Home challenges

Friday 3rd July

Home challenge

This weekend, I would like you to try something you would normally find disgusting. As we get older, our tastes and interests change.

Perhaps you could try a food you think you don’t like. Or offer to massage someone’s feet. Do you something you think is disgusting. It might be fun!?1?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Thursday 2nd July

Home challenge

This week in history.

Use the internet www.safesearchkids.com  or https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Historic-July/ to find out about historical events this month in history.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Wednesday 1st July

Home challenge

Some people, mostly adults are disgusted by bugs; other people love them.

Today, collect sticks, or recycle bottles and straws to make a bug house.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Tuesday 30th June

Home challenge

Let’s imagine the new school year means a new uniform. What would you choose to wear as uniform? Do you think we should wear ties? Should we be encouraged to wear leggings instead? Would your uniform include a hat for protection from the sun or rain?

Would you want adults to wear uniform too?

What colour best suits you?

Design your own school uniform – perhaps even the school badge too.

Can you write about the items you design to give a little detail of reasons you choose?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Monday 29th June

Home challenge

Disgust

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ngBTm5Ytg

What do you find disgusting? For me, it’s the idea of sprouts. I don’t like the idea of holding snails, but children tend to love it.  For Riley, it’s the idea of cauliflower.  Today, list or draw the things that you find disgusting. Some will be the same as your friends’; other might be surprisingly different.

Do you do things that disgust your adults? Do they do things that you find disgusting?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Friday 26th June

Home challenge

What can you play?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22kqia2ibVU

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zfjn34j

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0105swt

Look around your home or the local park. What can you play? Pick up a stick, or the baseball bat and see what sounds you can make.  

I used to love… you must ask and adult’s permission… beating the plastic bin. Then sitting on the bin and beating it again, listening to the different sound it makes. If your adult sits on the bin, how does the sound change?

Perhaps you can make your own guitar using a tissue box and elastic bands; or you could make a flute using a tube. How can you change the sound of your instrument?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Thursday 25th June

Home challenge

Shine or reflect?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zjkc87h

You will need adult supervision to do this activity safely.

Look around the home for things that give light and those that reflect light. Make two piles.

Think a little deeper and look a little harder. What else in your home gives light? What in your home or garden reflects / bounces light?

Take a walk with an adult and a torch. Look at road signs, cars and animals. What in the street or sky gives light? What reflects light?

Does your bike have reflectors? What colour are they?

On my bike, I have white, orange and red reflectors. Why is it important that bikes have reflectors?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Wednesday 24th June

Home challenge

I know I am guilty of taking things for granted. I often forget to be grateful for the skills I have. Take a look at these videos of people doing amazing things. Then think about how your life might be different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FHllrGEGoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfofjjn12Bg

Can you write your name using the other hand? Perhaps you could use chalk or a pencil to write your name using your feet. I’d love to see how your writing looks.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Tuesday 23rd June

Home challenge

Is fear a useful thing?

Think of words which mean fear.

Try to think of a time you have been scared or frightened. Ask people about a time they were frightened, worried or anxious. How does the feeling protect us?

How can we deal with fear?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Monday 22nd June

Home challenge

Fear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85z4N_sHXJw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_bdsxd0TWQ

We all experience fear; it is the body’s natural super power to protect us. Some call it ‘fight or flight’. The body has to fight the fear or fly away from it.

What does fear mean in your body?  Where do you feel it?

Think of a time you had to run away from something scary.

Think of a time you stood and fought the fear and won.

Think of a time you recognised fear in another person.

Try to create a scene of fear; you might write, draw, make a stop motion video of a big spider / robber/ maths test/ dentist or even, my friend is scared of buttons – it’s an actual fear!

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Friday 19th June

Home challenge

Challenge: Decide whether you want an intellectual/ artistic / sporty challenge.

Design a new game. It could be in the pool, at the park, in the garden, in the house. 

Perhaps you want to score points, or see how fast you can do something.

Things to think about: playing cards, simple counters (match sticks, pieces of paper, bottle lids), obstacle course, race, building.

You might want to write a quiz round.

Do something exciting and competitive.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Thursday 18th June

Home challenge

One of the feelings we have is sadness. It is perfectly normal and healthy to feel sad. We need to know that it is ok to feel sad, and remember, we can feel differently again. Think back to a story you have read or a film you have seen when the character was sad. What made them sad? How long did the sad feeling last? Where did they feel in their body? What helped them to feel better?

Do you think the same sadness can come back?

