Virginia Primary School
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ELSA Blog

Laugh your socks off!

31/3/2020

 
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Good morning everyone,

Last night I watched a very funny animated video on YouTube with audio from Matt Lucas! I have attached the video below. It really made me laugh (even now it is circling around my head....''Thank you Baked Potatooo'') I LOVE IT! 

I love laughing-  as you all know! I like to be silly and I often get many eye rolls from my class - especially when I do the maths dance when a child has a ''I GET IT NOW'' moment or when I am singing different Disney songs around the tables (or that silly ''Taco's'' song that Year 4 love to sing!)

It is so good to laugh. But why?

 Why laughter is good for your health?
  1. Laughter releases a chemical called serotonin (say sera-tow-nin) into our brains. This is often called the 'feel good' hormone because that is the effect it has on our feelings.
  2. Laughter is a way we can be a part of a group and it can make us feel more comfortable with others.
  3. Laughter stops us feeling stressed and leads to our bodies working better and feeling relaxed :)

So - this video has got me thinking...

Why don't you try to make your own silly song up? It could be with the message of how to stay safe against corona virus or could just be anything you like! You could rap, sing, yodel... Just have some fun!

You could try making a new version of the Baked Potato song dedicated to your favourite food!

For example...

Super noooooodles....changed my life
Super nooooodles....showed me the way
If you want to know what is wrong from right
You must listen to what Super Noodles say....

Just have some fun!

You could even put on a concert in your living room for family members!

Just HAVE fun!

Big Smiles
Emily
P.s I miss you all lots!





I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too...

30/3/2020

 

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 Good morning to you all,

I hope you are well - and if you are not feeling to good I am sending you a BIG hug! (Parents - One for you too!)

Something that has really made me smile is seeing pictures of rainbows in people's windows. This movement has been started by children in a bid to spread hope and happiness during this difficult time. Some have also had a message of thanks to doctors and nurses who are trying so hard to keep everyone healthy and well. 


So for my blog post is for you at home to make some beautiful rainbows for your windows!
(Make sure you have an adults permission before you put it up so they can help you)
My godson has made a great one and has kindly sent me some photos to show us all :)

​
You might have already created one so send them in as I would love to see them!


Another thing you might like to do is something called a 'My Strengths Cloud'.

All the NHS staff are showing lots of different strengths such as kindness, empathy, love, determination as they help lots of different people. You may be finding the work of these doctors and nurses inspiring - so what better way to reflect on your own strengths so that you can remind yourself that one day you may be supporting others just like these inspirational people.

Some children may have made these with me before in 'ELSA' or 'The Space' but they are a really lovely reminder of what your strengths are.

They are super easy to make - Cut out a cloud shape, and some coloured strips - write on your strengths  and attach any way you would like. 

​Parents, if you're reading this.. it is so important for your child to
 recognize their strengths. It is just as important as working on their challenges. Here’s an artsy/crafty way to celebrate all that your child has either achieved or what they thinks about themselves. Working together will help both of you see your child’s strengths and how they link together. If they find it difficult you can help them along by letting them know what you think their strengths are!

Enjoy getting creative 




​

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Mindfulness Mantra Cards

27/3/2020

 
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Good Morning Everybody!

I hope you are feeling happy :)  

​I have seen some of your amazing work on Purple Mash , I am so pleased you're having fun with your learning! It is also amazing how much the home learning blogs are inspiring you to be creative in most subjects! The teachers are creating fabulous blogs for you all! 

Today I have another activity for you to do!

 Mindfulness Mantra Cards!
What is a 'mantra' you may ask:
a word or phrase that is often repeated and expresses a particular strong belief
.

I would like you to create some of your own 'Mindfulness Mantra' cards!


What is your superpower? What can you do? What message would you like to say to yourself to give you more self belief?


​The positive message on your card could be put up on display in your bedroom or used as a bookmark to remind you of how amazing you are and to remind you to accept a mistake and move on.

