Category Archives: Primary schools

P5 visit to the beautiful Castle Gardens

Interdisciplinary, Outdoor Learning, Primary schools, School trips

On Wednesday 26th September, Dunoon Primary P5 pupils (as part of their Interdisciplinary Topic ‘Our Local Area’) visited the Castle Gardens. 

The sun was shining brightly and each group, clipboards in hand investigated the various areas of the gardens to find out as much as they could about the history surrounding this central area of Dunoon.  They took rubbings of plaques,sketched any monuments found in the garden and completed worksheets. A superb time was had by all and lots of interesting information was collected to make a collage of the facts they found. Continue reading P5 visit to the beautiful Castle Gardens →

New resource from CETS

Primary schools, Secondary schools

The Co-operative Games: Succeeding Together is a free school resource which links into Curriculum for Excellence, developing all 4 key characteristics, and supporting cross-curricular teaching.

It looks at the wider meaning of “common wealth”, how that links to co-operative values and principles and how the Scottish co-operative heritage has supported community and economic development in Commonwealth countries.
 The resource is available to use online and as a PDF
http://www.cets.coop/resources/co-op_commonwealth_form.html

Mushroom Hunt

Outdoor Learning, Primary schools, School trips,

Barcaldine and Ardchattan Primary school children went along to Sutherlands Grove on Monday afternoon for a Mushroom Hunt.

Robert MacPherson kindly took us through the woods to find a variety of different mushrooms.  We found Amethyst Deceiver, Angel Wings, Jelly babies, Chanterelle, Sickener and the Common Yellow mushroom were just a few of the types we found.

We were all over Sutherlands Grove and found the mushrooms under trees, in the grass, below logs plus we found a few mushroom sticks.

Eilidh & Rianna P7

Toothbrushing Skills

Health and Wellbeing, Primary schools

Nursery and Primary 1 children at Lochnell were visited by Yvonne Sloss, the dental nurse, who reminded us how to stay healthy by eating and drinking the right things at meal times.  She also showed us how to brush our teeth properly so that we won’t get any holes in them … we all agreed that we didn’t want toothache.

All of the children were given new toothbrushes to use at home as well as the brushes they have in school.  Yvonne had a giant sized toothbrush that we got to brush huge teeth with.  Thanks Yvonne!

THE OLYMPIC TORCH COMES TO INNELLAN

Primary schools

The children were wide-eyed when a visitor bearing an Olympic Torch appeared in their classroom on Wednesday morning!  Lindsay Moss, who carried the torch in Inverness, very kindly offered to visit the children and allow them to be photographed carrying her Olympic Torch.  The children were absolutely thrilled.  Lindsay then took the time to answer the many questions that the children were desperate to ask.

An “otterly” brilliant day at the Sea Life Centre

Outdoor Learning, Primary schools, School trips

As part of their topic about the sea, Lismore Primary School children spent a very enjoyable day at the Oban Sea Life Centre last week.  The two Pre Five children also joined them for the day. The children began their visit with a tour through the various aquaria with aquarist, Innes. They saw all sorts of water animals which live around the local shores including sea urchins, starfish, lobsters and jellyfish.

A large pool contained many different species of flat fish which were well camouflaged on the sandy bottom. There were also cod and coley in the pool and the children were able to get up very close to them!  A rather large conger eel caused great excitement as did a number of different sharks and a very active octopus.

Continue reading An “otterly” brilliant day at the Sea Life Centre →

Keith Brumpton Visits Bowmore Primary School

Expressive arts, Literacy, Primary schools

Eventually, after much anticipation, Keith Brumpton, the amazing, famous author, appeared in our school on Friday 7th September 2012!  Although he came to our school, he originally came over for The Islay Book Festival.  For some odd reason Keith Brumpton came early but Joan Lennon and Linda Strachan (two other fantastic authors) were stranded on the mainland due to the unpredictable mist!

 Firstly he told us that he writes scripts for brilliant television shows like 64 Zoo Lane, Balamory and MIHigh but after that he drew scenes from his interesting books.  The pictures were amazing (I especially liked the picture of Dino FC). Then he told us his new ideas for books such as Space Bunnies and Meet the Robotsons (I definitely want to buy them!)

Continue reading Keith Brumpton Visits Bowmore Primary School →

Campbeltown’s All Weather Pitch Official Opening

Events, Health and Wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Primary schools

A great morning of sporting events started the proceedings at today’s Official Opening of the Aqualibrium All Weather Pitch in Campbeltown.