Draw around your hand, or even your whole body. Perhaps you could label a doll. Which words mean sad? What causes sadness? Where do you feel sadness?

Ask an adult about a time they have felt sad. Ask how they deal with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISaHt3ps1dM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoCyQqqjhR8

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Wednesday 17th June

Home challenge

During lockdown, we have had the opportunity to do things we wouldn’t normally have time to do. Some of us have found games to play, while others have found paces to visit- especially with the amazing weather we have had.

Imagine someone moving in to your street. Where would you advise they go to chill and relax? Would you suggest King George park? Leamore park?

Today, take the time to list the places you think are wonderful to visit. They may be shops, play areas or parks with trees.

To make this list better, next to the name, you could describe what is there and why you like it so much.

Try to think of five places to visit.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g187059-Activities-Walsall_West_Midlands_England.html

https://go.walsall.gov.uk/parks

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Tuesday 16th June

Home challenge

Have you ever wondered which animals use your garden? Where the foxes and hedgehogs come and go?

Today, you could set up a foot print bath to watch the animals’ movement overnight.

Simply leave a pile of flour or very wet mud near any trees or the fence. When the animals step on it, they will vary foot prints around the garden. This is very exciting and harmless. Another exciting thing would be to investigate and identify the animal print.

https://blog.nwf.org/2014/12/who-goes-there-identifying-animal-tracks-in-your-backyard/

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Monday 15th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

A DT idea.

Wind chimes make a lovely calming sound. This week, try to recycle old CDs and plastic bottles. Perhaps on your walks you could collect sticks. Tie them together to make a wind chime. You can add colour to the wind chine using the lids off bottles.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Friday 12th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

Time for some science.

Which instruments make the deeper noise? Viola or Treble bass?

Think about the instruments you have heard; perhaps the drums or the cymbals. Which make a deeper sound? Which sound high and squeaky?

Today, I’d like you to investigate by using glass bottles (they’re the best), or jars, plastic bottles, tin cans, or even plastic straws.

Place them in a row and pour different amounts of water in to each.

I like to blow across the top hole, but some people prefer to beat with a drum stick. Listen carefully to the sound they make. Try to think of a scientific conclusion.

The fuller the bottle, the _______ the sound.

The bigger the gap, the ____ the sound.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes, Mr Baker

Thursday 11th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

Have you seen the news and the weather forecasts when viewers send in their own photos? Can you imagine how they feel when they see their picture up on the big screen, delivered nation-wide? I reckon that would bring a huge smile and lots of joy. So… Why not have a go? Try taking a photograph or drawing a picture and send it in to the BBC. Try to get your picture and name on the big screen. How exciting is that?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 10th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

You must have lost something, and eventually found it. Or tried really hard with a problem and solved it.

Well… Eureka means ‘I have found it’. It’s an Ancient Greek word Archimedes shouted when he stepped in the bath. He saw the water level rise.

I am sure you have been in the paddling pool / hot tub / bath / or hopefully, done some washing up. Have you noticed how the water level rises? Sometimes, water over spills if you put too much in. Today, I’d like you to investigate this. What causes the water level to rise? How much does it rise? Does it always rise the same amount?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Tuesday 9th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

Music is a great way to change mood. Have you noticed some music makes you run or jump faster; other music slows you down; some is good for cleaning the house; other music is good to fall to sleep.

The week I was born this song was Number 1 in the charts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC8oP4Z_xPw

Find out the song at number 1 in the charts the week you were born. Think about the feelings it encourages.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Monday 8th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

In the film, what colour is joy? When you feel joy, which colour would you describe it as? Do toys and objects that colour automatically cheer you up and bring joy?

I’d like you think of words which mean joy. One example is ecstatic.

I’d like you to try building a dream catcher; a bit like the one in BFG. Can you catch joyful dreams?

How will you make yours? Paper plate and wool? Glass jar? Fishing net? Where will you keep your joyful dream catcher?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Friday 5th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

Today, I’d like you to try to keep the excitement of joy going all day. What can you do to feel joyful or to share joy and make some one’s day joyful? It could be listening to birds in the garden, a random act of kindness for a neighbour, or letting your sister borrow your tablet. Keep a list or a diary of the things you did to make the day joyful.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Thursday 4th June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fTRWpf-eH4 What are feelings?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIfLgHBwYx4 A story read aloud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWujGPb6mgo A story read aloud.

