Twelve lucky Year 7 pupils took part in a multisports festival at QE School today. The event was organised and run by a group of Btec students as part of their coursework requirement.
Pupils were treated to a variety of sporting activities that they may not have ordinarily participated in at their own schools. Activities included: seated volleyball, kurling and boccia, followed by a series of team relay challenges. Pupils from Emmanuel and Allenbourn also attended the event and it was lovely to see our pupils engaging and interacting with them and having fun.
​A big thank you to the QE leaders for organising and hosting a great event.

It is 1300. Lord Greetham has helped defeat the Scots and the king wants to reward him with a castle. He cannot make his mind up which one to have. As an estate agent can you persuade him that yours is the best? He requires:
•Excellent defence (most important) – what will it protect against?
•Space to entertain
•Privacy for the Lord 

What will make your work a success?

• 3 separate paragraphs
• Each with PEE
• Strong exact evidence
• Persuasive explanation describing which attacking strategies the defence can stop.

Eg. The wide moat will hold back most siege towers. 

If you are doing the GD task:

• Introduction
• Advantages of Chepstow
• Disadvantages of Chepstow
• Advantages of Rochester
• Disadvantages of Rochester
• Conclusion and final decision

For your history homework, create a labelled picture of a Motte and Bailey Castle on a piece of A4 paper. You need to label: the Motte, the Bailey, the Keep, the ditches or moats around the castle, the Bridge or Draw Bridge. CHALLENGE -  If you can also add: The Pallisade, The Killing Ground.

Aim to make your picture a neat, labelled, detailed diagram that can explain what each part of the castle is for. You could do it on the computer, but please do not just copy and paste a picture - add your own labels and thoughts. Web pages to help:

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zwtc2p3/revision/2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/castles_motte.shtml
https://kidskonnect.com/castles/motte-bailey-castle/

​Why not go to http://www.timeref.com/castles/castmote.htm you can explore castles online!

Homework Task – You are the Mayor of Volcano Ville in Iceland. Since the volcano, "Eruptsalot" (it is not a real volcano's name), erupted last year and destroyed most of the town, most residents have moved away and your town stands in disrepair.
You need to design a poster to encourage new people from around the world to move to your town advertising the benefits of living in "Volcano Ville".
You need to include the possible benefits you have learnt today and to explain each benefit. You could also discuss what has been done to prevent damage to your village should the volcano erupt.
Aim to include:

• Tourism – beautiful scenery, photographers, holidays, geothermal spas.
• Mining – mining for sulphur, gold, diamonds etc.
• Farming – soils are rich and fertile.
• Geothermal Power – sustainable energy, steam is used to turn the turbine which produces energy.
• Diversionary spillways – carry the lava away from the town
• Water pumps – these are available to spray seawater on the lava to cool it and stop its flow
• Volcano monitoring – range of methods used to monitor the volcano and issue an evacuation order if necessary

Websites to help:

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/z8p9j6f/revision/3
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/active-volcano-kilauea-hawaii-agung-mayon-community-culture/
​http://www.geography-site.co.uk/pages/physical/earth/volcanoes/volcanoliving.html

VIDEO:     www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8XJh1VCGIo

Year 7 were treated to a drama workshop yesterday with Tori and Christopher from Join the Company drama school. 
They had great fun exploring Macbeth and staging the fight scene at the end of the play. 

For homework this week year 7 need to research any volcanic eruption and create an information sheet (JUST 1 PAGE OF A4 PLEASE). Include:

• Pictures and maps (colour is best)
• Name of the volcano
• Where it is on earth
• When it erupted
• What happened when it erupted (to both people and the environment)

Understanding what an Elizabethan audience would have believed about witchcraft is an important part of understanding 'Macbeth'  Use the suggested websites to create a poster for an Elizabethan town titled 'How to Spot a Witch' .  Try to include information on the following: 
- What a witch might look like.
- How they might behave. 
- What they might have with them. 
- How to tell if they're a witch.                                           www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zmjnb9q/revision/3
- Why they are dangerous. 
- What to do if you find one.                                               www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zxfqxsg

​
Challenge question -  Why did Shakespeare include witches in 'Macbeth'?

​Tell the story of the Battle of Hastings as a comic strip on one side of A4.
Here are some events to include (they are in the wrong order):

• Other Saxons do the same to meet their doom
• First the Norman archers, then the foot soldiers try to break the shield wall but both fail
• Harold is shot in the eye and the Normans win. William is crowned King of England.
• The Norman cavalry attack
• Godwinson and his Saxon troops are tired from the Battle of Stamford Bridge
• Some Saxons leave the shield wall to chase after retreating Norman cavalry, but they are isolated and die.
• Norman archers can now fire from close range into the Saxon army.
• The Saxons take a great position on Senlac Hill high up with s shield wall

Websites to use:
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zsjnb9q/revision/4 (lots of facts)
 
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/z3s9j6f  (good for picture ideas)
 
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zsjnb9q/video (video)

Mrs Eadie's English group, your homework is to create a 10 question multiple-choice quiz for your friends based on Shakespeare and his life.  You must now the correct answer for each one yourself!
Here are some websites which may help you. 
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/general-history/shakespeare-facts/
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/music-art-and-literature/shakespeares-globe/william-shakespeare/
https://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/resources/shakespeare-facts/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zksycdm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zx9kjxs

For homework Year 7 have been asked to research an English Monarch who ruled between 1066 and 1485. 
They need to create a profile on a page of A4 and include:
•A picture of the monarch
•The dates they lived
•What they are famous for

You may also want to add more detail about their success / failure, their children and the legacy they left for England.

The best ones will be displayed (their authors will be rewarded) so you might be best looking into a less well known king as I can only display one William the Conqueror and remember, you need to keep all the information on a page of A4.