Year 3

Pupils in Years 2 and 3 visited the road safety playground at Primary School No. 1 in Bolevec today. The weather was on our side in the end, which only added to the children’s excitement about the practical part of the lesson, where they were able to put into practice everything they had learnt in theory. However, before they set off onto the course itself, they had to put on and adjust their safety helmets correctly, and the instructor helped the children with this. This was followed by a short walk to the playground – without any vehicles – where everyone reviewed the rules of the road together, including the principles of safe behaviour for pedestrians. After that, nothing stood in the way of the children getting on their bikes and scooters and setting off. All the schoolchildren threw themselves into the activity with great enthusiasm. Everything went perfectly – nobody lost any of the points they’d started with, and at the end of the morning, all the participants received great praise for their excellent attitude. The event was a great success in every respect.

Once again this year, our school held its traditional Spring Festival, which this year had a magical, fairy-tale atmosphere. Well-known and much-loved fairy-tale characters guided us through the entire programme, which was full of songs, dancing and poems. We met the Smurfs, and we were really worried about whether they would win their battle against Gargamel; we also met the Minions, who turned up at our school and were trying to find out how things actually work at school and what new things they could learn. We discovered the magic of the fairy tale “Long Live the Ghosts” and stretched our limbs with Bob and Bobek. We set off for Hollywood with Shrek, accompanied by beautiful princesses and, of course, his faithful friend Donkey. And because fairy tales sometimes get a bit mixed up, our drama club’s performance showed us just how that can turn out. The older pupils also deserve great admiration for enchanting us with a wonderful musical performance. The magical atmosphere of the whole afternoon was further enhanced by the marvellous costumes and carefully prepared props. During the festivities, the children also enjoyed fun activity stations, and we all tucked into the delicious refreshments prepared by our pupils’ parents. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to them for their help and support. Thank you to all the performers, organisers and visitors for a wonderful afternoon together, full of joy, laughter and a fairy-tale atmosphere.

We’re already looking forward to next year!

Today, the Year 2 pupils transformed into brave members of Expedition MA – Water. This is an interactive environmental programme, and as part of it, the children set off on an adventurous quest for treasure and precious water. Many tasks, tests of courage and opportunities to use their imagination lay ahead of them. At the start of their journey, the children thought about what they would need to pack for such a challenging trip. They drew pictures of the things they would take with them, as well as those that would definitely not be useful on the expedition. Making a decision was by no means easy – after all, packing the right equipment for the expedition is very important. The little adventurers then used pantomime to put on their expedition gear and boarded the ship. They set sail on a long journey across the sea. The children used their imagination to picture everything on board the ship. They greeted the sailors; the ship rocked on the waves; at times it was sweltering hot, but later a fierce storm and heavy swells set in. In the end, however, the ship safely reached port. There, another task awaited the expedition – they needed to ‘earn’ money to continue their journey. The children therefore created works of art in the form of living pictures, demonstrating great creativity and teamwork. The adventure continued across various continents. The expedition travelled through a scorching desert, scaled high mountains and made its way through dense jungle. It was in the jungle that the expedition encountered local indigenous people. But here a major problem arose – the travellers ran out of water. What now? The children worked in small groups and put their heads together to work out how to obtain water from available natural sources. Fortunately, they came up with some brilliant ideas. We now know where to look for water and how to purify it so that it is safe to drink. Thanks to teamwork and clever solutions, in the end nobody went thirsty. Right at the end of the expedition, the adventurers discovered a mysterious cave, where they found a beautiful, clear and healing spring. The MA–Water expedition thus came to a happy end, and the children took away not only lots of memories, but also new insights into the importance of water for life.

As part of the GATE project, the children were introduced to Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Ugly Duckling”. Following clues, they split into groups and took part in a range of fun and exploratory activities throughout the day.

They explored the properties of eggs – how much weight they can bear, whether they can be crushed by hand, and which ones float. They measured different eggs, discovered the magic of camouflage and also had a go at programming Blue-Bots.

The project day was full of collaboration, discovery and new experiences.

On Wednesday, we held a project day at our school called ‘Journey Through Time’, which took the children on a journey through various historical periods. The programme began with the reading of a letter from a ‘mad scientist’, who left the children an important message – the time machine had broken down and it was up to them to fix it.

The children then split into teams, came up with their own names and enthusiastically created team flags, which accompanied them throughout the day. The groups then set off to various stations, where they completed tasks from different historical eras.

They visited ancient Egypt, where they built pyramids, deciphered hieroglyphs and even tried their hand at mummification. In ancient Greece and Rome, they competed in a mini-Olympics and learnt about the gods and their symbols. In the Middle Ages, they defended a castle against enemy attack and practised logical thinking. The Renaissance provided scope for creativity – the children drew blindfolded, built inventions and presented their own ideas. In the modern era, they then tried their hand at encryption, communication and building ‘robots’ from various materials.

The whole day took place in a very pleasant, collaborative and creative atmosphere. The children worked with great enthusiasm, helped one another and had lots of fun at the same time. The day concluded with a joint finale, which symbolically ‘repaired’ the time machine.

We would like to thank all the pupils for their enthusiasm and excellent cooperation. A big thank you also goes to the teachers who helped organise the project.

We believe the children thoroughly enjoyed the day and came away not only with new knowledge but also with lots of wonderful memories.

This morning was all about magic and adventure. The children celebrated Walpurgis Night in a truly unconventional way – they set off on a rescue mission to save the kidnapped witch Elvira. It was no easy task, so they had to draw not only on their courage, but also on their wits and teamwork. After successfully rescuing Elvira, it was time for the promised reward – her magic chest. It soon became clear, however, that opening it would be no simple matter. The children first had to crack a mysterious code, which was revealed through four magic spells. Some of them found the puzzle quite a challenge, but in the end, everyone managed to solve the mystery and open the chest. Inside, a well-deserved sweet treat awaited them. But that wasn’t the end of the programme. The children then filled in their wizardry lesson sheets, where they put their knowledge and imagination to the test, and there was also a magical obstacle course full of fun tasks. We all had a brilliant time together all morning and are already looking forward to more adventures like this.

Today, the Year 2 pupils took part in Earth Day celebrations through a fun and educational mini-project called ‘Mission: Nature Guardians’. The morning was all about discovery, cooperation and realising the importance of protecting our environment. A themed trail had been prepared for the children, during which they completed various tasks. One of these involved searching for ‘rubbish’ and sorting it correctly. The pupils thus gained hands-on experience of how to manage waste properly and why sorting it is important. Another activity involved matching pictures to texts, which enabled the children to gradually decipher a secret message with a message relating to the protection of our planet. There was also a creative part to the programme. The children put together jigsaw puzzles in which they identified which behaviours are environmentally friendly and which, on the other hand, harm the environment. They then expressed their newly acquired knowledge in their own pop-up books celebrating Earth Day, where they were able to give full rein to their imagination and apply what they had learnt. We all thoroughly enjoyed the mini-project together. The children worked with enthusiasm, participated actively and have taken away not only new knowledge but also a deeper connection to the natural world around us.

Today, we had a truly magical morning with the children in the Polan Hall, where an interactive performance entitled ‘The Magic Calendar’ took place. During the programme, the children embarked on an engaging journey through the entire calendar year. Step by step, they revisited all sorts of significant events, traditions and festivals associated with each season. The whole performance was full of playfulness, engagement and joy, so everyone found their favourite moment. It was also a great experience when the children acted out the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” themselves. They threw themselves into their roles with enthusiasm and showed just how skilful and brave they can be. There was also a fun activity where the teacher guessed which child was speaking just by their voice – and, lo and behold, she guessed them all correctly! This sparked lots of laughter and admiration. Throughout the programme, the children also sang many songs, which beautifully complemented the atmosphere of the different seasons. It was clear that they were really enjoying the singing and that the music brought them joy. The whole performance took place in a very pleasant and cheerful spirit. The children left full of experiences, new impressions and smiles on their faces.

On Tuesday, pupils in Years 2 to 4 went on a cultural outing to Šeříkovka, where they watched a theatre performance called ‘Little Red Riding Hood in the Web’. This modern adaptation of the well-known fairy tale captivated the young audience not only with its humour but also with its timely message about staying safe online. The actors explained to the children, in an engaging and easy-to-understand way, how to avoid the pitfalls of the online world and why it is important to protect their personal data. The performance was full of cheerful dialogue, catchy songs and interactive moments that actively engaged the pupils in the story. The children thoroughly enjoyed the theatre experience and came away not only with pleasant memories but also with valuable lessons.

