A Musical Morning at Melsonby
On Wednesday of last week, we had the great fortune of having Paul McCreesh come into school and work with our children. This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the musical talents of our pupils and suffice it to say Mr McCreesh was suitably impressed.
 |
Paul McCreesh
Paul McCreesh was first established as the founder and artistic director of the Gabrieli Consort & Players, he now conducts such orchestras as the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Bergen Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Verbier Festival Orchestra. He is a former Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor at the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Lisbon and served for six seasons as Artistic Director of the International Festival Wratislavia Cantans in Wrocław, Poland. |
Stone Age Day at Melsonby
On Tuesday 24th September, we had a fun collaboration day with North South Cowton. Walking into the classroom, I could see no one was there! Only a strange looking man named John, so I went into class one and found everyone watching a film and completing collective worship tasks. Suddenly, I heard a noise out of the window and I saw a large white bus. Slowly, a crowd of people walked out and into the school, just in time for Stone Age day to begin!
First, John introduced us to the Stone Age timeline, which was hanging on the wall. Then he showed some smooth wooden tools by holding them up in the air. He invited some people (including me) to come to the front and hold up some animals skins. John, who was wearing funny clothes, made us guess which animals the skins had come from. Then it was time for break.
After break, John, who was still excited, set the room up with large pieces of paper and pencils. John explained what we were doing-he said we had to draw and handle the artefacts from the stone Age and bronze age. We all got to see all things because we took turns and swapped things around.
I was starving-it was lunch time! Tucking into my jacket potato, I could hear the rain on the roof like a drum. Mrs Simpson, who was filming the raging rapids tumbling down the playground steps, began to look nervous. Suddenly, Mrs. Simpson did an ear-piercing scream! Water was seeping in under the door and into the corridor! Miss moved North South Cowton out of the room and into classroom 3. The keyboard-it was going to get wet, so Miss and I rescued it by moving it to the other end of the room-I was a hero!
After lunch we were handling and drawing more artefacts. First we got the coins with horses on to draw, then we got some bones; finally the flint and steel. After I had drawn the flint and steel, which was extremely hard to touch, I had a go at making sparks. “Ouch!” I exclaimed, unfortunately, I had trapped my finger, which was bleeding. I had managed to make some sparks though.
In conclusion, I had enjoyed a very exciting stone age day. John had taught us so many facts that my head was fit to burst! Handling the artefacts and sketching them was what I enjoyed the most. However, after the school flooding and cutting my finger, I was tired and ready for home.
Class 2
Stone Age Pots
Class 2 getting to grips with the making of Stone Age pottery. From their own designs and research Class 2 pupils have the opportunity to make their own Stone Age pottery, quite literally bringing learning to life and showing a range of art and design skills taught through history, wonderful.
Class 2 are making rockets as part of their science topic on Earth and Space. Sorry to our caretaker, Walt
