Christmas In Reach

Nativity!

Rehearsals for the Key Stage 1 Nativity have been a big feature this week.

 

 

For our pupils with a visual impairment, this is an important moment to develop a feeling of belonging with their sighted peers. Being included in everything that a class does is key to the work done at Kings Copse Oasis. Learning alongside friends is the most powerful tool that a teacher has and when it is all singing and dancing, like the Nativity, it is also a lot of fun!

 

Winchester Special Celebration

On Friday 5th December the staff and pupils of Kings Copse Oasis joined the Special Schools Christmas Celebration at Winchester Cathedral. This is an annual event organised by Hampshire Music Service.

 

The Cathedral was a throng of activity when we arrived with children, carers, parents and local dignitaries milling around preparing for the concert. 

Each of our pupils had a role in retelling the Christmas story; from angels,

 

 

 

and shepherds,

 

 

 

Inn keepers and Wise men,

 

 

School Banner bearers,

 

 

Each part of the Christmas story had a multi-sensory element which the children could join in with.

 

 

 

Then a special performance of a medley of Christmas songs by one of our Year 6 pupils on the piano, accompanied by Mrs Keene.

 

 

Then later some ribbon twirling!

 

 

It was a chilly day out, but we were warmed by the enthusiasm of all of the children at the Service and especially proud of our own pupils, waving the banner for Kings Copse and the Oasis!

 

As a bonus, one of our pupil's grandmothers had come to the cathedral and she brought her new guide dog, Nick; who thoroughly enjoyed meeting lots of new little people, who in turn thoroughly enjoyed meeting him!

 



 

Thank you to Hampshire Music Service for a brilliant Celebration!



Bursledon Windmill

This week the Oasis VIP club visited Bursledon Windmill. One of our pupils wanted to know what a windmill was when she came across one in her class work. Unfortunately, at the time Bursledon windmill was closed for important restoration work. However, not deterred Mrs Sampson got in contact with the Windmill and arranged the first visit available (even before the grand re-opening this coming weekend!) once restoration work was completed.

 We were taken through a hands-on story of the 'Grain chain'; how wheat becomes bread. This matched the work our Year R pupil has been doing about the story 'The Little Red Hen'. So first we planted the corn. All the pupils had a chance to explore the texture and smell of a bucket of corn.

 This then grows into a head of corn, long and thin with a spiky top.

 The corn is then beaten out with 'threshers'.

 Then to 'sort the chaff from the wheat', we go outside to do some 'winnowing'.

 The corn and flour was stored in this shed which was up on mushroom stilts to keep the rats out.

 We had a go at grinding corn by hand at first. With the smaller grinder, you could feel the corn rolling beneath the two stones, being crushed.

 Then we went up into the Windmill taking great care not to bump heads on some of the low handing beams.

 There were three massive grinding stones set into the windmill's floor. We explored the thick groves carved into the stone as well as the mighty turning beam running down through the heart of the windmill. 

 Outside on the sail deck we could appreciate the size of the huge white sails.

 The children were really sensible and careful inside the windmill; as well as brave and trusting in a very unfamiliar environment. They listened brilliantly and enjoyed exploring the hands-on elements on the ground floor of the windmill.

 A large touch screen interactive virtual tour of the windmill was a great resource.

 As were geared models which showed a simplified version of how the windmill works.

 Despite a chill in the air and a lot of wet weather we had a brilliant afternoon at the windmill. Thank you to all the staff at the windmill for making sure our visit could happen and for being so welcoming and kind. It was an excellent hands-on learning experience. The windmill re-opens to the public this weekend...

THANK YOU

Bread making

Some of the children in Reception made bread today. For our visually impaired pupil this provided a brilliant opportunity for some hands-on learning with friends.

She really enjoyed getting stuck in, sieving and mixing. Importantly this was amongst friends. Children learn so much more effectively when with their friends.

Eventually after lots of kneading and talk, a set of half a dozen rolls were rolled and shaped and ready to be left to rise.

Then it was time for snack and some play with friends.

Once the dough had risen, it was time for baking. Which gave the children time to retell the story of The Little Red Hen. For our VI pupil this was supported with figures from the story.

But rather than retell on her own, our pupil then joined with the rest of the children to act out the story script.

Then we carefully checked on our baking.

Mmmmm, smells lovely!