Pupils in Years 2 and 3 went to Radovánek again today, where they continued with the previous part of their road safety lessons. This time, they focused primarily on the role of cyclists and inline skaters in road traffic.

During the programme, the children learnt how to use and adjust a protective helmet correctly to ensure maximum safety. Together, they also reviewed important road signs, went over the basic rules of the road and looked at the guidelines every cyclist must know. There was also a discussion about compulsory bicycle equipment.

The lesson included videos depicting various traffic situations. This gave the children the opportunity to think about who has right of way at junctions and to correctly assess the behaviour of road users. They then consolidated the knowledge they had gained through interactive tasks.

The pupils will put all their newly acquired skills into practice as early as May, when they visit the traffic playground. There, they will be able to test their skills in a real-life setting.

Today, the children enjoyed a wonderful Easter project full of creativity, fun and thinking. The whole day was filled with a spring-like and festive atmosphere. First, the children decorated Easter gingerbread biscuits, showing off their creativity and dexterity. Afterwards, an Easter escape game awaited them on their tablets – and the great news is that everyone managed to escape successfully! The programme also included reading themed stories, for which the children completed various tasks, thereby practising their comprehension and logical thinking. There was also an Easter trail with tasks, which took the children through a series of fun stations. Art and craft activities were on the agenda too – the children coloured in pictures and, finally, set about building an egg from a construction kit, using both their imagination and teamwork. The whole day was a great success, and the children took home not only wonderful memories but also the joy of having successfully completed their tasks.

The children set off on a spring trip to Blovice Castle, where a colourful Easter programme awaited them, full of traditions, customs and interesting facts from the times of our ancestors. During the visit, the children learnt about how Easter was celebrated by previous generations. They explored the beautifully Easter-decorated interiors, which gave them a sense of the festive atmosphere of days gone by. Many of the customs on display were completely new to them – customs that have now almost been forgotten. For example, the children learnt about Morana, the symbol of winter, and the tradition of carrying her out. They tasted – or at least imagined – typical Lenten and Easter dishes, such as ‘fox pretzels’, ‘pučálka’ or sweet ‘lamb cakes’ and ‘Judas bread’. They were also fascinated by rattles and the custom of ‘křístání’, which used to replace the ringing of church bells. The programme also included a talk about the six Sundays of Lent, during which the children learnt how each week differed and what traditions were associated with them. After the theoretical part, it was time for some creative activity. The children tried their hand at decorating wooden Easter eggs and made their own Morana. They then carried it together to the stream, where, in keeping with tradition, they threw it into the water, symbolically bidding farewell to winter. They then welcomed the arrival of spring.

The children enjoyed a lovely Easter morning at Polanova Hall, where they took part in an interactive show called ‘Easter Here and There’. During the programme, they learnt about Easter traditions – not only from the Czech Republic but also from various corners of the world – in a playful way. They thoroughly enjoyed the fun activities – for example, they tried their hand at an Easter pancake race, learnt about the tradition of decorating Easter hats, and enthusiastically took part in unusual games such as Easter egg bowling, rattles, or throwing an egg over the roof of a house. The whole event took place in a cheerful spirit and was accompanied by catchy Easter tunes, which added to the festive atmosphere. The children thoroughly enjoyed the event and came away not only with new knowledge but also with lots of wonderful memories.

On Saturday 21 March 2026, our school hosted its traditional Easter workshop. Children arrived with their parents, and the whole morning was filled with creativity and a spring-like atmosphere. Five stations had been set up for the participants, where they could try out various art techniques and create their own original Easter decorations. They took home a little bird made from iron-on beads, a bunny in a cup, a woolly lamb or a picture of a bunny made from fabric, the pattern for which everyone chose as they pleased. What sort of Easter would it be without eggs? That’s why there was also an activity involving decorating an egg with crepe paper. The whole event took place in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere; everyone had a great time and the craft work went smoothly. We hope this morning helped everyone get into the spirit of spring and the approaching Easter. We’d like to thank the children and parents for taking part, and a special thank you goes to those who brought refreshments – they were the perfect icing on the cake for the whole event. :-)

Today, the Year 2 pupils enjoyed an unusual lesson in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere – we held a pyjama day, which we combined with a celebration of Healthy Sleep Day. The children came to school in their pyjamas, dressing gowns and with their soft toys, which created a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere right from the start of the day. Throughout the day, the pupils learnt about the principles of good sleep hygiene in a fun way. Together, we talked about why sleep is important for our bodies, how many hours we should sleep, and all the factors that can affect the quality of our sleep. The children learnt to recognise and distinguish between good and bad sleeping habits – for example, why it’s not a good idea to spend time in front of screens before bed, or why it’s important to go to bed at the same time every night. There were also plenty of practical tips on how to create the ideal evening routine for a peaceful night’s sleep. The children came up with their own ideas about what helps them wind down before bed – whether it’s reading a fairy tale, listening to calm music or chatting with their parents. A highlight of the session was a pantomime in which the children acted out various bedtime rituals. The others then had to guess whether the habit depicted was appropriate or, on the contrary, inappropriate. This activity brought plenty of laughter, but also reinforced the knowledge they had just learnt. To round off the session, the pupils experimented with how different types of music affect them. They listened to soothing melodies suitable for bedtime, as well as music that, on the contrary, stimulates the body and isn’t particularly conducive to falling asleep. This helped them to better understand the impact that their surroundings and sounds can have on the quality of their sleep. Pyjama Day was a great success, and the children came away not only with lovely memories but also with valuable insights they can apply in their everyday lives.

Today, the Year 2 pupils set off on a journey of discovery into the kingdom of plants, which stretches both above and below the ground. This world inspired them to create their own short animated stories, in which they were able to give free rein to their imagination and creativity. The whole process was based primarily on hands-on work – the children designed, modelled and then animated their own stories themselves. It all began with the idea of a seed and the question of what might grow from it. Each child came up with their own idea for an original plant – sometimes magical, sometimes whimsical, or completely unusual. The children then brought these ideas to life through modelling, creating colourful flowers, unusual shapes and entire fantastical plant worlds. An important part of the activity was also thinking about how plants ‘live’ and what they might say to one another. The children created simple stories and scenarios, which they then brought to life through animation. In this practical way, they experienced first-hand how movement is created and how individual shots can be combined to make a short film. Whilst working, they naturally learnt basic facts about plants – their structure, growth and reproduction. However, this knowledge was not presented in isolation but became part of the creative process itself, making it easier for the children to absorb. The result was a series of original animated sketches that combined the children’s imagination, playfulness and newly acquired knowledge. The project demonstrated just how powerful a tool hands-on creation can be – the children were not merely observers, but genuine young animators who gave their ideas concrete form and movement.

The Year 2 pupils went on a trip to explore the world of fairy tales and animation. We visited an exhibition dedicated to the work of the Czech artist, animator and director Zdeněk Smetana, entitled ‘Zdeněk Smetana and His Worlds’, which marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. The exhibition took place at the Holešovice Market Hall in Prague. During the tour, the children learnt about the work of the artist, who brought many well-known fairy-tale characters to life. We recalled, for example, the stories of the gnomes from “Křemílek and Vochomůrka”, the water sprite from “Rákosníček”, and the adventures of the canine friends from “Štaflík and Špagetka”. The children were familiar with many of these characters from children’s television programmes, and it was wonderful to see how the characters came to life.

The interactive sections of the exhibition were also a great experience. The pupils were able to try out various principles of animation, for example using a zoetrope or flipbooks, and discover how still images are transformed into movement. They were also fascinated by the film screenings and the chance to create their own character inspired by Zdeněk Smetana’s style.

The exhibition was not only entertaining but also educational for the children. They learnt how an animated film is made, how important imagination is, and just how much work goes into creating their favourite fairy-tale characters. We returned home full of impressions, and the bus ride on the HC Škoda Plzeň bus was a great experience too :)

Young pedestrians in action: Year 2 and Year 3 pupils took Radovánek by storm!

Our Year 2 and Year 3 pupils swapped their desks for interactive lessons at the Radovánek centre. The whole morning was dedicated to safe journeys to school. The children first refreshed their knowledge of the rules for pedestrians and cyclists, and then tested their understanding of road signs before putting everything into practice. With the help of an interactive whiteboard, role-play scenarios and videos, they became experts at handling critical situations on the road. We left full of new experiences and are already looking forward to the next session!

