Year Two pupils from the Prep School showed off their engineering and creative skills by making their own planetarium area during a day’s workshop with guest artist Janine Knight.

They used a stixx roller machine to convert newspaper into solid rods, which they then used to build a self-designed structure recreating the night sky, for their role-play area.

The exercise drew on skills the children learned while building and testing their tower designs in class. It also improved their teamwork abilities as the whole of Year Two worked together.

Janine Knight, who visited from The Ropewalk at Barton-Upon-Humber, said: “Parts of the workshop were difficult but the children really persevered and helped each other. They did wonderfully well.”

Year Twp teacher Mrs Walton said: “I was very proud of their behaviour, which was impeccable and respectful throughout, as they listened to each other’s ideas and saw jobs that needed doing. The children really came together to problem solve and apply their learning in a new way.”

She added: “The structure is large enough to fit two children inside very comfortably. It will provide Year Two children with a quiet reflective space to use, particularly during next term’s topic, which is the day and night sky.”

These are some of the thoughts from the Year Two children after the exercise:

“I have learnt how we can make paper strong.”

“I didn’t realise how strong paper was and the triangles made the shelter really strong.”

“I needed help making the triangles and we worked together as a team.” 

“We rolled the newspaper and then put it in the stixx roller machine, this made it strong. Someone turned the handle and another person pressed the bar down.”

“We threaded the needle to sew the stars on the material. Our material makes it look like night time. Stars and planets are sewn onto it.”

“I am excited and happy to learn to use a new machine and make something together.”

“I have never done this before… it is new stuff!”

“Creative and fun!”