Rainforest experience proved to be really wild
In the week starting the 18th of June, our main hall was transformed into a rainforest for a week to allow current and future pupils to gain a better understanding of the rainforest and its exotic creatures.
The event involved several hands-on activities including: – a presentation about tropical rainforests and the animals that live there; a geographical workshop, which helped the children understand the rainforest and its layers and an art project for pupils to create different stamps featuring animals that live in the rainforest, for example, snakes and lizards, using coloured tissue paper to add texture to their work.
All participants received a memento of themselves holding an animal of their choice, such as a corn snake, a salamander, a gecko, a millipede or a frog (if you could keep them still for long enough).
Furthermore, we interviewed Miss Earl, a teacher
from Barnes Junior School.
Interviewer: Do you think that it will help benefit the children’s understanding of the rainforest?
Miss Earl: Yes, absolutely. A hands-on experience is much better than what they could’ve learned in the classroom.
Thornhill Academy’s very own head teacher, Mr Ian Redford exclaimed that there are many opportunities like this to come.
He mentioned that the next possible event is being organised in October/ November – and we cannot wait for it!
Rainforest week was the second of a themed week taking place in school this year.
Back in March, we hosted Kielder Observatory who transformed the hall into a planetarium.
Once again, our primary feeder schools were invited along to be immersed in the wonders of space.
One evening the planetarium was even open to the public to try and inspire our local community.