Today we enjoyed a wonderful morning at our school, full of stories, imagination and creativity. We were visited by the writer Denisa Hořejší, author of the charming children’s book “O Meduňce a Brambůrkovi”. The author first introduced her book to the children and explained how the story came about. She then read them selected excerpts, which immediately drew the young listeners into the world of the main characters. The children listened with rapt attention and reacted enthusiastically to both the thrilling and the cheerful moments in the story. However, the session wasn’t just about reading. Together, we talked about everything that goes into publishing a book – who the author, illustrator, editor and publisher are, and just how long the journey is from the initial idea to the finished book on the bookshelf. The children had the chance to take a peek behind the scenes of how a book is created and learnt many interesting facts. The practical part of the programme was also a great experience. The children tried their hand at writing their own short story, learnt what a plot and a resolution are, and understood how important it is to have a main character and a clear storyline. Their ideas were original, imaginative and full of fantasy. At the end, those who were interested could buy a copy of the book and have it signed at the book signing. A personal dedication from the author delighted the children, and many left with a smile and a new book under their arm. We would like to thank Ms Denise Hořejší for her lovely visit, her inspiring talk and the time she devoted to us. We are already looking forward to further encounters with books and their authors.

Pupils in Years 2 and 4 went on a visit to the Robotics Centre in Plzeň, where a varied programme focusing on modern technologies and the basics of programming awaited them. During the morning, the children deepened and practised their skills in using the Bee-Bot, Ozobot and Blue-Bot robotic tools, which develop logical thinking, spatial awareness and digital skills in a playful way. Under the guidance of instructors, the pupils tried their hand at practical tasks designed to test how well they could work independently with these technologies. Programming the robots using simple commands not only entertained the children but also encouraged them to think about the correct procedure, plan their steps and find solutions. Whilst working, they had to cooperate, discuss and jointly correct any mistakes. The programme also included time for curious questions. The children learnt where similar technologies are used in everyday life – for example, in industry, transport or healthcare. They thus discovered that robotics is not just part of games and lessons, but also has a firm place in practical applications. An activity focusing on working with QR codes and a map of the area was also a great success. Using a prepared map, the children searched for QR codes placed around the area, which they then scanned using tablets. Each code contained a task they had to complete. This part of the programme tested their spatial awareness, their ability to read a map and their capacity to solve set tasks independently. The whole morning was characterised by a spirit of discovery, collaboration and the joy of learning new things. The children were thrilled by the visit and came away not only with new experiences but also with plenty of inspiration for their future learning. The visit to the Robotics Centre was therefore a great benefit to everyone and provided motivation to continue exploring the world of modern technology.

Hands-on first aid in our class

On Tuesday 3 February, Ms Romana Kazdová visited our class and ran an educational programme for the children called ‘First Aid Through Experience’. The event took place under the auspices of the Česká spořitelna Foundation’s ‘Day for Schools’ initiative and was met with great enthusiasm by all the children. During the programme, they learnt about various emergency situations that can arise in everyday life. They learnt how to react correctly in situations such as drowning, a car accident, an injury or a fire, and received valuable advice on how they can help save a person’s life. The practical session was particularly beneficial, as it allowed the children to practise how to help an unconscious person, how to check whether they are responsive and breathing, and how to call for help correctly. The session also included practising how to call the emergency services, as well as CPR and chest compressions, which the children practised in a playful way to the tune of the song ‘Rolničky’. The programme was not only educational for the children but also a very engaging experience. They came away with new knowledge, skills and, above all, greater confidence that they will be able to provide the right help if the need arises.

The Year 2 pupils embarked today on an exciting mini-project called ‘Winter Detectives’. Right at the start, a mysterious case awaited them – a stolen bird feeder. Who had taken the food meant for the forest animals? And how could they put things right? That was up to the little detectives. During their investigation, the children had to overcome a whole series of tricky challenges. They had to tackle reading comprehension, navigate a table, and put their maths and Czech language skills to the test. There was also a practical element – the children sorted suitable and unsuitable foods for the animals into the feeding trough and thought about how they could really help the forest dwellers in winter. The detective work also required a bit of imagination. The Year 2 pupils tried their hand at creative writing, making up their own stories and speculating on who might have been responsible for the disappearance of the supplies. Another highlight was an activity where the children tried to make their way along a path carrying their winter supplies whilst blindfolded, guided only by the verbal instructions of a friend. In doing so, they practised not only trust, but also precise expression and cooperation. Finally, we focused on animal tracks. The children measured them, compared them and learnt how to measure straight lines, which beautifully linked natural history with maths. The ‘Winter Detectives’ mini-project was full of discovery, thinking and fun. Through play, the children discovered that learning can be an adventure – you just need to follow the tracks.

Today, pupils from Years 1 to 3 attended an English-language theatre performance – “Grétička Perlička” – which was not only educational but also great fun. The performance was tailored to the children’s age group and introduced them to the English language in a playful way. The actors involved the children in the story, encouraged them to participate actively and were not afraid to improvise. As a result, the children reacted naturally, answered questions and repeated simple English words and phrases. The fairy-tale story of Grétička Perlička captivated the children with its plot, cheerful songs and colourful costumes. The children left the performance thrilled and with the feeling that English can be fun and easy to understand.

Today, the Year 2 pupils took part in a project-based lesson entitled ‘Maths and the Three Kings’, which combined maths, reading, creative activities and physical exercise. The first task was to make a royal crown, which the children then wore as they set off on a ‘challenging’ obstacle course. Along the way, they carried presents for the little king and had to demonstrate not only dexterity but also their maths skills and concentration. In other activities, the children matched maths problems to the correct answers, whilst also having to remember their positions on a grid. It turned out that this wasn’t so easy. There was also picture drawing and maths problems, as well as a fun quiz on iPads, which the children really enjoyed. They also had to solve word problems and maths questions, which they had to deduce from a text they had read first. In this way, they practised not only maths but also reading comprehension. The whole morning took place in a pleasant atmosphere full of enthusiasm, creativity and the joy of discovery. We all thoroughly enjoyed the project, and the children came away with lots of new experiences and knowledge.

We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026. Your Year 2 pupils and Miss Vlaďka

The Year 2 pupils really enjoyed their last day of school before the Christmas holidays. We had a Christmas project called ‘Merry Christmas’ in store for us, full of festive cheer, experiences and surprises. We started the day with a walk to the square, where we soaked up the true Christmas atmosphere. We stopped by a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and admired the nativity scene, which is an integral part of Christmas. We also tasted a trdelník and stroked the animals. On our return to school, an exciting adventure awaited us – a Christmas detective game. We searched for a stolen golden pine cone, from which the most beautiful Christmas trees grow. The Year 2 pupils eagerly set about solving the puzzles, searching for clues and identifying suspects. Fortunately, everything turned out well and we managed to track down the thief. During the morning, we also enjoyed some delicious Christmas biscuits, lovingly baked for us by our mums – thank you so much! After lunch came the moment we’d all been waiting for… Father Christmas arrived and presents were waiting for us under the tree. The whole day was filled with joy, laughter and Christmas cheer. We’re now looking forward to the holidays and wish everyone a wonderful, peaceful and magical Christmas.

Advent and Christmas on the farm – a return to traditions

On 16 December, the children from Years 2 and 3 set off on an interesting Christmas journey into the past. They visited the U Matoušů farmstead in Bolevec, where they had the chance to discover what Advent and Christmas celebrations were like on a simple country farm in the days of our ancestors. During the visit, the children learnt about old Christmas traditions and customs that were an integral part of life on the farm. They learnt how people viewed Advent, how they prepared for Christmas and what customs they observed during the winter months. Another highlight was the tour of the living quarters, where the children could imagine the daily life of a family on the farm during the winter months. They were particularly fascinated by the comparison between Christmas decorations of the past and those of today – simple decorations made from natural materials in contrast to those we are used to nowadays. The excursion was not only educational for the children, but also very inspiring. They realised that Christmas wasn’t always about the number of presents, but above all about family, traditions and time spent together. We would like to thank Statku U Matoušů for their warm welcome and the lovely atmosphere, which transported us back for a moment to the Christmases of our great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers.

The DEAR ZOO Project

On 12 December 2025, a project for Year 2 pupils entitled ‘Dear Zoo’, based on the book of the same name by Rod Campbell, took place in the English classroom. First, we read together a letter from a boy who had asked the zoo to send him the perfect pet. We then looked at the boxes he had received. We had to work out which animal was inside each one. To do this, we used worksheets with puzzles and various tasks, which each child worked on independently. The children put together jigsaw puzzles, solved riddles, identified dogs by parts of their faces, spotted the differences, and wrote the English names of colours next to camels of different colours. Finally, they were able to read the book and watch a short video as a reward.