Today, I’d like you to use colour to express a feeling. Perhaps you could draw an emotion rainbow / tree / monster / set of drawers and cupboards of feelings.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 3rd June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

Today’s challenge is Watch your favourite film. Think carefully about the characters and their emotions. I love Toy story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVeNlaUCa2E I see Woody has many emotions through the film. List the emotions you see in your favourite character, also try to suggest what caused that emotion.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Tuesday 2nd June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsarXDyJYbE

Today’s challenge is What are feelings? Some feeling are: Joy, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness.

Can you name anymore?

Try talking to people, ask how they feel. Look at emojis and categorise them into feelings. Look at books – what do the characters feel? How do they show it?

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Monday 1st June

Home challenge

This term, Christ Church has chosen the film ‘Inside Out’ as a tool to explore our feelings. The whole school will be exploring emotions and completing activities to empower us to talk about how we feel.

Today’s challenge is Where do feelings come from? You could draw, write or simply discuss your ideas.

Perhaps you could draw around your body on a roll of wall paper / draw around your hand and feet / or if you have a doll or teddy, you could label them.

Please send me your ideas and photos of your work to nbaker@christchurch.walsall.sch.uk

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Friday 22nd May

Home challenge

Our school closed on 20/3/20. I bet you have misplaced your uniform, shoes and PE kit.

Why not spend this morning gathering your uniform and ensuring your name is on the label.

You might want to do the same with your PE kit.

Perhaps you’d like to clean and polish your shoes. Be careful not to get polish on your clothes.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Thursday 21st May

Home challenge

The shape of coins

Are all British coins circle?

A circle has only one round side.

A pentagon has 5 sides.

A hexagon has 6 sides.

A heptagon has 7 sides.

An octagon has 8 sides.

Look at a 2p coin. What shape is it?

What shape and colour is the 20p coin? How many sides does it have?

How many sides does the 50p coin have?

Is £1 coin round? Look carefully and count the sides. Use the internet to find the name of the shape. www.safesearchkids.com

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 20th May

Home challenge

Do you know the trees you have in your garden or the local park? Leamore and Bloxwich are very leafy places. We are lucky to have such beautiful trees, but what are they? Choose 3 leaves and try to identify the tree they come from.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/48345/leaf-id-sheet.pdf

Tuesday 19th May

Home challenge

Who do you think the most famous person in the world is? Why are they famous? Write a question you would like to ask them.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Monday 18th May

Home challenge

Look at money bank notes. £5, £10, £20. How are they the same? How are they different?

Consider: size, colour, pattern, faces, material.

Challenge yourself to find out about the person on the back.

Write your question about the bank note to challenge your parents. For example: What is the name of the chief cashier? Who features on the £20 note? What year was he born?

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Friday 15^th May

Home challenge

Learn to tie your shoe laces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeSkBOYUlag

Take the opportunity to practise an important life skill. This video shows a fun, easy way to tie shoe laces.

I first set this task on 23/3/20. How are you doing? Are you a professional now?

Please send me photos or videos of your success.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Thursday 14th May

Home challenge

Which items in your home are battery powered / USB / Mains supplied?

Pick a room in your home.

List the electrical devices. Look, does it have a plug? Does it have batteries inside? Is it charged by USB?

Please be very careful with electrical items and ask an adult before lifting heavy things.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 13th May

Home challenge

Find a news paper of the day you were born. Your adults may have kept a copy, or it is quite easy to Google. Please remember online-safety. What was happening in the news on the day you were born?

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Tuesday 12th May

Home challenge

Look at a few 50p coins. I’m willing to bet they are different.

There are so many precious collections of the 50p coin.

https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/coin-design-and-specifications/fifty-pence-coin/

Do you have any that fit a particular collection?

Your coins might have more value than you thought.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Monday 11th May

Home challenge

Magnet investigation

Are all metal things attracted to magnets? (Adults, the answer is no… only metals containing iron are attracted to magnets.)

Look around the home for metals: cans, tins, door hinges, keys, the iron, the fridge, microwave, baking tins, saucepans

Please don’t try the car key, phone, tablet or games console… I don’t want to be charged for any damage.

Which materials are attracted to the magnet?

If you don’t have a magnet, use the fridge seal. That’s a huge magnet.

Can you sort into a diagram or piles of the those attracted and those which aren’t?

