This led to an animated discussion about what kind of home we would like to live in. We used resources from this week's Picture News article about the discovery of ancient habitats from 20,000 years ago in a cave in the Blue Mountains, Australia and some pictures of different types of houses to find out what makes a home. Words like family, safe, comfort and environment were all important to us. The children then wrote their thoughts. I have shared these below and I hope you love their writing as much as I do. Thank you to Alexander, Tymek, Dusty, Nora, Penny B, Myra, Verity, Alice, Lila, Siya, Vidhiti, Penny W, Arzan, Willow, Kiki and Maria. You were all amazing!

When you step into your house how do you feel? Do you feel cosy when you have a cup of tea whilst sitting on the couch,or do you live the life wrecking the house and stretching around and being lively? Well whatever you feel or whatever you do, do you feel safe in your home right now whether you're cooking your children's dinner or are you just chilling out and watching your favourite TV show?  (Alice)

Home makes me feel safe because my family and my 19 bunnies are there. My family consists of Mummy, Daddy and Ben (my brother) My 19 bunnies are led by Bunny Bunny, who I got at birth. Sadly, my grandparents live very far away, 1.71 hours and 4 hours away. My house is quite big, having 7 solar panels to keep it nice and environmental. I really enjoy just lying on the sofa in the living room, sipping a cool drink and eating a snack. School also feels like a home as I feel safe and happy there! My family makes me happy as I feel loved and respected there. I get a warm, cosy feeling when I walk through the door. I have two fish called Eeny and Splosh. 

(Alexander)

Homes are places where you feel safe and secure. There are several things that might make your home comfortable such as your family or your pets and maybe even your keepsakes. Your home can be anything, and it can be anywhere, as long as you feel happy and cozy with the people that might be there or the items that are placed there. Sometimes people change their houses and move to new homes. This might be different for some people and make them uncomfortable. But the layout of the house is not the only thing that matters - the furniture and items you decorate your house with make your house different and unique, but most of all, the people and place and pets you live with all make the biggest difference and you don't even notice it. (Vidhiti)

A home is a place where you can be yourself and feel happy. Maybe you feel at home when you are with your family or pets. Maybe there is a place at home that feels special to you like your kitchen because you like cooking or bedroom because you like your imagination. I live in a flat but before I lived in a house. When I moved I felt sad because I thought it would be different. Now when I get home to my flat I smile and walk into my bedroom and see my cat on my bed with all the stuffed toys next to him. Sometimes it makes me laugh and feel happy. (Verity)

When I think of home, I think of my kitchen, my bedroom and my family. It makes me feel safe. My parents were thinking of moving to the beach. I wanted to stay here with all of my friends. I tried to take the thought of moving away from them. It worked in the end... but they didn’t get what they wanted. Here is a story I made. 
I have lots of plushies that make me feel special and loved. I know they aren’t like the toys in Toy Story but they still make me feel safe. They protect me at night and have fun adventures whilst I’m gone. They have disco parties and make friends.  (Willow)

 I like my home because I have a garden where I can go outside and relax. I also have an extra room where I like to play in and sometimes eat snacks and watch or play on my electronics. When I come home everyday from school I eat a snack and chill with my mom. She makes food for me to eat and we both eat and watch together. I like playing with my siblings because it's fun and we play hide and seek together. (Maria)

I feel safe at my home especially because I'm surrounded by my family❤️❤️❤️ I often play with my mum and dad with board games or Lego and many others I feel very lucky and special to have my family. And I have friends on my street to play with. I live in a bungalow. I visit my cousin in Cornwall, 5 hours away in the holidays from school. Sometimes they drive to us and we have so much fun together☺️. She has a 16-year-old brother, Elliot, and a dog sandy👌but she could be a bit of a spoiled brat I mean a lot like a spoiled brat. When it was Eliot's 16th birthday when she asked to pick her song and auntie Becky said no, she screamed and stomped upstairs. But I do love her👍 life is magical sometimes. When I can't sleep, I open my curtains, look at the luminous stars and lights, then I close the curtains and fall asleep. I love my family and friends especially my bffs.  (Nora)