During the second weekend of Advent, our school hosted its traditional Christmas craft workshop. Pupils gathered here with their parents and enjoyed a creative morning together, full of Christmas spirit. Everyone could choose from a wide range of crafts – there was a reindeer made from pegs, a scratch-off Christmas tree, a rocking snowman, a glittery Christmas tree and a water-based decoration with glitter. Helpful parents provided some lovely refreshments, and we’d like to thank them very much. The morning took place in a very warm and friendly atmosphere. 🙂

This morning was all about traditions, mystery and adventure. The Year 2 pupils embarked on a mini-project called ‘St Nicholas’, during which they explored the history of this festival, the significance of St Nicholas and his traditional companions – the angel and the devil. And to make the experience truly authentic, St Nicholas and his helpers paid us a personal visit in the classroom. He wanted to find out if anyone had accidentally ended up on the ‘naughty list’. Fortunately, everything turned out well and the children were able to continue with the project. They learnt where this tradition comes from, why St Nicholas hands out presents, and what symbolism his helpers represent. Of course, there was also an adventurous treasure hunt through the school corridors, where the children searched for tasks and tried to crack the code. Working with the Bee-Bot proved to be a big hit once again. The children programmed a route for St Nicholas so that he could avoid all the pitfalls and deliver his presents to all the well-behaved children on time.

Year 2 pupils have a sleepover at school: a night full of adventures and Christmas spirit

This early evening was truly special for the Year 2 pupils – they had a sleepover at school to look forward to, which they were all incredibly excited about. After after-school care finished, we gathered together in the classroom, got our sleeping bags and pillows ready, made ourselves comfortable in our spots and set off on a Christmas walk around the school grounds. On the way, we admired the fairy lights, which beautifully complemented the Advent atmosphere. At the local nativity scene, we also told the children the legend of the Advent candles, which really captured their interest. On returning to school, the children enjoyed a relaxed programme – they played board games, drew and did arts and crafts, and, as part of Science Week, completed various tasks in the school corridors. The biggest hit was undoubtedly the coded word listening activity, which thrilled the children and encouraged them to work together as a team. And because no proper sleepover is complete without good food, there was also a film screening with popcorn and pizza for dinner. The atmosphere was brilliant – laughter, cosiness and the Christmas spirit filled the whole school. Now our little adventurers are settling into their sleeping bags and slowly drifting off to sleep after a wonderful evening. Goodnight, Year 2 pupils!

This year, we organised a Christmas fair at our school once again before the start of Advent, so that everyone could buy beautiful Christmas decorations and presents in good time. Visitors were able to choose from a wide range of items that the children had made in art lessons, craft sessions and in after-school care. New this year were the chess Advent calendars, whilst the beautiful Advent wreaths and original clothing remained a tradition. The atmosphere was enhanced by a fragrant corner offering hot chocolate, Christmas biscuits, gingerbread, canapés and other treats. To round off the event, there was a raffle for a gingerbread model of the Easy Start Primary School building. Interest was huge, and most of the items sold out in no time. Thanks to the generosity of our visitors, we managed to raise an amazing CZK 53,781, which we will donate to the NFG Foundation. We would like to thank everyone who helped with the preparations, as well as everyone who came along to buy something. We wish you a peaceful and enjoyable Advent.

Today, we took the children to the Alfa Theatre to see the premiere of “A Fairy Tale in the Palm of Your Hand”. No – the fairy tale really wasn’t as short as the title might suggest. :) It was absolutely lovely. The children watched an amazing and ‘engaging’ story unfold before their eyes about the changing seasons; they sang along to some lovely songs and enjoyed the wonderful, cheerful atmosphere of the theatre.

The Year 2 pupils enjoyed a varied and fun mini-project dedicated to St Martin today. During their morning together, they learnt who St Martin was, why he remains an inspiration to this day, and why so many lovely traditions are associated with him. The biggest adventure for the children was the mini-escape game. In small groups, they gradually completed tasks, solved puzzles and searched for clues hidden throughout the classroom. Only genuine teamwork could help them find the secret code that ‘opens the gate to winter’. And they succeeded! The children were thus reminded that winter arrives not only with the first frosts, but also with a time of light, joy and helping others. Part of the project involved creating their own pop-up books. Each pupil made a little book featuring scenes from the life of St Martin – from his encounter with a beggar to the legend of the White Cavalry. Whilst working on this, the children practised not only their artistic skills but also their storytelling. To round off the project, the Year 2 pupils prepared ‘St Martin’s lights of kindness’ for their classmates. These are little slips of paper listing good deeds that others can carry out throughout November. The inspiration came from the very nature of St Martin himself – kindness, helpfulness, willingness and the joy of doing good. In this way, the children passed on the message that being kind and considerate towards others can sometimes be the greatest miracle of all.

Yesterday at our school was all about a spooky yet cheerful atmosphere. The children enjoyed the all-day project ‘Boo, boo, boo – Halloween’s here!’, which was full of fun, creative activities and surprises. A Halloween trail awaited them, where they had to demonstrate their wits, teamwork and knowledge. There was also a Halloween reading and maths session, during which ghosts and spirits quietly crept into the school desks. The children also prepared their own spooky snacks, which tasted absolutely delicious. Of course, there had to be an experiment too – we tried to fill an old witch’s cauldron. :) In the afternoon, everyone transformed into little wizards, ghosts and skeletons and put on a dance and singing performance, which was met with thunderous applause. After the joint performance of the Halloween programme by all three classes, everyone set off on a spooky trail full of challenges – they had to throw at a witch, do a pumpkin slalom, complete a word search, ‘bloody hands’, shooting down Frankenstein, and catapulting bats and spiders. For the older pupils, an outdoor escape game with QR codes had been organised, offering plenty of excitement and fun. The celebrations culminated in a group sausage-roasting session, during which not only the bonfires but also the children’s eyes lit up. It was a day full of laughter, courage and shared experiences, which the children are sure to remember for a long time to come.

A children’s book without pictures would be incomplete. Illustrations are a gateway to the world of stories for young readers – they help them understand the plot, perceive emotions and develop their imagination. Two Czech illustrators, Daisy Mrázková and Miloš Nesvadba, have delighted several generations of children with their pictures. Their styles and approaches to illustration differ, but they are united by joy, kindness and the ability to see the world through a child’s eyes. That is why our Year 2 pupils went to the MK library in Doubravka today to discover their work. A host of activities awaited them. They put together ‘puzzles’ based on the illustrators’ pictures, searched the library for illustrations and matched them to their creators. They also created their own illustrations and listened to extracts from books which the aforementioned illustrators had brought to life with their art. It was a lovely way to get to know some more illustrators.

We spent this morning in the beautiful surroundings of the Sofronka Environmental Centre, where an interesting programme entitled ‘Autumn and Trees in the Forest’ had been organised for the children. Here, the children learnt about a wide variety of tree species, identified their fruits and seeds, and discovered lots of new and interesting facts about nature in autumn and about trees in general. The programme was very varied – it even included forest-themed active games, which brought the children plenty of joy and laughter. We also had a look at the weather station, walked along the bee trail and observed nature as it settled down for the night, slowly preparing for winter. And all around us were lots of beautifully coloured trees. To round off the programme, the children enthusiastically fed the fallow deer, who weren’t particularly keen to come near us today, so our guide took us straight into their enclosure, which was a great experience for many of the children. We all thoroughly enjoyed our morning at Sofronka – it was full of learning, discovery and the joy of nature.

Physical education can take many forms – and sometimes quite unexpected ones! To liven up our PE lessons, a coach from the Czech Republic Cricket Academy visited our school to introduce the children to this sport, which is still relatively uncommon here. During this entertaining lesson, the children learnt the basic rules of cricket, found out where the sport comes from, and, most importantly, had the chance to try it all out for themselves. From bowling and batting to tactics and teamwork – the children’s enthusiasm was evident at every turn.

The visit had several aims: to make the children’s PE lessons more enjoyable by introducing something new, to broaden their sporting horizons, and perhaps even to discover new talent or future cricket enthusiasts. And who knows – perhaps there’s someone amongst our pupils who’ll one day pull on the national team jersey! We’d like to thank the Czech Cricket Academy for their visit and for providing such an inspiring sporting experience. We believe that events like this motivate children to engage in healthy physical activity and open doors to new sporting opportunities for them.

