Our recent residential visit to Edinburgh was a fantastic journey full of discovery, culture and fun. We began by exploring the historic Edinburgh Castle, where we viewed the oldest Crown jewels in Britain and enjoyed breathtaking views of the city. At the National Museum of Scotland, we saw fascinating exhibits related to science, history, Asia and the natural wonders of early Scotland. The Scottish National Gallery impressed us with beautiful paintings and artwork from famous artists – the perfect setting to complete an art research activity set for us by Mrs Burch. We also enjoyed a delightful evening showing of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe production at the Festival Theatre in central Edinburgh.
On our final day, we made an exciting stop at Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, where we experienced mind-bending optical illusions and enjoyed panoramic views of the Old Town from the Victorian viewing lens that was first installed in 1835. At The Chocolatarium, we learned about the origins of chocolate, Fair Trade, the chocolate-making process and even got to create our own sweet treats. We also made several visits to Princes Street Gardens – surrounded by nature and stunning views of the city and castle, the park was the perfect place to enjoy lunches and recharge our batteries. The visit was a perfect mix of learning, creativity and fun, making it a truly memorable experience.
Trips like this promote independence, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of history, science and the arts in real-world settings – making learning meaningful and memorable. A huge thank you to Mr Stanney, Miss Henley and Mrs Cheney for making this unforgettable experience possible.
Back at school, the creativity has continued. The woodwork club have been designing a Woodland Theatre for storytelling and puppet shows, helping to develop design thinking and teamwork.
In DT, Years 1 and 2 explored vehicle design while learning about friction and gravity, and Year 5 created balloon-powered cars to investigate forces and alternative energy.
Year 2 also took their fraction learning outdoors, using bar modelling to find fractions of amounts in a practical, engaging context.
In art, some of the children tackled clay modelling, building skills in sculpture and structure. Year 5 created animals that needed to stand freely on 4 legs, whilst having a tilted head to bring them to life. Year 6 designed and created their own pinch pots.
Science lessons saw Year 4 create classification keys using local leaves, while Year 5 explored air resistance through hands-on experiments.
Reception pupils continued their intergenerational visits to Tennyson Wharf and took a marina walk in celebration of National Walking Month. Their kindness was recognised by a local shop, who gifted each child a windmill – the morning ended perfectly with a story and ice cream.
It’s inspiring to see so many rich learning experiences taking place every week. The staff’s commitment to providing varied, engaging opportunities ensures each child’s time at Burton Hathow is truly special.