Croeso i'r Dosbarth Pen Y Fan!

Welcome to Year 4 and 5!

Spring Term 2024-2025

Dosbarth Pen Y Fan enjoyed their Base Camp Day to start our Spring Term topic, 'Time Traveller'.  Our class focus is 'Castle and Kingdoms'. During Base Camp Day , the children began by researching different Welsh castles and shared their facts with friends to compare details. They then worked individually or in partners, to create models of castles using different materials. Later on, the children took part in a Kahoot quiz to test their knowledge about the Norman time period. They did very well! 

From Base Camp Day, the children decided on our 3 Enquiry Questions to focus on this term. They are: 

1) Who were the Normans?

2) How did the Normans live their lives?

3) Why were castles built in Wales?

Pupil voice sessions are held to support the planning of adventures. 

Cardiff Castle 

We visited Cardiff Castle to learn more about the Normans.

First, we explored the stone keep and we were able to reach the highest point to see the entire castle grounds.

After exploring the keep, he had a guided tour of the castle. Our tour guide, Jodi told us all about the owner of the castle, John Patrick Crichton- Stuart and how he renovated the castle and lived his life with his family. We explored the Smoking room, the Children's playroom, the Banquet room, the Personal Dining room and the Library. After our tour, we entered through the World War 2 tunnels. The siren was playing ...it was very life like! 

To end of trip, we participated in a Norman workshop. We learnt about the different armour and weapons that the Normans used to use in battle. We were lucky enough to try on the chain mail armour! We had a great day. 

Special Days

During the Spring Term, we will be celebrating many special days and celebrated them in a variety of ways. 

Including;

• St David's Day
• World Book Day
• Big Walk and Wheel
•  

Swimming 

This term we had the opportunity to attend Pyle Swimming Pool to have a block of focused swimming lessons. The pupils attended daily sessions for one week where they learnt and developed their swimming skills. They all enjoyed their extra fun session in the pool! 

Special Visitors 

Cardiff Devils:

We were visited by 3 players from the Cardiff Devil Ice Hockey Team. We had the opportunity to meet the players and ask questions about their lives, their team and their sport.  Some of us were lucky enough to try on the Ice hockey uniforms that they wear during training and matches!

Phillipa Yarranton

Phillipa Yarranton attended our school this term. Phillipa plays professional Netball for Cardiff Dragons and Welsh Feathers. She met with us and talked about her life and her own personal experiences during her Netball Career. Phillipa answered our questions and was able to share her own tips and knowledge about the game. She was even kind enough of coach a Netball session with the Netball Team!

Summit Day 

Dosbarth Pen Y Fan enjoyed their Summit Day this term. Parents and families attended to school to work with the pupils and complete Norman themed activities. 

Autumn Term 2024-2025

Dosbarth Pen Y Fan enjoyed their Base Camp Day to start our Autumn Term topic, 'Our World, Our Planet!' 

We went around the school visiting different classes and working with different teachers to complete activities based on our new topic. The focus was Space, Artic, Endangered Animals and Rainforests. 

We used what we learnt on Base Camp Day to decide where we would like to take our learning this term. During our pupil voice sessions, we decided on a focus and have chosen three enquiry question to focus our learning. 

Our Enquiry Questions this term are:

1) What is it like in Space?

2) What is our Earth made of?

3) Which animals in the world are endangered?

Pupil voice sessions are held to support the planning of adventures. 

1)

Techniquest 

We visited the Planetarium in Techniquest to journey out to Space! We learnt about the Solar System, our Galaxy and the different Planets. We looked at the different constellation of stars and tried to identify them. 

The Earth, Sun & Moon

We made models of the Earth, Sun and Moon to identify how they move and orbit in the Solar System. 

Special Days

During the Autumn Term, we will be celebrating many special days and celebrated them in a variety of ways. 

Including;

• Children In Need
• Fair Trade Fortnight
• Black History Month
• Shwmae Day 
• Roald Dahl Day
• Remembrance Day 
• Anti-bullying Week

Financial Education 

We were visited by MyBnk for a period of sessions' to learn about financial education. We learnt about how to pay for things, saving and current accounts and the price increases over the years. We learnt the importance of budgeting and managing the money that we have for essentials. 

Attendance

Dosbarth Pen Y Fan won the Attendance Award for the entire Autumn Term! 

Ardderchog pawb!