Our school organised a popular sports morning for parents and children called ‘Games Without Borders’. The whole event was all about fun, exercise and teamwork. Upon arrival at the school, each participant found a slip of paper with a rhyme on it, which was used to assign them to a team. Each team then came up with its own name – and then the games could begin! At six different stations, children and adults alike put their minds, dexterity and team spirit to the test. Together, they built the tallest structure, tackled the straw challenge, searched for the correct numbers, tried out unconventional ways of carrying objects, put together jigsaw puzzles and had to crack a mysterious code using encrypted coordinates. The popular guessing game was also part of the programme – this year, the challenge was to guess how long all the lollipops would be if laid out in a straight line. And to make it a bit trickier, the guesses had to be in inches! The whole morning was spent in a relaxed atmosphere full of laughter, joy and overcoming challenges.

Thank you to everyone for taking part and for bringing refreshments, and heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the guessing competition!

Our class celebrated ‘Animal Day’ today. Our project was called ‘We Love Animals’. The whole school was transformed into a small animal exhibition, as the children brought their pets along to show off. There were dogs, cats, a parrot, a tortoise, hamsters and guinea pigs on display. The jellyfish balls also provided a big surprise, as the children presented them as unusual and interesting pets. Following the opening exhibition, the whole day continued in the spirit of creativity and discovery. The children read stories about animals together, solved crosswords in Morse code and learnt all sorts of interesting facts from them. In maths, they took part in ‘animal maths’, which not only entertained them but also tested their arithmetic skills. The art and craft activities were, of course, also animal-themed. The children learnt lots of new things, were able to show each other what pets they keep at home, and, above all, enjoyed a day together full of games, learning and fun.

Favourite stories about a dog and a cat adapted for the stage? Why, of course. And it was brilliant. The J. K. Tyl Theatre has adapted some of the timeless stories of this cheerful duo into a play. The performance was funny, stayed true to the lovely original text, and the children had a great time and got involved. And for the adult audience, there was the occasional ‘stray’ joke thrown in too. In short – the fairy tale put a smile on all our faces. :))

This morning, we were accompanied by an important figure from our history. It was St Wenceslas, King and patron saint of the Czech lands. The children learnt about this important figure in a playful, interactive way and came up with lots of interesting observations and questions. We were even able to answer most of them by the end of our mini-project. :) The children watched a short programme, put together an outline of this saint’s life story, completed a quiz and made a poster featuring key facts about St Wenceslas. And the grand finale was the escape game ‘Save Wenceslas’. The children had to demonstrate their knowledge of this figure and complete tasks that stood in their way of unlocking the locked castle. In the end, all the groups found the right key and ‘unlocked’ their way out. Well done, everyone – we really enjoyed it.

The children in Year 2 turned into little astronauts today. We were visited by a mobile planetarium with an engaging show called ‘3..2..1..launch!’. The main character of the story was Elon the hamster – a scientist and inventor who lives on a rubbish tip. Elon tries to spread enthusiasm for science and show that physics is not only useful but also great fun. One day, a robot from space crashes onto his rubbish tip. In order for it to return to orbit and reach its spacecraft, Elon must help it overcome a series of obstacles. Together with the hamster, the children experienced an exciting journey full of physics experiments, explanations and discoveries of the laws that govern the world around us. They learnt, for example, how rocket propulsion works, what astronauts have to go through before heading into space, how the air in the atmosphere works, and much more. The whole programme was not only a fun adventure for the pupils, but also a great way to spark their interest in science and technology. They left full of impressions and lots of new questions, which they are already looking forward to finding answers to at school and at home.

I’d like to welcome you all to the new 2025/2026 school year and I’m looking forward to lots of new experiences! Ms Vlaďka wishes you all the best of luck, success and happy smiles throughout the year.

On 27 June, we held a ceremony to hand out the written and sticker report cards. We’d like to congratulate all the children and thank them for their gifts. Have a wonderful summer holiday full of adventures, and we look forward to seeing you in September. :)))

Today’s hot weather was perfect for a picnic in the shade of Božkovský Island. The children had their snacks on blankets, enjoyed the water wheels and games, and had fun on the swings and trampolines. The children’s reaction was crystal clear – “This is the best day ever!!!”. So thank you to the mums for the treats, and tomorrow is D-Day: report cards.....:)))

Easy Start Primary School Sports Day: Sunshine, exercise and team spirit

Today was all about sport, teamwork and the joy of being active. Our school hosted a whole-school event – the Easy Start Primary School Sports Day. Although we were blessed with truly summery weather from the morning onwards and temperatures were soaring, the children weren’t put off. All the participants proved to be real fighters, tackling the challenges with a smile and great enthusiasm. The pupils were divided into teams, working together to complete a total of 10 sports stations. Each station tested different skills – physical fitness, agility and teamwork. The disciplines included, for example, the long jump, standing jump, skipping, running, shuttle run, obstacle course, basketball shot, long throw, goal kick and hoop toss. Each station had its own unique character, and the children threw themselves into the individual activities with great enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see how they cheered each other on, supported one another and celebrated their successes together. And what sort of summer sports day would it be without a bit of refreshment? During the breaks, there were water games and the children were able to cool off using water sprayers. Laughter and splashing water created the perfect summer atmosphere. A big thank you goes to everyone who helped ensure the event ran smoothly. And above all, to the children, who once again showed today that fair play, enthusiasm and the joy of being active are the real prizes. Long live sport, and we look forward to more events together!

Today, our Year 1 class set off on an unforgettable trip – we visited the fish ponds at Košinář Pond. The children had a unique opportunity to gain an insight into the fascinating world of fish and fish farming. As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed by the fisherman, who showed the children round the fish farm and, with his engaging commentary, introduced them to the fish that live in our waters. The children were able to see carp, grass carp, crucian carp and perch up close and learnt what conditions these fish need to survive. We also talked about the pond’s ecosystem – how important it is to maintain a balance within it, and how this can be affected by the weather, water levels or human intervention. The children discovered that looking after the pond and its inhabitants is very demanding and a great responsibility. And that every angler has to be a bit of everything – a carpenter, a mechanic, a plumber, a fish expert… A highlight of the day was the demonstration of basic fishing equipment. The children were able to examine fishing nets, landing nets and keepnets, and learnt what each one is used for. There were also fascinating insights into the life of a fisherman – what the fish harvest looks like, when the fish are stocked, and all the things that need to be monitored and organised throughout the year. The children were thrilled, asked lots of questions and listened with great interest. The trip not only broadened our horizons but also inspired us to learn more about nature and the work of the people around us. Thank you to the fisherman for his warm welcome and engaging talk!

Sofronka – Colours, Feelings and Sounds of the Forest

Today, our Year 1 class went on a trip to the Sofronka Environmental Centre, where a unique programme called ‘Colours, Feelings and Sounds of the Forest’ awaited the children. During the morning, the children had the chance to explore the forest in a completely unconventional way – using all their senses. The little explorers first listened to the sounds of the forest and tried to guess what they could hear – the rustling of the wind, birdsong or perhaps the gentle crackling of twigs. Next, they took part in a smell quiz, testing how well they could recognise different forest scents. In the next part of the programme, the children focused on the colours of nature. They compared shades of green, brown and yellow and discovered just how colourful the forest can be when you look at it closely. A highlight of the day was a visit to a hut dedicated to apitherapy – therapy using bees. Afterwards, the children massaged their feet on a special barefoot path, which was not only fun but also a healthy experience. At the animal-themed jumping area, everyone enjoyed jumping about and comparing who could jump like a squirrel or a deer. Afterwards, the children tried identifying objects by touch and, with great enthusiasm, built their own anthills from natural materials. To round off the day, the children picked fresh blueberries and visited the fallow deer enclosure, where they were able to feed the deer. The day was full of joy, discovery and unforgettable experiences in the great outdoors. We’d like to thank Sofronka for organising such a wonderful programme and we’re looking forward to our next visit!

Our Year 1 pupils set off on an adventurous expedition – a week-long school camp, which this year had a nautical theme. On the very first day, disaster struck – their ship was wrecked and the entire crew found themselves on a desert island. To save themselves, they had to join forces, overcome a host of challenges and collect the individual pieces of ship-shaped jigsaw puzzles, from which they could eventually build their own lifeboat. Every day, a new task awaited the children: they built rafts, caught fish, constructed shelters, bailed water out of boats, waded across a stream, crawled through the jungle that was overgrowing the island, and tackled many other tricky challenges. The children thoroughly enjoyed all the activities and threw themselves into every new challenge with enthusiasm. By the end of the week, all the crews had successfully assembled their boats and set sail from the island in style. The little sailors thus returned to civilisation – full of experiences, new skills and wonderful memories. The school trip was a real success and now everyone is looking forward to the holiday adventures that await them!