A home must be a place where you feel safe and comfortable😃. Your home is a safe place for you to forget all your worries and relax with nobody to make you unhappy❤️. Some people say that your home is where your heart is but I think your home is with your family. For me, the sofa is a very happy place because when I look at it, it reminds me of all of the lovely people who have sat on it. That for me is what makes a home a home. (Penny W)

Family asking how your day was and what you want to do next, then you can do your favourite thing and chill which is why people feel cozy at home. And the funny windows  shaped and my sofa hypnotizing me which is why you have to reserve a spot. (Mine's by the window). (Arzan)

My home is safe, protected and big. I love my house because I moved houses in May. It is way better than my old house. My house is in Shenley Lodge now. I get a bigger room and my sister is in a smaller room. I got a dad, mum and a sister living in my new house. I love my new house and I go to the park every day to practise football. I got 2 cars a BMW and a Kia on my driveway. I love my new house and it is lovely and big. (Dusty)

My home is special to me because I have a garden and my garden has lots of trees so I get lots of air everyday. And I am thankful for my wonderful family that I have because my parents provide me with food every single day. And I am also thankful for my privileges at home and I am also happy for my sister who plays with me everyday in the garden and I am also thankful for my grandma who recently came from India and my uncle who brings different foods every day. (Myra)

My home is safe cozy and I like playing with brother in my room and he is funny. There is not one day that I do not feel safe and I do feel happy most of the day but some days I miss my old home. (Lila)

Homes make people feel safe and secure; 20,000 years ago people lived in high mountain caves. They used their surviving skills.  People feel joyful and very happy, my house makes me feel excited, especially my room with all my toys. It makes me feel awesome. Our homes make us feel amazing, neighbourhood friends make you feel in a friendly group of joy.  (Tymek)

You should always feal safe, happy, warm, and be happy whenever you want. Always have at least 1 favourite room in your house or more. You should always greet people with a big smile because I think you would like someone to smile and wave at you if you just came in from a long day, right? I moved houses. First I was sad, but after a year I was feeling happy!I have a baby brother and an older brother, one's 1 and one's10. The 10-year-old goes to this school. My baby brother smiles, kisses, hugs me all the time, so that makes me happy.  (Penny B)

It was a quiet night; the trees swayed in unison and the waves danced in joy. Ryan sat in his room listening to the sounds of nature as he counted the shimmering stars in the navy-blue night sky. He loved his home, mostly because he lived in the countryside with his dad. In his room he felt safe, comfortable, calm and loved. Every day they spent lots of time with each other: playing catch, cooking delicious meals and watching scary movies at night - screaming at the gory and horror scares. Ryan and his dad had a special bond that nothing could break. There was one thing he loved the most (other than his dad): his room. His mum decorated it when he was a small child. Lots of things that belonged to his mum were in his room. He never threw anything away that belonged to her- it was too precious. She died when Ryan was very young, which left Ryan and his dad alone in their big, countryside house. (Kiki)

Homes are a place you should feel safe, comfortable, loved, free, and cared about. When you know you belong somewhere, you know that you feel right. You are somewhere you are cared about, because if you feel threatened, scared, worried or just not happy, well, sometimes you feel sad or unhappy, but mostly you should feel like you belong. For me, the most important thing for me is my family and my friends. You might have foes, but it's fine as well. Later in life you might find that you will need your loved ones later in life as life gets harder and you will realise that they are the ones that will stay in your life the longest. Even in the olden times, everyone who lived together had dinner, but something I have noticed over my life is that when you get older (like my sister) you grow distant from your family. Sometimes, I think there should be a day when you and your family spend a day together and do something that you all enjoy being happy! (Siya)