Operation Christmas Child 2014

Robin Hood has once again supported the Operation Christmas Child appeal. This year, we collected 82 shoeboxes filled with lovely gifts, which will be distributed to disadvantaged children in Europe.

On Tuesday, our school captains Lewis and Lia helped carry and load all the boxes into the collection van.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the appeal.

The Big Draw 2014: Community Afternoon

On Monday 13^th October Robin Hood Primary School took part in The Big Draw.  The 2014 Big Draw runs from 1 October to 2^nd November across the UK and in twenty other countries, with 280,000 people expected to join in over 1000+ events. This year the theme is “It’s our World” and is a celebration of our environment – of urban, rural and coastal landscapes.

The children invited their family and friends into the hall to see their amazing drawing.  The hall was filled with people and many had a go at drawing their own pictures to add to the celebration of the world.

Pupils visit Rothwell Library to see Dinosaur

Pupils from Robin Hood Primary School were invited to see the dinosaur they had made which is on display at Rothwell Library.  The children, who are now in the Reception class had made the stegosaurus in the summer term of last school year, when they were in the Nursery.

Spike, as he is called by the children, was made as part of the topic on Dinosaurs.  He measures 1metre tall and a massive 260cm long and was made over two weeks.  Jan Chin, who made the dinosaur with the children said “I was given a roll of sheet wire and told to make a big dinosaur with the children.  I knew it had to have a solid base to support it, so I looked for an old chair.  The dinosaur’s legs are built around each chair leg, and the chair back supports the highest spike.  The wire is then shaped to form the body.  As the wire has sharp edges the children could only watch how the dinosaur was being built, and they were fascinated – asking lots of questions.  They then helped me to put masking tape over all the sharp bits which we called “bandages”.  Then, they were able to paper mache it.  They then painted and collaged it, all the time, using lots of lovely rich language to describe what they were doing.  Spike has sat with us, in Nursery at carpet time until we broke up in the summer!

I am very grateful to Rothwell Library for displaying our artwork.  The children have loved bringing their families along to see Spike and they have been treated to a story by Librarian, Caroline Higson-Blythe.  I am sure every time they pass the library, they will now want to go in.”

Koinobori Fish on display at Tropical World, Leeds

These fish have been made by the children in Years 5 and 6 at Robin Hood Primary School during their recent topic on Japan.  The fish have been made from fabric and are hand painted. The topic took place over three afternoon sessions (five hours).

 

The fish are on display at Tropical World in Leeds.  Three fish appear to be swimming along the top of one of the walls and as you turn the corner you are greeted by ten more.

 

 

During their topic on Japan, the children first looked at Koinobori flags (carp kites) which are flown on Children’s Day which is a festival and public holiday in Japan which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month. This provided some background knowledge around the concept of Children’s Day.

This is a festival which celebrates the future success and health of Japan’s children.  Carp kites symbolize success and are believed to represent strength and determination of spirit in the same way as the koi carp swims against the current.  As the koi carp has a long life span it is considered a symbol of success whilst the bright colours are believed to drive away evil spirits.

 

 

Beautiful Koi carp swim in the pools in the butterfly enclosure at Tropical World which is why I thought of Tropical World as the obvious place to display the children’s artwork.

 

Each pupil brought in a pillowcase and working in pairs, they cut it open and drew around the koi carp template. They then stuck down the edges and let it dry for the next session.

During the next session they looked at some examples of koinobori flags and concentrated on painting the intricate pattern using fabric paint.

Banners in the Mall at Robin Hood Primary School

Yesterday Mr. Reynolds and Mrs. Mistry helped me (Mrs.Chin) take down the spacemen/robots that had adorned the mall for a while now and in their place three banners have been put up.

The banners have been made with fabric prints created by the children of Key Stage 1 and the Children in Reception and Nursery (Foundation Stage). There are prints on both sides so whichever direction you are walking down the mall you can see them.

During their topic “The Rainforest” the KS1 children learnt about printmaking and produced these fabulous prints by block printing. See if you can spot some animals hiding in the trees and the rain falling on to the forest.

The Foundation Stage children used some experimental techniques to create these monoprints.  As part of the “Animals” topic we looked at the patterns on some jungle animals and recreated them by ripping up paper, laying down wool on to a block and many children overprinted one colour on to a background.

It was great fun making the banners, choosing which prints looked good next to eachother.  Hopefully each time you walk under them you will spot something you haven’t seen before.

To see the prints being made go to http://artandcreativityrobinhood.blogspot.co.uk and click on the label Printing.

The Pom-pom Owls join Sheep at Armley Mills

All three animals in our pom-pom family can be seen together at Armley Mills, Leeds this summer.

They are in the Spinning Room, a magnificent area which shows the animals off in perfect surroundings:- amongst  bobbins, shuttles and spools of wool.

It is just so right that they should all go back to where the pom-pom project started back in 2012.

I am delighted they can be seen by lots of visitors to the museum and hopefully they will raise a smile from all ages.

They are on display until October so if you get chance to visit the museum this summer, you will see them.