An imaginative advent calendar takes centre stage
Christmas is a time of joy, and this year’s Christmas Assembly on the last day of term will bring smiles and happiness to the whole Wendover community. In this blog Belinda Boden explains how the whole school will sharing this festive occasion.
Our amazing advent calendar
“We’ve had such a good time putting together an Advent Calendar for our Christmas Assembly,” says Belinda, Primary Specialist at Oxford Education Online. All pupils in Years 6-8 have taken part in this project during Elective sessions this half term.
The pupils were put into two teams, Elves and Reindeer, and worked in pairs or groups on the project both during lessons and as homework.
“I liked that we got to work in groups and talk to people we wouldn’t usually talk to,” says Scarlet. “It was really fun!”
Electives put choice in the children’s hands
“Our Elective system is designed to allow pupils the freedom to work in a medium or on a subject that holds a special interest for them,” says Belinda. “We gave them complete freedom to come up with something Christmassy to put ‘behind the door’ on the Advent Calendar, adding a couple of suggestions just to get them started. Our pupils came up with some wonderful ideas!”
The calendar is certainly a rich blend of art and craft, poetry, history and more. As the countdown takes place at the Christmas Assembly, Wendover staff, pupils and parents will enjoy a visual feast, including:
- Time-lapse film of building a gingerbread house
- A Christmas acrostic poem
- Lego stop-motion animation (with personal backing vocals!), and
- Handmade Christingles.
Festive facts, funny jokes and dressed-up dogs all feature in this amazing Advent Calendar – do join us or watch on video if you get the chance.
Christmas quiz for all
“Our assemblies are a great opportunity for us all to get together and share our thoughts and feelings across the whole school – and to enjoy time together,” says Belinda. This week, for example, there will be a Christmas quiz for everyone, with mixed teams from different year groups and a teacher in each team.
Learning can be fun
Of course, designing and producing work to be presented to the whole school, or collaborating with a new group to answer a quiz, helps children learn much more than just how to have fun.
“Our Christmas celebrations are also encouraging children to use their imagination and giving them the confidence to work with others,” smiles Belinda. “They learn facts and techniques too, but all wrapped up in the magic of Christmas.”
What a wonderful way to learn.
If you’d like to find out more about our assemblies, electives or online education for Key Stage Two, please contact us on +44 1604 213 477 or email on enquiries@wendoverschool.com. Alternatively, download our Prospectus.
