As part of our whole-school Animal Theme Week, Prep 1 spent the week learning about invertebrates. The children discovered that invertebrates are animals without a backbone and that they make up the vast majority of animal species on Earth.

We focused particularly on sea invertebrates and learnt about creatures such as starfish, octopuses, jellyfish, crabs and sea anemones. The children enjoyed finding out how these animals live, move and survive in their underwater habitats.

A real highlight was linking our learning back to our recent trip to Blue Planet Aquarium. The children loved talking about the animals they had seen and were excited when they recognised many of the creatures we were learning about in class. It was wonderful to see them making connections between their classroom learning and their experiences outside school.

The children were fascinated by some of the facts they discovered. They learnt that a starfish can regrow an arm if it loses one and that an octopus has three hearts and blue blood. They were also amazed to find out that octopuses are highly intelligent and can solve problems, open containers and even escape from tricky situations.

As part of their work, the children created fact files about different invertebrates, recording interesting information and sharing their discoveries with one another. They enjoyed becoming mini-experts and were keen to share their favourite facts.

The topic also inspired our artwork for the school exhibition. The children carefully sketched a sea invertebrate of their choice, paying close attention to shape and detail. They then used watercolours to bring their drawings to life. The finished pieces were colourful, creative and beautifully presented, and the children took great pride in their work.

Animal Theme Week has been a fantastic opportunity for the children to develop their scientific knowledge and curiosity about the natural world. Their enthusiasm throughout the week was wonderful to see, and they thoroughly enjoyed exploring the fascinating world of invertebrates.

Mrs Gardner