It is important to have strong self belief and to be kind to our own mind.  Having a 'mantra' is good to use when you may be feeling a bit down or stressed. You might even want to start your day by saying your mantra! Repeating the mantra can help you think more positively when you need to have a personal minute to calm down.


There are some examples below that you can use for inspiration!

Big Smiles- Take Care!
Emily :)
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us-p-16-mindfulness-mantra-cards_ver_2.pdf
File Size: 78 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

My Happy Place

25/3/2020

 
 Good evening everyone,

I hope you’re OK. I spent most of my day in the garden soaking up the sunshine, working on my laptop and reading my new book. It was so quiet but I quite enjoyed the sounds of nature around me. It is slowly becoming ‘My Happy Place’ at the moment.

The teachers and support staff have been sharing emails which have also been making me smile! Especially the photo of Salma with a fake cat on head!

Remember it’s really good to be in contact with family and friends. If you can Face Time your relatives (with permission from your parents/carers) do it, or comment on the Purple Mash blogs, keep sending in your work!

If you only have limited time on your computer/device you could always write letters to your friends, family, teachers and bring them with you when the time comes for us all to return back to school.
Tomorrow I would like you to think about your ‘Happy Place’.

I have a found a lovely ELSA worksheet to help you along. It could be real or somewhere from your imagination.  I want you to use this drawing to help you picture your happy place whenever you are feeling a bit sad or lonely so it can put a smile on your face and remind you of happy thoughts!

Big Smiles! 
Take care
Emily!
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Here are some things to consider when drawing your happy place:
  • What is the setting of your happy place?
  • What would be in your happy place?
  • Who would be in your happy place?
  • What colours can you see?
  • What can you hear?
  • What can you smell?
  • What can you feel?
  • What can you taste?
If you can't print the sheet out just draw it on a plain piece of paper!

I would like to see some of them sent into admin@virginia.towerhamlets.sch.uk
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happy-place.pdf
File Size: 1030 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Get Moving a With Joe Wicks

24/3/2020

 
Hi everyone,
I hope you’ve had a lovely day.

The teachers and TA’s  have been sharing emails with each other today which has been lovely.

This post is to encourage you to get moving whilst you’re at home. You all know that to look after our mental health we also have to look after our physical health too.

Something I have seen that’s been very popular is PE with Joe Wicks on YouTube!

It is so much fun and it’s such a good workout. Clear a space in your house and copy the routines from the tablet or TV.

I did it this morning in my kitchen and it made me feel so good! You can watch me on the video I have posted...

Today's video is also linked below - you can check out the rest The Joe Wicks You Tube channel

Emily Workout from Virginia Primary School on Vimeo.

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If you can’t get on to YouTube why don’t you make your own special exercise routine?

For example
  • 20 star jumps
  • 30 second breath break
  • 30 seconds of planking
  • 30 seconds breath break.
  • 20 heel kicks....
  • 30 seconds breath break
  • 20 squats....

So on so on...

BUT...make sure you warm up and stretch first. Your older siblings or parents could support with that! And remember to cool down too.

Hope you’re all well
Big smiles
Emily :)
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Investigating Families

24/3/2020

 
 ​Hello everyone,

I hope you are OK and had a wonderful weekend. 

I went back to school today to work with the Key Workers children. It was so wonderful to see some familiar faces and see the other members of team VPS.

It made me hopeful that things will start to improve and when it is safe enough, we can all be together again having lots of fun and learning lots!

​I hope that my previous blog post made you feel a bit better about what is going on in the world. You can always speak to us on Purple Mash if you need to talk about your worries.


Today on my blog - I have an activity for you! 
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​
This activity was inspired by Stonewall and I think you might enjoy it. 


This activity will help you to learn more about your own family and celebrate different types of families.

I hope you like it! You can upload it to the ELSA blog or send to Joan if you would like to share it :)

Have a great day!

Be safe, be kind, be YOU!

Emily :)

Instructions

Draw your family.
Start with the people you live with, then add other members of your extended family if you have them.  Family doesn’t have to be people you are related to by birth – who feels like family to you?
  • Do you have any cousins? If so how many?
  • Do you have any step family?
  • Who is the oldest person in your family?
  • How many generations back in your family can you find out about?