Year 5 teach the Year 1 pupils :) – 3–9 June

Our Year 1 pupils had a truly unusual school week! And not just them – the Year 5s did too. They got to experience first-hand what it’s like to stand in front of a class – not as pupils, but as real teachers. And their ‘pupils’ were none other than our Year 1s. The Year 5s took on their teaching roles responsibly and with enthusiasm. They prepared detailed lesson plans themselves and divided up the teaching of the various subjects amongst themselves. They taught Czech, maths, general studies and English. And it was by no means a boring, lecture-style lesson – every lesson was varied and well thought out. The children worked at their desks, took part in running and physical activities, and there was no shortage of integration with modern technology – iPads and interactive elements were a given. Each lesson was characterised by the joy of discovery and collaboration. The Year 1 pupils were thrilled – not only by their new ‘teachers’, but also by this unconventional approach to teaching. And who knows? Perhaps we’ve just witnessed the first steps of some future teachers. The Year 5 pupils certainly took away not only new experiences, but also a newfound respect for the teaching profession. Thank you to everyone for your dedication and the wonderful atmosphere you brought to the classroom!

On Wednesday, our school hosted its traditional May event – the Spring Festival – at which children from Years 1 to 5 put on a variety of performances. Each class was represented by a different colour – the Year 1 pupils shone in yellow, Year 2 in blue, Year 3 in green, Year 4 in a stylish combination of black and white, and Year 5 chose a cheerful pink. The entire programme began and ended with a group song in the colours of the rainbow, which beautifully enhanced the atmosphere of the whole event. The children put on some truly lovely performances – it was clear that they had practised diligently and given it their all. The audience rewarded their efforts with loud applause and beaming smiles. After the programme ended, a fun afternoon of activities was organised for the children in the school garden. There was face painting, hoverboarding, target throwing and other games, which the children eagerly tried out. We’d like to thank all the parents for bringing in refreshments and, above all, everyone who took part for a lovely day that we all truly enjoyed together!

On 14 May, our Year 1 class held a big event – the Primer Celebration. During this special day, the children became proper readers. At the start of the event, they were welcomed by the King of Books himself, who had prepared two reading tasks for them. The children split into small groups and set off on an adventurous quest in search of fairy tales. Using clues, they first had to work out which fairy tale their group was representing. They then prepared an outline of the fairy tale, matched the correct sentences to it and, finally, demonstrated their reading skills in front of their parents. But the celebration wasn’t just about reading – the children also sang a song for their parents and happily recited a poem they’d learnt. For their efforts, all the children were officially recognised as readers by the King himself. As a reward, they received a book, a reading badge and a sweet treat to round things off – an ice lolly. The whole celebration was full of joy, pride and a wonderful atmosphere. For the children, it was an unforgettable day, which they will surely remember for a long time to come as the start of their journey into reading.

The ‘My Teeth’ Project

In Year 1, we’ve been focusing on an important topic over the past few days – our teeth. As part of the ‘My Teeth’ project, we learnt together about the structure of a tooth, its function, and all the things that can harm or, conversely, benefit our teeth. The children learnt the correct technique for brushing their teeth – how long to brush for, what movements to use, how many times a day, and why it is important not to skip brushing. The experiment with eggs and cola was a real highlight. We left one egg in the drink without any protection from toothpaste, coated the second with toothpaste beforehand, and the third was simply soaked in water. We want to observe how sweet drinks affect the surface of the egg, which in this experiment acts as a substitute for tooth enamel. Hopefully, it will be clear to see how sweet drinks can damage teeth – and whether toothpaste can really help to protect them. We also practised cleaning laminated teeth using toothbrushes and sorted foods into those that harm our teeth and those that are good for them. The children matched the foods to the correct groups and learnt lots of interesting facts. Another fun activity was modelling a tooth out of plasticine, including showing what tooth decay looks like. Using the model, we demonstrated what happens when a tooth starts to ache and what it’s like when a dentist drills out a cavity. This helped the children better understand why it’s important to look after their teeth every day to prevent problems. The ‘My Teeth’ project was not only educational but also fun. We all now know how important it is to brush our teeth regularly and thoroughly. A healthy smile starts at home!

On Wednesday 7 May 2025, an English-language project called ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ took place. It was the children’s first experience of working in English for a whole day. At the start of the project, we had to identify the tracks we’d found in the school corridor. Then, armed with cameras, we set off on a bear hunt. Tracks marked with numbers and their written forms helped us find the right path. Along the way, we completed various tasks: walking through the grass (and solving a maths problem in English) or through the mud (pulling out letters to form English words), wading barefoot across the river (fishing out shells with numbers on them), find pine cones and twigs in the forest and practise prepositions, collect a book-themed jigsaw puzzle in a snowstorm (using polystyrene shapes), head into a cave (the English classroom) and try to take a photo of the bear. In the English class, we set about completing nine tasks at different stations and, for completing them, we collected photos of parts of a bear. And because the children worked so well, they also deserved a sweet treat. During Friday’s after-school English session, they’ll be reading a book and watching a short video based on the story of the same name.

The Year 1 pupils went to see the English play ‘THE KING OF THE POLLOCK’ today. They learnt about the frog parliament and, together with the roosters and hens, went in search of the King of the Pollock. The children took part in the play, danced and sang cheerful songs. And all of it was in English. We enjoyed it very much.

To mark Earth Day, we embarked on a themed mini-project with the children, which was full of learning, creativity and fun. The aim was not only to remind ourselves just how important our planet is, but also to think together about how we can help and protect it. The children managed to read short texts about nature as part of the Planet Earth reading trail and answer inquisitive questions. We talked about what each of us can do – such as sorting waste, saving water, or being considerate towards nature. Part of the project also involved creating their own lapbooks – themed fold-out workbooks where the children recorded everything they’d learnt about the Earth. Every lapbook was beautiful, full of pictures, interesting facts and ideas on how to be a good friend to nature. The highlight of the theme was an escape trail, which took the children through a series of puzzles and tasks. Only when they had solved everything correctly did they receive a code to unlock a surprise – an educational video about our planet. During the day, the children not only learnt a great deal, but also strengthened their connection with nature and realised that, even with small steps, we can all contribute together to protecting our beautiful blue planet.

Today we held our Easter project day, which was packed with creative activities, fun and learning about Easter traditions. First thing in the morning, we got stuck into some crafting – we made Easter whips out of modelling clay, which gave us a chance to practise our fine motor skills and let our imaginations run wild. Everyone created their own original, colourful Easter whip. This was followed by the traditional decorating of Easter eggs, but with a twist this time – the children created eggs using building blocks and construction sets. The result was a beautiful Easter display on the carpet, full of imaginative and cheerful creations. To learn a bit about Easter traditions, we watched the programme “Ty Brďo – Easter” together, which took us on an entertaining journey through the history and significance of these holidays. The morning’s programme was rounded off with some special Easter maths. The children tackled fun Easter-themed tasks – they counted eggs, solved logic puzzles featuring bunnies and practised their maths skills. And right at the very end came the most exciting part – the Easter treasure hunt! The children completed tasks, deciphered codes and searched for clues scattered around the nearby park. In the end, all the teams worked together to discover the hidden treasure, which was a well-deserved reward for their teamwork, sharp minds and perseverance. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole day – not only did we learn something new about Easter, but above all we spent a day full of joy, creativity and adventure. We’re already looking forward to the next project day! And our biggest thanks go to Jiřík – he and his mum baked us an absolutely perfect lamb-shaped cake and prepared fruit skewers. Thank you.

Today, our class went on a trip to a candle-making workshop in Plzeň-Litice. A fragrant and colourful programme full of creative activities and Easter spirit awaited us there. The children tried their hand at three different activities, during which they made their own original Easter decorations. The first station involved casting wax decorations. Everyone was given a mould with an Easter motif. The children then stuck skewers into the hot wax and watched with great excitement as the insert set and took shape. At the next station, they coloured their own candles. Everyone was given a white candle and plenty of coloured wax to melt. The little artists played with different shades, creating stripes and marbled effects – there were no limits to their imagination. To finish off, we all made scented bath salts. The children were able to choose the scent and colour, fill a bag and wrap it up beautifully. Some of the children are already excitedly planning to give the bath salts to their mums as an Easter present. :) Mums, you’ve got something to look forward to. The morning took place in a lovely atmosphere; the children really enjoyed the craft session and took home not only three beautiful creations but also a lovely experience. Thank you to the candle workshop in Litice for the warm welcome and the inspiring programme!

On Wednesday, we took the children from Years 1, 2 and 3 on an unconventional PE lesson. Instead of the usual gym session, we visited the Tyjátr indoor play centre, where the children were able to enjoy plenty of fun and exercise.

