Discovery Summer - Family London

Week 7 class photos

2011-08-09T07:14:00.001-07:00

Week 6 class photos

2011-08-09T04:35:00.000-07:00

Discovery Summer 2011 courses are about to end and sadly we have to say goodbye to our dear students - they all worked really hard this week and therefore we present you their pictures as a memento of the great experience they had at the school. Feel free to send us some feedback concerning the time you spent with us and we hope to see you again next year!

AM Junior Groups

AM Teens Group

AM Adult Groups

PM Junior Groups

PM Teens Group

PM Adult Groups

Discovery Summer's got talent! (05-08-2011)

2011-08-09T03:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our typical Friday presentation session which included a variety of performances by our students (truly inspired by reggae legends, like Bob Marley) and a highly enjoyable karaoke session - check it out!

Felicity's Adult Class birthday party

2011-08-09T03:15:00.000-07:00

Discovery Summer wishes you a happy birthday!

Teenagers group's reviews (04-08-2011)

2011-08-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

The following post contains reviews of films and one review of a West End Musical, completed by Discovery Summer Teenagers.

We think these reviews are great, so enjoy reading them and if you have time you may wish to check out the films recommended to you too!

Sarah Chamberlain

Musical review by Johan Stettler:

Yes, it really rocks!
I am not a man who likes musicals. But this musical is awesome! I am really lucky that I have seen this. This great musical called “We Will Rock You”.
It is a great and a funny story. It plays in the future and is about Rock. The instruments and the music are all exiled. They can only make music with the computer and programs. But there is one man who wants to make real music and he wants to bring the Rock back. But the evil queen wants to prevent that.
I really like the story. The performance is amazing and the effects too. I never liked the songs in a musical but the songs in We Will Rock You are legendary. All great songs from one of the best bands in the history of rock, Queen. The songs are really awesome.
All actors are very good and costumes are great. The characters are really funny. It’s a fantastic musical and it is for everyone, for young and old people. When you want to see a good musical with good songs and a nice performance that is your best choice.

My rating for We Will Rock You is 9 out of 10.

Film review by Omima Muttawa:

The Pandora planet vill it be in hand of humen or Navie people?
Avatar directed by James Cameron
It's a brilliant movie; it has many explosions, people shot by bullet or arrow , squashed by robots or giant beasts, bitten by wild creatures.
However in Avatar, the military is taking over using shock awe to dominate and control with a ruthless turozing peaceful indigenous the Navie pursitnof resorcorce and wealth.
The planet Pandora has got beatfrul senery floating montions and long revers , the film is sort of since fiction imagination and a fary tale .
Although it has many positive sides, the animations were great you just don,t expect to see some thing like that , the way the director created the creatures the Navie people and the senery it was appsolotly spectacular and wonderfull , the film gasn,t got any negative sides it,s amazing ,it,s a must see film of the year .

I give it 10 / 10.

Film review by Esra and Oemer Topal:

L.A. Flash!
Essentially the movie "Crash" is about racism, prejudice, bigotry and ignorance. But it's also about support, sacrifice and to many stupid coincidences that have a significant impact.

The film features a couple of short episodes from the lives of four policemen, an African-American Hollywood producer and his wife, a choleric Iranian land owners, married couple, a white prosecutor, a Puerto Rican alarm fitter and two small black gangsters. The production is fantastic, the actors were well chosen and the story was illustrated interestingly.For us there were two spine-tingling scenes (the 'wounded girl and the car accident), when I remember the movie these scenes are coming in our mind. In our opinion the movie shows clearly some terrible situations , where people have to deal with it. This film is based on reality and instincts of human beings.

Extremely positive in "Crash" is also the fantastic cast of the roles. Don Cheadle plays his role very well. Matt Dillon also surprised the audience as a very versatile character just like his partner Ryan Phillipe, who can prove in "Crash" now that he is capable of much more than usual.Thandie Newton and Terrence Dashon Howard personally convinced us the most, both touch the audience deeply and can sympathize with them. Sandra Bullock shows that she is able to do more than to fool around. Although her part is quite short, she uses it. We were also extremely surprised when we saw Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges because from a Rapper really no one expects great acting performance. But Ludacris does his job really well and plays a very complex character.

We recommend the movie everyone who is over 16 years old. Our score for that movie is ten out of ten.

Film review by Andrej Novikov:

“Tablets plus brain is very clever brain!”
Limitless
I think this film has a good affect on people. Also, I think, it teaches us that you can be clever without any tablets...
This film is about the man, whose friend gave him tablets which ups brain work from twenty to hundred per cents.
I think the story of this film have a great sense because it have bad start and good end... visual effects, and music, used in there aren’t really great, so sense is the main.
But on the other hand, this film isn’t for all family because the sense is too heavy for children, I think, children under eleven or twelve years old won’t understand this film.
All the film is about one character. In my opinion, he has a good actor play, so audience can believe him and understand the situation in the film.