Think about some other families.
  • What are the other families on your street like?
  • What are your friend’s families like?
  • What about families you know from books or TV?
  • How many different sorts of families can you think of? For example: families with a mum and dad; two dads; one-parent families; single child families; step families; foster families; families living with grandparents, etc.


Draw a family tree for someone whose family is quite different to yours.
You could draw your friends family or your neighbours!


Extra challenge :
Create a short video using your pictures talking about what families have in common and what makes them different to each other. What different challenges and opportunities might different families face? You could interview some of your family or friends and find out about their experiences of family.



Monday - first day feelings

24/3/2020

 
Good evening everybody,
I hope that you are OK. I know that some of you will be missing your friends and being at school – we really miss you too! Some of you might also be feeling a bit bored having to stay inside as this is something that we aren’t really used to doing.
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Being bored is not fun and it can make you feel quite down.. that is why it is important to try to keep busy by taking part in different learning activities! This can be made easier by having a DAILY PLAN in place so that you don’t try to do everything in one go but have a routine to keep yourself happy, entertained with regular breaks!
I would love to see what you have been doing to keep busy so far – whether it’s PE sessions in your living room, an exciting art project, yummy baking or new learning - what have you been doing to look after your physical and emotional wellbeing?

Below is a story called ‘We Are At Home Right Now’ which explains why we have to stay at home at the moment and also gives you some ideas on how to make a DAILY PLAN so that you can make the most out of everyday. Scroll down to the bottom of the story and either print it out the plan or use it to make your own on paper!
You can download the story as a PDF here:
We are at home right now.pdf
File Size: 6844 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Remember you can send an email to admin@virginia.towerhamlets.sch.uk to share what you have been doing at home so far. I would love to share it on my blog!

Take Care! Big smiles…

Emily

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Daily Plan to print or copy

Mothers Day 2020

22/3/2020

 

Happy Mother's Day :)

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Good afternoon everyone,

Today it is Mother's Day!
​
Mother’s Day is a special day when we can celebrate the special people in our lives. 
Whether it is your  mother, sister, cousin, grandma, aunt, a family friend or even a teacher - today you can celebrate them and spread kindness!

How do you all celebrate Mother’s Day? Do you make breakfast in bed for your special person, or give them cards or gifts, or it may be that you give them an extra tighter hug? 

I have put  a few ideas of different crafts you could make at home, but if you do not have any paper or pens sometimes spoken words and a hug can be just as meaningful!

Some of you may be sad that you can not spend today with your grandmothers or special people. I am really sorry if you are feeling sad - But maybe you could try to write them a special letter, card, text to let them know that you are thinking of them.

Have a really special day whatever you may doing
​
Big smiles :)
Emily 


​Below I have recorded a story that I love called 'The Invisible String- I thought it was a lovely book that fits in with today.

Mothers Day Story from Virginia Primary School on Vimeo.

Welcome to the ELSA Blog

19/3/2020

 
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A little introduction....

Good evening everyone,
Emily here...


As well as valuing our children’s education (home learning blog) we also value their wellbeing, as we recognise that children learn better and are happier if their emotional needs are met :) At some time in our lives we all experience worries and at VPS we recognise the need to support our
children through these difficult times.

I will be running this blog to support with any needs/questions/resources that you may request during this difficult time. But more than anything this blog is to connect with you all, share wellbeing  resources and spread some positivity to all.
 
If you would like to contact me (parents/carers or children) you can email  admin@virginia.towerhamlets.sch.uk and I will get back to you as soon as I can with the relevant advice/support/resource.

I will update as much as I can.
​
Take care and have a restful weekend.
Big smile and hugs to you all.
Emily.



school-is-closing.pdf
File Size: 7507 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

A story to explain why schools are closing if you are still feeling a bit confused.

Today's Year 6 cheerleading squad! Something silly from today to make you smile :)
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