Best wishes,

Friday 8^th May

Home challenge

Today is the 75^th anniversary of VE day. Look at these websites for information about the importance of the day and why many people choose to celebrate.

https://www.veday75.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8bw5UZhZiA Making bunting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEavcsrMoMw Winston Churchill’s announcement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64xozK7CpBk history lesson with questions

Friday 8^th May

Home challenge

Family tree

Ask your adults about their parents and their grand-parents. How far back into history can you go?

Record a list, or even better, draw a tree of your family names. This is a called a family tree or genealogy.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Thursday 7th May

Home challenge

I’ve been doing a lot of jigsaws recently. I would love you to draw your own picture, or may be ask an adult for a photograph or page from a magazine. Cut it to make your own jigsaw. Try perhaps only 20 pieces. Of course, the difficult part is putting it back together again

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 6^th May

Home challenge

Flower pressing

We now have lots of beautiful flowers and blossom.

Why not take some and press between dry paper or kitchen towel? Use weights or heavy books to press and dry them for a week. Next week, open the paper and see the beautiful flower pressed and preserved.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Tuesday 5^th May

Home challenge

Are all shadows black?

Shine a torch or use the sun (being careful not to look directly at the sun) through coloured objects around the home. Can you make a coloured shadow?

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Monday 4^th May

Home challenge

Some home science:

Which foods sink / float / dissolve?

Dissolve means to become the liquid for example coffee.

Investigate the kitchen cupboards. With adult supervision, use warm water and test which foods sink / float / dissolve- some ideas: sugar, rice, salt, black pepper, milkshake powder, gravy, mixed herbs, flour, ice-cubes

Something for the adults: It’s Star Wars day. How about a Star Wars Marathon? Fancy dress day? How many Star Wars films and actors can you name?

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Friday 1st May

Find out about British traditions: celebrating May day. 

Use www.safesearchkids.com to find out how some people celebrate 1st May.

Friday 1^st May

Home challenge

Make old fashioned tin can / paper cup telephones. Does the length of string affect the sound quality? Does the tightness of the string affect the sound quality? Try different wools / types of string.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Thursday 30^th April

Home challenge

Try a new hair style (with adult supervision)

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 29^th April

Home challenge

Stop motion movie – Lego  / plasticine / drawings: Make your own sea adventure story using stop-motion technology on the phone / tablet / laptop.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 29th April

Something different for the adults. 

I've been giving lots of ideas here for the children and whole family activities, but today, I'd like to focus on the new teachers... you. 

You are doing a wonderful job doing things you are not necessarily trained to do. 

Some of you may be looking for a few minutes' escapism. 

An idea...

I'd love to see how you are thinking / feeling about home learning / teaching / learning about and from the kids/ lock down.

Just an idea...

Write a poem / design a tattoo / create a picture. 

How has your life changed / what have you learned during the school closures?

Please, do have a go, and I'd love to see what you come up with. 

Remember, it's Christchurch family, not just children :) 

Very best wishes

Mr Baker

Tuesday 28^th April

Home challenge

Cleaning coins: Which is the best liquid to clean a 2p coin? Try vinegar, cola, lemon juice, washing up liquid, clothes detergent. Record what you find.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Monday 27^th April

Home challenge

Paper plane investigation: Use Youtube to find different plane designs. How far do they fly? Which flies the fastest?

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Friday 24^th April

Home challenge

Choose any three coins.

What shapes are they? What is the value?

How are the coins the same?

How are the coins different?

Consider shape, size, colour, value, patterns, pictures, year they were made.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Thursday 23rd April

Home challenge

Ask an adult if they’ll trust you to do their make-up.

I actually cannot wait to see what happens

Please send your pictures to me or put them on the school’s twitter account.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Wednesday 22nd April

Home challenge

Make an underwater creature puppet from old socks / gloves. Do you have any old buttons to use as eyes? Straws or pipe cleaners? Can you remember how to sew using the running stitch / back stitch when we made our I-Pad cases?

Please send your pictures to me or put them on the school’s twitter account.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Tuesday 21st April

Home challenge

Try planting: take a cutting off a plant. Can you nurture the cutting to develop new roots and a new plant?

Please send your pictures to me or put them on the school’s twitter account.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker

Monday 20th April

Home challenge

I think everyone has now heard of Captain Tom Moore. It’s his 100^th birthday this week.

He famously raised many millions of £s for the NHS by walking laps around his garden wearing his blazer with his medals.

Today, I would like you to design a new tie for him, or a new medal. You can do so on the computer, or paints, or crayons, perhaps chalks in the garden.

Please send your pictures to me or put them on the school’s twitter account.

Best wishes,

Mr Baker