So, for me, film is good, maybe somewhere it needs better visual effects, but at all film is not bad. My score is 9 of 10.

Film review by Adema N.:

Do not say the seven-word activation unless you mean it.

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) was directed by Steven Spielberg. It is a story about child-android David, who was "adopted" by the human Monica. She lost her son in the car accident. David & Monica have just started getting along with each other, when the miracle happened - her son Martin resurrected! Afterwards Martin came back home, there always were competitions, jealousy between these little boys.
The main idea of the film is based on the well-known fairytale The Adventures of Pinocchio. David was told this little story about a wooden puppet who became a real boy after the fairy turned him. Then he decided to find this unbelievable woman. He was convinced that the Blue Fairy would transform him into a little human-boy, allowing Monica to love him and take back home.
The play of the actors was absolutely gorgeous! Jude Law, who played a Gigolo Joe - companion of little David (Haley Joel Osment), was funny & really careless person who had always dreamt about Casinos, bars & other "fan places". David, for sure was the opposite person - he was caring about everything that surrounded him - his mother, his family. He knew how to love, and wanted to prove his love.
The movie was extremely tragic and there were a lot of funny and embarrassing stuff at the same time! I was teary eyed almost all of the time, while watching it!
Finally, the story ends with David, reaching his dream to become the only boy, who Monica would care and be proud about. He had a lot of amazing adventures during his journey, even though the ending was fatal...

George's Marvellous Medicine?!

2011-07-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

This week the students went to the Science Museum. Pippa's group visited the exhibition about medicine and were inspired to make some marvellous medicine of their own.

They came up with some interesting concoctions! The boys made medicines for their worst enemies (or their sisters). They contained dog food, water from the toilet and other yucky things!

This medicine is so special that the ingredients are top secret!

Luckily the girls made nicer medicines using ice-cream, white chocolate, perfume and imagination! The medicine is supposed to make short peopele grow taller and give them nice dreams. Let's hope so!

Week 4 project work

2011-07-26T01:29:00.000-07:00

Last week the Collingham students visited the Natural History Museum. Some groups did projects about life under the sea.

Pippa's group did research into sea life. These students did a poster about octopuses.

Alex's group interviewed sea mammals! This is a photo of a dolphin explaining how pollution is ruining the oceans.

Cassie's group looked at evolution and the difference between men and women. They debated issues like "Are men better drivers than women?" - "Are women more emotional than men?"

This week they're off to the Science Museum.

Week 3 Class photos

2011-07-15T11:44:00.001-07:00

It's the end of another busy week at Collingham. Here are just some of our class photos from this week. All the photos are available on the Picassa site (see the box on the right hand side of the blog).

Week 3 - Museum visits

2011-07-14T03:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the students visited the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Most of them visited the Theatre section.

Helen's class learned some new theatre vocabulary and saw some amazing costumes.

Pippa's class split into teams and wrote quiz questions for their friends.

Next week they're all going to the Natural History Museum.

Week 2 project work

2011-07-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

This week Collingham students visited the Science Museum. The classes visited the transport section or the space exhibit and did some amazing project work based on what they saw.

Emilia's class visited the transport section - they've been inventing futuristic vehicles of their own. This is a flying taxi - complete with TV!

Pippa's class looked at space and wrote a magazine all about it.

Cassie's class saw a big red London bus and decided to make one of their own.

Alex's class made models of futuristic vehicles. This one uses magnetic forces instead of fuel.

Anna's class designed their own cities in space.

Helen's group have been learning all about planets.

Sarah's class became Travel Agents for imaginary planets.

Next week they're all going to the V&A

2011 courses have begun.....

2011-07-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

The 2011 courses are now up and running. Here are a few class photos. More to follow....

Teenagers Class Videos

2010-10-29T04:50:00.000-07:00

Let's Ask Paul on Vimeo.

Director's Cut on Vimeo.

The Astronaut on Vimeo.

The Swimmer on Vimeo.

Week 7 Photos

2010-08-13T03:30:00.001-07:00

HARRY POTTER WARS - THE COMPLETED TRILOGY

2010-08-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

The force is strong with these children.

(Press the symbol next to the Vimeo logo for full-screen viewing!)

Harry Potter Wars - Trilogy from Discovery Summer on Vimeo.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 8

2010-08-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 8 from Discovery Summer on Vimeo.

PLANET NEWS TV

2010-08-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

PLANET NEWS TV from Discovery Summer on Vimeo.

DISCOVERY SUMMER NEWS TV

2010-08-08T10:43:00.001-07:00

DISCOVERY SUMMER NEWS TV from Discovery Summer on Vimeo.

Week 6 Photos

2010-08-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Week 5 Photos

2010-07-29T06:29:00.001-07:00

Whoops! Week One Photos for all to see

2010-07-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

As we were looking through the blog today we realised that the week one class photos had been missed, so here they are...

