful author talks while we were all locked down at home. Different year groups had the chance to hear from writers such as Emily Hanna-Grazebrook, Anna McNuff, Joseph Coelho, Anthony McGowan, Matt Oldfield and more! Some great discussions and work came out of the talks, including some impressive creative writing! Some examples of work inspired by the talks can be found on this page.

Mrs Holland’s Year 7 EAL English group had a go at writing their own rondel poems, inspired by Joseph Coelho’s talk.

A Place I’d Like To Go

There is a place I’d like to go So much to see, so much to write. The mountains are a wonderful sight But when I want to go The Government says no. Even if it’s just one night There is a place I’d like to go So much to see, so much to write. Mountains covered in snow Such delight Powdery and bright Melted below There is a place I’d like to go So much to see, so much to write.

Bobby (Year 7) Year 4 listened to Emma Yarlett’s talk and learned how to draw the Dragon Post dragon!

Year 6 enjoyed Matt Oldfield’s sporty talk about his football books. They watched clips from an infamous penalty shoot-out and listened to the song ‘It’s Coming Home’ before writing about a tense football moment.

The Horror Pen

It was down to the final penalty. Gareth Southgate was to take the strike that would carry England to the finals. As the team wished him good luck, he strode onto the pitch with his head held high. He picked up the ball, put it on the penalty spot and walked back slowly. He looked at all the corners of the goal and then straight at the goalie. Suddenly he ran hard and pelted the ball straight down the middle but the goalie saved it easily. That meant that if the Germans scored now they would go to the final and England would not! The crowd gasped with disappointment as the German player stepped up to the “P” spot and kissed the ball for extra luck. He put the ball down, then stepped back by five. He looked where he wanted the ball to go and shot the ball in the top right corner! We all knew what this meant... Germany would go on to the final. And England would just watch. Kit (Year 6)

Let it Snow

Blanketing most of Kent in glittering white, snow arrived in February to relieve us from grey winter lockdown days. Pupils at home in the local area and children of key workers in school made the very most of the occasion and sent in their photos by the snow plough-load to share with their friends in The Week.

Reception read the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Pupils learned how to make porridge in Maths (Kiara enjoyed trying a selection of toppings) and here is Kaylan with his Goldilocks paper plate. Year 8 celebrated Chinese New Year in Maths by making shapes using the ancient tangram Chinese dissection puzzle

Year 2 learned about Valentines Day; here’s Gabrielle with her heart biscuits and Charlie S with his handmade card Year 4 built their own robots for DT. Each homemade robot have to have a simple machine and at least one moving part. Work here by Kayesha and Darius.

Year 5 made posters on the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. Here’s Dhiya’s. Mitzi with her bear chair, created for a Year 1 STEM challenge

Year 6 produced their own work inspired by their Aboriginal art topic. Designs here created by Lili and Chloe.