Innovative, Effective, Fun! Online Learning in Junior School

Junior School has been a hub of innovative and effective teaching throughout the online learning period, and student engagement levels have been impressively high throughout. Seesaw was already an important feature of Junior School, so the expansion of its role enabled a smooth transition from in-school to online learning. Typical features of a regular school week, such as morning registration and Friday Assemblies, have shown that traditional elements of the Junior School timetable are compatible with virtual platforms.

Teachers use Zoom and Microsoft Teams to deliver high-quality live lessons, with features of these platforms such as ‘breakout rooms’ used to facilitate group work and targeted adult support.

Pre-recorded videos provide a creative hook to inspire and motivate children, while recording tools such as Screencast-O-Matic explain things in more detail if children found them difficult.

Student wellbeing has been a high priority for all staff throughout the online learning period, with positive wellbeing activities being promoted in an engaging, accessible and realistic form. There are many more outstanding examples of wonderful teaching and learning in all year groups and subjects.

Year 3 teachers worked in tandem to use Talk for Writing techniques when performing each section of a model text.

Year 4 students read aloud their own Greek myths, having learned the features of good myths and written one themselves.

Year 5’s Space Explorers topic developed their science knowledge in a way that was out of this world.

Year 6 demonstrated their understanding of a favourite book by bringing these to life.

 Art tutorials inspire wonderful photography…

… and drawings.

The PE team (as well as other JS staff) have been inspiring students to keep fit and get active.

Sustainability has been promoted throughout the curriculum, with music lessons involving the creation of musical instruments made from recyclable or repurposed materials.

Year 6’s recent work on 3D modelling in Computer Science used a design software programme called Tinkercad to good effect.

While reading and writing continues to be prioritised in Chinese.

There is even a wide range of extra-curricular activities, such as the Virtual Choir and ‘Pump It Up’ ECAs.

Cross-College and world events such as World Book Day have still been marked.

Junior School has united to bring our creative curriculum into the digital space. We look forward to continuing with this adventure.