Week Four Class Groups... Wacky poses are the order of the day!

2010-07-22T02:41:00.000-07:00

Class photos are a weekly feature at Collingham, only this time some of the subjects are starting to get a little more creative with their poses!!

Week Four Juniors Exploring The Science Museum

2010-07-22T02:17:00.000-07:00

Museum day arrives again and Rachel's week four juniors class head to the Science Museum to gather inspiration for their up and coming inventions project. The students spent their time in the British inventions gallery, drawing and writing about their favourite machines, and experimenting with the interactive displays!

Week Three Students Hard At Work...

2010-07-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the week three students hard at work in the classroom...

Week Three Class Groups

2010-07-15T08:58:00.001-07:00

Science Museum Visit

2010-07-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Today the students visited the Science Musuem, concentrating on the Space and Inventions gallery. Here are some pictures of the youngest London Juniors enjoying the interactive exhibits!

Collingham Week Two

2010-07-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Week 2 already. Here are the group photos. Tomorrow they're all off to the Science Museum.

Welcome 2010

2010-06-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

Hello. I'm Eva - the Director of Studies on the junior/teen course at Collingham.

A warm welcome to all the new students and staff who're joining us this year. We also have many returning students and can't wait to see them again.

Next week (28 June to 2 July) we'll be visiting the Natural History Museum and doing some exciting project work based on what we see.

We'll keep you updated on this blog.

See you all soon.

Teenagers' Class - Thank You

2009-08-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

Our family album

2009-08-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

These are some of the photos taken over the past six weeks. They include our museum visits, Friday activities and games, our fashion show, the volcano experiment and finally, Lucy's (one of our teachers) birthday.

The Actors Club

2009-08-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

One of our teachers, Ellie, produced sketches almost every week with her groups. Here are a sample of them, performed and written by the students. There are also some mimes of natural disasters, performed by Paddington class.

Discovery singers

2009-08-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Our singing competition included all of our students - from the young beginners classes to the older students. Here is an example of some of the songs.

Discovery reporters

2009-08-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here our students turn their attention to natural disasters after their visit to the Natural History museum and become reporters for a day.

Great inventors

2009-08-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here our students turn their hands to inventing after one of the visits to the Science museum.

Collingham Adults

2009-08-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Some of our adult students join in on the singing competition.

Discovery songwriters

2009-08-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Some exceptionally original songs from some of our exceptional students.

Project work by the juniors....more to follow

2009-08-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

A visit to the Butterfly exhibition.

On the steps of the museum

Costume competition

Making an erupting volcano

Week 6 photos - only 1 week left

2009-08-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

Click on the slide show on the right to see all the photos.

Adult class

Teenagers

Juniors

Week 5 already

2009-07-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

More class photos available if you click on the slideshow on the right.

2009-07-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

Kathy (Senior Teacher), Leo (the lady at the door), Eva (Director of Studies)

Hadrien (the Tuck Shop man) and Leo (the lady at the door)

Teenagers' Class week 3

2009-07-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

Are animals blessed with a sixth sense? Or are some animals able to predict disaster because they are able to hear infrasound?

Do farm animals like cows and sheep produce more methane than a 4x4? Will changing their diet or genetically engineering their stomachs make them less harmful to the environment?

How did the trunkfish, batfish and lantern fish get their names?

The teenagers' class studied various texts on animals to uncover truths and myths. They also acted out a few sketches about animals and the environment - "Science Laboratory" and "The Game Show".

The full videos are available to view here, and you can ask the students for the password.

Week 3 photos

2009-07-14T09:38:00.001-07:00

Photos were taken of all classes today (14th July 2009). Click on the slideshow on the right to see them all.

Teenagers' Class

2009-07-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

Last week we explored the theme of Flight. We covered topics such as the Wright Brothers and space travel. We also looked closely at the story of Amelia Earhart, a pioneer for women in flying, as well as Laika, the first dog in space.

Amelia Earhart's initial impression of an airplane was that it was nothing special, but after an experience at an air show, she fell in love with flying. She set many flying records, and was determined to fly around the world. She began her round-the-world flight on June 1, 1937, but never made it. She had written a letter to her husband in case of that eventuality. We wrote what wethought she might have written in a letter to her parents.

Laika the dog was sent into space without thought of how she might be retrieved. She was sent to die for the sake of establishing Soviet supremacy in the space race - or was she? We wrote versions of the event from different perspectives.

Some samples of work from weeks 1 and 2 here.

Friday 10th July

2009-07-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

We're sad to say goodbye again to the Ordinas Vidal family who studied with us in 2008 and again this summer. See you in 2010.

Friday Games - this week "Charades". 1 person acts out a word and their team members have to guess what it is.

2009-07-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

New photos of our classes in week 2. Click on the slideshow on the right to see more.

The beginning!

2009-06-30T03:13:00.000-07:00

The Family London course at Collingham has begun. There are photos of each class which you can see on the link on the right.