Dragons, Birds and Astronomy at Dunannie
About Bedales
Dragons, Birds and Astronomy at Dunannie
15/02/2011
Children at Dunannie, Bedales pre-prep school, filled their start to the spring term with a diverse range of activities from celebrating the Chinese New Year with life-sized dragon models to participating in the RSPB’s ‘Big Schools Birdwatch’ scheme to learning astronomy.
The Chinese New Year Musical Workshop, organised by Dunannie and Dunhurst’s new Music teacher, Debbie Adamson-Brattland, gave pupils from Years 2 and 3 a chance to play a variety of instruments including cymbals, drums and oboes. They also learned how to put on a display with Chinese dragon models and there was even an audition for the dragon with the most ‘wiggly bottom!’
Dunannie’s Year 3 pupils set off early across the fields to woodland locations on the Bedales estate to conduct their own bird watch in support of the RSPB’s ‘Big Schools Birdwatch’ scheme. The children were very patient, watching for 30 minutes in three different places, equipped with binoculars, recording sheets and identification charts. In all they saw 45 birds, and more than eight different species. Every child received a certificate and their own chart to fill in for birdwatching at home.
The children also helped to make willow bird feeders to hang in their own gardens and enjoyed observing the first visitors at the new bird feeding station outside their classroom. They were delighted to see a sparrow and a blue tit enjoy a gourmet mix prepared by the teachers of lard, bacon bits, cake, bread, sultanas and dried mealworms.
Bedales Maths teacher, Michael Truss, who is also an Astro-Physicist and an expert on the Solar System, gave Dunannie’s Year 1 pupils a wonderful tour of the night sky. Using special technology to display the sky on a large screen, he introduced them to fascinating facts about astronomy including the names of the star constellations such as: The Great Bear, The Seven Sisters and the Milky Way.
Commenting on the term’s activities, Jo Webbern, Head of Dunannie said: “The children were enthralled by the Chinese music and dance spectacular and it was an excellent opportunity for them to learn more about Chinese culture and traditions. It was also wonderful for us all to witness these beautiful dragons ‘dance’ around the School’s assembly room. I was equally impressed to find that Year 3 proved to be such tenacious ‘twitchers’ recording some very good results, which will allow them to have a greater appreciation of the many species of birds that we have in the UK. Our results will be included in a nationwide survey of birds around school grounds.”