The play centre offers a variety of play features that immediately captured the children’s attention. Throughout the morning, they tried out the climbing frames, slides and other attractions, which develop their motor skills whilst also encouraging teamwork. There was also plenty of space for free play.

The atmosphere was brilliant throughout – laughter and excitement could be heard everywhere. The children really enjoyed their visit to the play centre and left full of new experiences and with smiles on their faces. This trip was a welcome change from the usual lessons.

March is the month of books and readers. That’s why we visited the library in Slovany with our Year 1 pupils today. We were looked after by a very kind librarian, who showed us round the library and introduced us to the world of books. She chatted to the children about how to sign up for a library card, what we can find there, and what we can borrow. She also showed us how damaged some books can be when people return them. This led into her talk about how we should treat books. Last but not least, she taught us how to find our way around the bookshelves and look for books by author. The children also had the chance to borrow a book and read for a while. The reading from the book by the librarian was truly wonderful. She had a marvellous delivery and all the children listened to her with great enthusiasm. Thank you very much for such a lovely visit. :)

Today, the children took part in an ‘Animánie’ workshop at school – animating classic fairy tales. To begin with, the children learnt what animation actually is. They talked about fairy tales and their logical structure, and acted out the roles of animated characters. They put on a play, learning in the process to use appropriate and apt representations of actions. Then came the moment to learn how to make their own film. The children divided up the roles, created characters and designed the backdrop for the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”. They learnt the process of taking individual stills whilst simultaneously adjusting and changing the characters’ movements within the story. Working in four teams, they managed to create some magical stories.

Ms Veronika from the Zdravá 5 School visited our children today. She came to talk to the children about the importance and significance of good eating habits, a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet. The programme introduces pupils to the five basic principles of healthy eating – putting together a balanced diet using the food pyramid, staying hydrated, the basics of shopping wisely, the importance of nutrition for the human body, and preparing healthy snacks. The children came up with their own meal plans (which they really enjoyed) and searched for healthy foods based on the first letters of their names. Guessing fruit solely by touch was also a great success. The children were very surprised to discover how much sugar there is in sweet fizzy drinks, how much meat is in a sausage, and how little fruit there is in fruit juice. A competition task was prepared for each topic, which the pupils completed in small groups, earning ‘fives’ for their team.

On Friday, 21 February, the Year 1 pupils enjoyed a Shrovetide project. The aim was to introduce them to the tradition of Shrovetide, the main characters in Shrovetide parades, and Shrovetide treats. And we also wanted to have some fun and learn something new. Well – we think it went down a treat. :))) The children had plenty of themed tasks to complete, both outside and in the classroom. They had to show that they could read, do sums and write. :) And so that it wasn’t just about reading, writing and maths, we also watched some short videos that taught us a lot about this tradition. We had a go at making Shrovetide treats (doughnuts, cakes…) and were delighted by the talk given by our teaching assistant Terka, who takes part in the Shrovetide parade. She told the children all about how it works, the masks and the customs. It was a lovely morning full of fun activities and new discoveries. :)

Skipping isn’t a boring part of PE lessons, but a fun activity that strengthens your whole body and improves your coordination. Don’t believe us? Today, the children at our school took part in a workshop led by Vendy Peřinová, the Czech champion in individual freestyle skipping, who convinced them of this. She taught the children the correct jumping technique, as well as a few tricks (such as a wind-up with a turn and a jump, Side Swings and the ‘egg challenge’ with a Side Swing). She also tried out various group activities with the children. Using a large skipping rope, we practised running under it at a steady pace and Double Dutch jumps. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon.

Today, Year 1 had a fun and interactive session called ‘The Dog and the Rules’. The children took an active part in role-playing scenarios, and we also had the chance to look at some dog-care equipment. During the session, the children learnt how to behave around other people’s dogs, as well as how the police work with service dogs. We now know how these dogs help us and what breeds they are. We’ve also learnt important information about what to avoid when interacting with a dog and what walking a dog should involve. Thank you.

Today, the children discovered that nature doesn’t sleep, even in winter. :) We went for a walk through Sofronka and its wintry landscape. And it was a lovely walk, full of fascinating stories and wonderful, educational games. The children learnt about the birds that spend the winter here, watched the bird feeder and searched for hidden birds. We looked at antlers and horns. We talked about the behaviour of red deer, fallow deer and roe deer in winter. Of course, we also fed the fallow deer. We also found out how bees behave in their hive during winter. And we know what it’s like to be a tracker. In the end, only one roe deer got away – we couldn’t track it down. :) But I’m certainly not worried that I’d get lost with my group. They’re natural trackers. :)))

Polana Hall – Stop at Red! – Thursday, 9 January. Today we set off for another cultural experience. We went to Polanova Hall to see the show ‘Stop at Red!’. This fairy-tale performance, incorporating elements of road safety education, was really lovely. We have to admit that it’s been a long time since we’ve had such a hearty laugh. The children had the chance to get actively involved in the action. The main character of the story was Pepín, a Year 1 pupil, who was setting off on his own to school for the very first time. We helped him overcome all the dangers and obstacles he might encounter along the way. We also met Milada the lazy zebra, Mr Zelený the sportsman, and Mr Červený the grumbler. The children were most entertained by their encounter with Lojza, the road pirate, who wasn’t paying attention to a thing. :)

Today, we enjoyed a day with the children based on the theme of ‘The Three Kings Are Coming’. The children learnt more about what this tradition involves and where it comes from. We watched “Chaloupka na vršku – Jak to bylo na Tři krále”, played bingo, did some ‘Three Kings’ maths, put together jigsaw puzzles, completed lots of themed tasks and did some arts and crafts too. :) It was a lovely morning.

On the last day before the children left for the Christmas holidays, we had a rather unusual lesson. We took part in an escape game called ‘Save Christmas’. The children had to help Father Christmas find his ‘nice list’ – that is, the list of well-behaved children. And that wasn’t easy. Each part of the list was waiting for them once they’d completed the task. But even after piecing the list together, they weren’t done yet. The list had to be ‘activated’ with a magic wand, which the children could only obtain by giving the password. And they didn’t have it. They had to find it out. In each of the three classrooms, letters were waiting for them, from which the password had to be pieced together. Only then could the children search for the magic wand. But even where they were to go with the password, they had to work out from a riddle. :) But it all turned out well. Christmas is coming. We saved the ‘nice list’. But the morning wasn’t just about the escape game; it was also about reading Christmas stories, colouring in Christmas bookmarks, dancing to ‘Just Dance’ and enjoying the delicious Christmas biscuits that the mums had sent in. Thank you very much. And in the last lesson, we exchanged presents. Father Christmas was certainly generous. :) And the children really enjoyed the day.

On Thursday, 19 December, we had a special visit at school. In the afternoon, parents, grandmothers, grandfathers and friends came along. We invited them to our Christmas party. We sang carols, played instruments, performed a short play and danced. We then got the parents involved in a special Christmas quiz. We not only had to answer questions, but also identify spices by touch or smell. Even recognising the title of a carol from its melody was perhaps a bit of a challenge. But everyone managed it brilliantly. A lovely finale was setting off the Christmas boats. Thank you all for spending the afternoon with us.

Today, our class went to the Alfa Theatre to enjoy another pre-Christmas show – “The Star of Bethlehem: Superstar”. The main character was a comet that decided to make itself useful and help the people on Earth. It helped find shelter for Joseph and Mary so that the Baby Jesus could be born in warmth, and it found the Three Wise Men, who brought him gifts. A stellar band accompanied us throughout the performance. The children thoroughly enjoyed the show.

On Thursday 12 December, we set off to visit the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Don’t believe us? It’s true. A performance of “We’re Going to Visit the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem” was staged in the Polan Hall. Christmas carols accompanied us throughout the performance, whilst the actors told the children about traditions and introduced them to the most important figures of Advent. We even saw one of our girls transform into Saint Lucy with our own eyes. We now also know what ‘fasting’ means. But not everyone is convinced they want to see the golden piglet. They’d rather have a proper meal. Good news for mums – according to tradition, there should be nine dishes on the table on Christmas Eve. That’ll be quite a slog in the kitchen. Especially cooking up a storm. Throughout the whole performance, we gradually sang and chatted our way from the first days of Advent right through to the very story of the gift-giving and the birth of the Baby Jesus. We even managed to slightly rework the lyrics of the carol ‘Let’s Go Together to Bethlehem’. Miss Renča found out she’s getting married. It was revealed to her by the shoe she was throwing. And now for the most important thing – this year, place your presents by the decorated nativity scene and hang the Christmas tree from the ceiling. And don’t worry too much about the presents – straw figurines, fruit, nuts… and a Merry Christmas.

