This term, we have been learning about what we can do to help slow down climate change, such as using less plastic, saving energy, and planting trees.  As a class, we made a pledge to make small changes in our daily lives that can have a big impact on the planet. Some of us pledged to walk or cycle instead of using cars, while others have promised to recycle more and waste less food.  We also went on a litter pick around Penclawdd to do our bit for our community!  We also entered an exciting competition for Keep Wales Tidy.  We had to decide on a challenge that we wanted to help and then think of an innovative way to tackle the problem.  We had to think of a solution for our school and locality as well as a solution on a global scale.  Here is one of our entries.

We have also been reading 'Race to the Frozen North'.  Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson is an inspiring true story about Matthew Henson, a brave African American explorer who dreamed of adventure.

As a boy, Matthew loved the sea and longed to explore the world. But in the late 1800s, many people didn’t believe that someone like him—a Black man—could achieve great things. Refusing to let prejudice stop him, he set sail on incredible journeys and eventually joined a daring expedition to the North Pole.  Through freezing temperatures, dangerous ice, and harsh storms, Matthew proved his strength and courage. He played a key role in reaching the North Pole, but for many years, his achievements were overlooked.

This exciting and powerful story shows how determination, bravery, and never giving up can help us achieve our dreams—no matter what challenges stand in our way! ❄️🏔️  Whilst reading this book, we also learnt more about racism and how we can make a difference in the world.  We also entered a poster competition for Race Equality First, which is an organisation in Wales that works to ensure that all people are treated fairly, and all individuals have equal rights, without discrimination based on race or any other personal characteristic they possess.  Have a look below and some of our entries.

In RVE, we have been learning all about different creation stories from around the world. We’ve explored how different cultures and religions explain the origins of the world, from the Christian story of Genesis to the Hindu story of Brahma creating the universe, and many more!  To bring our learning to life, we decided to get creative and put our own spin on these stories... through RAP! That’s right—we’ve written our very own 'Creation Rap'!  So, get ready to nod your heads, tap your feet, and enjoy the performance by Sienna, Rose, Erin and Imogen attached below.

YO, YO, YO, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Atheism, Islam this is the creation story!

Vishnu and Shiva, they were a pair,

We’ll tell you the story on from there.

The God of creation (Brahma),

The god of preservation (Vishnu).

The god of destruction and transformation (Shiva).

Brahma came out of a lotus flower,

then he used his magical power.

Over the few following days,

Brahma created the world in a haze.

Now let's slide onto Christianity.

It took 6 days, and on the seventh he rested

Adam and Eve had to be tested,

God created the heaven sea and earth,

Eve bit into an apple and there was a curse,

They were punished until the end,

But then Jesus came as a friend,

Now it's time for Judaism.

It took 6 days for the world to be created,

Hashem made the sun, moon and sky, the rest awaited,

Everything was perfect,

It was all correct,

Let's move onto Atheism

A science story,

There was a lot of glory,

It started with cells so small,

And some people didn’t believe it at all!

Then came the big bang,

And this is how Atheists believe it began,

Last but not least, it’s ISLAM.

Allah the one God, created the world,

Adam the boy and Eve the girl,

He created the animals, sea and sky,

And then the 6 days flew by, we know that for sure it's not a lie,

This is the end of our 5-creation story's, I think we had a good category. BYE!

We have also written prayers to thank God for our wonderful world.  Here is an example written by Rose.

Dear God,

We thank you for the wonderful world,

The vibrant flowers of all the different colours,

The bright clear blue sky with the warm glowing sun,

Every creation you made, we are so grateful for.

Help us to take care of your beautiful world,

We’ll try to keep our world as green and healthy as possible,

Teach us to be kind and give help to anything that needs it.

Forgive us when we make the wrong decisions,

Forgive us for taking the wrong path,

Let us always remember to do our best in life and to look after our planet,

Amen

We have also learnt about the Northern Lights - one of the most magical sights in the Frozen Kingdom, also known as the Aurora Borealis. These are colourful lights that dance across the sky in the Arctic regions.  The Northern Lights happen when energy from the Sun collides with Earth's atmosphere. This creates glowing waves of green, pink, purple, and blue light in the night sky.  People who live in the Arctic, like the Inuit, have legends about the Northern Lights. Some believed they were spirits playing in the sky!  Many explorers and travellers have been amazed by the Northern Lights. They are a symbol of the beauty and mystery of the Polar Regions.  To celebrate their beauty, we have created our own music inspired by the Northern Lights!  Have a listen to a piece of music created by Harley, Alys and Jordan – we hope you enjoy!