Year 5 adventure at gilwell park!

Year 5 had a fantastic time on their residential trip to Gilwell Park! Excitement filled the air as everyone climbed aboard the coach, ready for two days of adventure and teamwork. After arriving, the children discovered their dorms and made them feel like home, unpacking, chatting and laughing (and, of course, enjoying plenty of snacks) before heading out to explore the great outdoors.

Their first activities included a scavenger hunt to identify different trees and leaves, followed by den building in the forest. Some of the dens were so impressive that a few children even wanted to sleep in them! Everyone also geared up for one of the most thrilling challenges of the trip - wall climbing! Once helmets and harnesses were on, the children took turns as climbers and belayers, working together to keep the ropes secure as their peers began their ascent. With cheers and encouragement echoing across the field, some children bravely climbed all the way to the top of the towering wall which was a real test of courage, teamwork and resilience!

After dinner, they headed to the campfire for an evening of songs, chants and stories. Some children chose to go on a night walk with their torches to gaze out over Enfield and the reservoirs. The forest felt a little spooky in the pitch black, especially with bats swooping out of the trees, but the children were brave and loved the adventure.

The next day was bursting with energy and teamwork magic! The children threw themselves into a series of thrilling team-building challenges like moving tyres to different poles, balancing balls on wobbly poles and shuffling carefully along a narrow bench to line up by birthday or name order. One of the highlights was the ‘scout scarf challenge’, where teams had to think creatively to pass the scarf across an ever-widening river!

After some well-deserved free time on the fields, everyone climbed back onto the coach feeling tired, happy and full of memories from an unforgettable adventure at Gilwell Park. Click here to see more photographs.

            

 

Acitivity days at school

While some of Year 5 were off on their Gilwell Park adventure, the children who stayed at school had an amazing few days packed with creativity, discovery and hands-on fun!

They became chefs in our brand-new school kitchen, cooking up delicious muffins and learning new skills along the way. In art, they joined a special pottery session with Miss Powell, shaping and decorating their very own clay creations. The fun didn’t stop there… they also enjoyed a lively dance session with Mrs Chappell.

In Computing, the children put their problem-solving skills to the test, exploring coding and technology in exciting new ways on Purple Mash.

It was a fantastic week of creativity, teamwork and curiosity proving that whether at Gilwell Park or back at school, Year 5 know how to make every day an adventure!

         

 

Creating Clever Automaton Boxes!

In Design & Technology, the children have started an exciting project to make automaton toys for a local museum. So far, they have carefully measured and cut wooden rods to build strong frames for their boxes, following a detailed design brief and specifications. They have also learnt to use tools like hacksaws and hot glue guns safely. Next, they will add the cam mechanisms and design the outside of their boxes to turn them into fully working, creative toys. It’s a hands-on project that’s challenging, fun and full of anticipation as the children see their ideas take shape!

      

   

 

year 5 reading buddies

This year, Year 5 are taking part in a wonderful community project as part of Hazelwood School’s Community Action Plan! They visited Palmers Green Library to join story time and play sessions for 2–5 year olds.

The children had a fantastic time supporting the librarian, reading stories to the younger children and helping with activities. It was a brilliant opportunity for Year 5 to practise reading aloud, show kindness and share their love of books with others. The rest of the year group are already looking forward to their turn to visit the library and take part in this exciting experience!

        

 

A fantastic start to year 5!

Year 5 have had an exciting start to the school year, diving straight into creativity, curiosity and collaboration! In the first week back, they explored the book You Choose and shared their identities by writing about the places that matter most to them. Using their imagination, senses and best words, they created detailed descriptions full of expanded noun phrases, ambitious adjectives and rich sensory detail, helping readers picture exactly how their favourite places look, sound, smell and feel.

Collaboration has also been a key focus, linking to our school value of Teamwork. In PSHE, the children explored what it means to work together successfully. They took part in fun team challenges, including building the tallest tower they could using only newspaper and tape, and reflected on the qualities that make a team thrive.

In Science, teamwork continued as they practised the skill of Identifying, Classifying & Grouping. They investigated everyday items such as metal keys, glass, paperclips, books, and plastic milk bottles, deciding how best to group them based on their properties.

Design & Technology saw Year 5 rise to new challenges with resilience and determination. They were introduced to automaton toys, such as jack-in-the-boxes, and learnt how cams – non-circular discs – create different types of movement when paired with followers (sliders or levers). The children then worked in teams to build their own working cam mechanisms using cardboard, a lollystick, a split pin and masking tape. Their focus, problem-solving, and teamwork were truly impressive!