Today, the children had a big adventure in store for them. They spent the night at school. :) They were absolutely thrilled and couldn’t wait. The mums were so kind as to sort out dinner, snacks and breakfast. And to soak up a bit of that Christmas atmosphere, we went for a walk to the Christmas tree and the nativity scene at the town hall. And then it was straight off to enjoy the delicious pizza we’d ordered for dinner. After that, we had a rehearsal for the Christmas show, some Science Computer Week activities, and a lovely Christmas fairy tale. The atmosphere, with the whole class, snuggled up in their sleeping bags, watching the Christmas fairy tale together, was so heart-warming. :) And now, off to bed in a flash. :) Good night.

On the second weekend of Advent, we held our traditional Christmas craft session at school. We got together with the children and their parents, and everyone had the chance to make a Christmas decoration. The options included a reindeer made from twigs, a snow globe, a tree-shaped ornament, a woolly angel and a paper snowflake. Some parents provided refreshments, for which we are very grateful. It was a very enjoyable morning and everyone took home some lovely Christmas crafts.

Today is 5 December. And we all know that, traditionally, on this day, children are visited by a trio consisting of a devil, St Nicholas and an angel. They even came to our school to check whether you’ve been good pupils. :) But don’t worry – it all turned out fine. The book of sins revealed that we don’t have any major sinners here. Just well-behaved children. So nobody ended up in hell, and everyone is taking home a present. And they’ve also had a lovely experience from the whole day, because not only did we have this special visit at school, but the children also had a themed project going on all day. They solved devilish maths problems, boiled syllables and words in a cauldron, searched for letters in the devil’s sack, learnt how this tradition came about, and danced and sang together.

Today we were delighted by the fairy tale “The Silly Devil”. The whole story revolved around the butcher Krkovička, who outwitted the devil and avoided hell. The children helped the main character in his battle for a sack of gold, for example by making up a little poem about the magic words. And so, thanks in part to our children, everything turned out well.

Today we devoted our time to an Advent mini-project called ‘When Advent Knocks on the Door’. I wanted to introduce the children to the traditional Czech Advent. What are the original colours of Advent? Why four candles? What other traditions and customs are associated with the upcoming festive season? We discovered all this during our ‘quest’ for an Advent wreath. Each group was tasked with collecting four candles for their Advent wreath. They could earn one for every task they completed correctly. All the children enjoyed the morning and we’re looking forward to lighting the first candle on Sunday.

This year, our school held a Christmas fair just before the start of Advent, so that everyone could buy their Christmas decorations in good time. There was a wide variety of items to choose from, all made by the children during art lessons, craft sessions or in after-school care. New additions this year included Advent calendars and scratch cards, whilst the beautiful Advent wreaths and the clothes sewn by Miss Káťa were, as ever, a firm tradition. There was also a corner serving hot chocolate, Christmas biscuits and gingerbread. At the end of the fair, a prize draw was held for a painting of the magical Hogwarts. There were plenty of shoppers and most of the items sold out quickly. Thanks to this, we raised the incredible sum of CZK 45,242, which we will donate to the St Aloysius Home in Plzeň. We would like to thank everyone who helped organise the fair, and equally all the generous shoppers. We hope you enjoy the items you’ve bought. We wish you a peaceful Advent.

We can relax in our class. :) That’s because our class is full of little first-aiders. Today, at Techmánie, we took part in the ‘Little First-Aider’ programme and learnt lots of interesting facts about our bodies and health. We put together a human skeleton, matched up the organs, listened to our breathing and heartbeats with a stethoscope, and played at being germs. After our snack, we even managed to have a look round the exhibitions.

We spent Wednesday morning doing something a bit different. We got together with the Year 2 pupils in our classroom, where the ‘Honey Breakfast’ project was waiting for us. First, the children chatted with the instructor about honey and bees, and they even tried on the suit that beekeepers wear when entering the hive to avoid being stung. The session included some active games, during which the children took on the role of bees. There were real tools on display, along with illustrations of beekeeping practices for looking after the hive and harvesting honey. At the end, everyone got to taste some honey.

It was a really lovely way to spend our first lesson.

About Sleeping Beauty

A classic tale from Czech fairy tales, given a modern twist. The children were absolutely thrilled by how the wicked fairy couldn’t get into the castle to fulfil her destiny. They cheered her on enthusiastically, shouting and clapping, throughout her entire attempt to ‘sneak into the castle’. And she certainly tried all sorts of methods to gain access :) Have you ever seen a fairy digging with a pickaxe, firing herself out of a cannon, or wrapping herself up like a present? No? Go to Alfa. It was well worth it. :)

St Martin is an important figure in November. We mainly associate him with the first snow and roast goose. But there’s much more to him than that. :) Why is it said that St Martin arrives on a white horse? Why do we roast geese in particular? Do you know about St Martin’s pastries? And why are they baked in a curved shape? We already know the answers. We devoted the whole of this morning to St Martin. The children hunted for hidden pictures, shared a cloak between St Martin and a beggar, completed themed group tasks, and we even watched a short fairy tale about him. It was a really lovely morning. :)

Thursday, 31 October, is traditionally associated with Halloween here at our school too. It was a day full of magic, wizardry and experiments. We tried our hand at making ‘dancing’ ghosts, we danced and sang, we searched for themed pictures in a magic potion, and we competed to see who could remove a pumpkin from a pyramid of cups the quickest. And as we had a performance for parents lined up for the afternoon, we also made some snacks. :) The afternoon performance and the escape game that followed were the real icing on the cake. We all had a brilliant time.

The universe – we are part of it too. And it is also one of the most popular and fascinating topics in the classroom. That’s why we treated the children to a trip to the sports hall, where a mobile planetarium awaited them with a talk entitled ‘Under the Stars for the First Time’. The event was organised by the Rokycany Observatory. Through an entertaining and interactive programme, we learnt a host of fascinating facts about the universe. The children were very inquisitive and had lots of questions about the stars, constellations, the Sun and the individual planets. They themselves contributed a number of interesting insights; it’s clear that the subject is not unfamiliar to them. At the end, we were able to choose which planet in our solar system we wanted to learn more about. It was a brilliant morning full of new discoveries. We really didn’t want to ‘land’ back at school.

Techmania is all the rage. :) At least here with us – in Year 1. At Techmania, we took part in the ‘Astronaut’s Adventure’ programme. The children learnt what’s essential for life and what a journey into space involves. We now also know just how well-educated an astronaut has to be, and everything they have to cope with. Like having to wear a nappy under their spacesuit. :)))) That absolutely had the children in stitches. They could hardly stop laughing. Of course, we also had a look at the other exhibits. We’ll definitely be going back to Techmania.

Today we set out to enjoy the beauty of autumn’s natural scenery. We also wanted to meet the people who work in the forest – a gamekeeper and a forester. In Sofronka, the ‘Forester or Gamekeeper’ programme awaited us. All the children had the chance to listen to a fascinating talk by the gamekeeper, who not only shared stories from his work but also spoke very warmly about all the animals we might encounter in the forest. Last but not least, he had prepared a range of games for the children, a collection of natural artefacts (antlers, horns, hides) and took the children to see the fallow deer. It was a brilliant and educational morning. We’d love to see more events like this :)

On Saturday morning, we gathered at the school for a special occasion. The programme featured the second annual get-to-know-you and team-building event – Games Without Borders. Six stations awaited the participants – Pantomime, Building a Dream, Ball Catch, Weaving, Movement Zone and Who’s Who. A bonus task for individuals was to guess how many coins were hidden in a chest. At the end, the top results were announced. We hope you had lots of fun, got some exercise and enjoyed the event.

The Year 1 pupils went on a cultural outing today. Our destination was Polanova Hall, where we watched the mini-musical “Mikeš the Cat”, which was met with enthusiastic reactions. The children listened intently to the story, based on a book by Josef Lada, and sang along to several songs with Mikeš and his friends. It was a lovely morning. We’re already looking forward to our next theatre trip.

Autumn is just around the corner. And today, Year 1 enjoyed their ‘Apple Day’. There were apples all around us. We counted them, compared them, looked for them and even hid them. And the smell was wonderful... We even tried to tell the apples apart by their scent and weight. Nobody believed you could draw an apple in a single stroke – but wow – it really is possible. And now we’ve all learnt how to do it. What’s more, we had loads of fun with jigsaw puzzles, memory games and themed art and craft activities. Yay – we love apples. :)))

3...2...1...GO! We’ve officially kicked off the 2024/2025 school year. We’re setting sail and looking forward to all our adventures. :)