 100 primary school children from all over South Kintyre, Young Sports Leaders, Youth Sports Ambassadors and representatives from Argyll & Bute Council, local sports clubs and organisations, all joined together at the Opening Ceremony.  They were led in a parade by the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band. The children were in T-Shirts coloured to represent the 5 colours of the Olympic rings.  They then release coloured balloons (biodegradable of course!) to mark the opening.  It was a wonderful day and all the children really felt part of it.

Continue reading Campbeltown’s All Weather Pitch Official Opening →

Kirn Primary 3 visit Julia Donaldson at Dunoon Library

Literacy, Primary schools, School trips

Primary Three from Kirn Primary were excited to meet world famous Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson at Dunoon Library. 

We sang our version of “The Loon on the Moon” by Chae Strathie for Julia.  We chose this because we remembered it from when Chae came to our school.  We joined in with her play of “Room on the Broom”.  We also sang along with her songs, asked some questions and had our own books signed!  A great morning!

Racketathon

Health and Wellbeing, Primary schools,

Primary 4 children from Lochnell were invited to attend an event at Atlantis Leisure where they could try out a variety of racket sports – table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis.

They all enjoyed the opportunity to try a new game and improve on skills they had acquired in more familiar games. It was also great to mix with other children from Park Primary in Oban.  Since their return to school they’ve been creating pictures to show others some of the sports they took part in.

Continue reading Racketathon →

Ahoy there me Hearties! Welcome to Pirate School!

Events, Outdoor Learning, Primary schools

Pupils at Carradale Primary had lots of fun taking part in ‘Talk like a pirate day’ …….

We took part in International talk like a pirate day because we are learning about pirates and the sea. We dressed up as pirates and came to pirate school for the day. For our topic we made a pirate ship.  Inside the pirate ship you can make a pirate hat.  You have to measure the persons head.  You can make a pattern with the necklace beads or write a letter to Captain Jack Sparrow.  Last week we went to the beach.  Cameron P2

Continue reading Ahoy there me Hearties! Welcome to Pirate School! →

Skills Ahoy!

Events, Primary schools

Shipmates at Furnace Pirate, sorry, primary school celebrated International Talk Like a Pirate Day on Wednesday by learning a whole host of skills with a piratey flavour. 

Through a day of cooperative learning activities, children from Primary 2-7 practised a whole host of skills and developed their school values.  Pirate games at the swimming pool were followed by art and craft activities where the children made floatable model ships and an edible treasure island with ‘Boson Bones’ (Miss Miller).  First Mate Mrs Baird helped shipmates ‘mash up’ a shanty with a rap (“When I say Yo, You say Ho!”) and Master-at-arms Mr Young challenged crews to show of their knowledge of angles and direction along with problem solving skills in a treasure hunt. 

Continue reading Skills Ahoy! →

Vote for our scarecrow!

Events, Primary schools

This week Lismore Primary School are taking part in the island’s first Scarecrow Competition.  The children began by drawing some designs and suggesting how a scarecrow might be constructed.  Next,they stuffed old bolier suits with rags and hay before dressing the scarecrows in school uniforms.  Last week, “Miss Strict, with her pupils, Jimmy and Caitlin” were finally finished and put in position close to the roadside.

There are about 20 scarecrows dotted around the island and members of the public are being asked to vote for their favourite one before Saturday 22nd September.  There are photographs of all the scarecrows on our community website so why not go onto isleoflismore.com and click on “Recent Updates” to vote?

Continue reading Vote for our scarecrow! →

Dalintober elects Pupil Council 2012-13

Events, Primary schools

This year’s elected Pupil Council members held their first meeting of the new school year on Friday.   Their first task for the school curriculum aspect of their role will be to audit pupil responses to ‘Big Writing’ and look at what is working well and what could improve – a big task!

They were also able to share the news with their peers and staff that our PTA Coffee Evening on Thursday raised £1659.71 – a fantastic sum!Thank you to our new Pupil Council members for committing themselves to their role.

George’s Marvellous Medicine

Literacy, Primary schools

 Primary 3 of St Joseph’s have had great fun reading the story of George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl.  They studied the illustrator Quentin Blake’s work and represented it in their drawings.

They made a list of super adjectives to describe George’s Grandma.  They also wrote their own descriptions of what happens to Grandma when she took the medicine.  The children have been set the challenge of reading more of Roald Dahl’s work which they have embraced wholeheartedly.

Strone Primary’s Twin Munro Bagging Champs

Outdoor Learning, Primary schools

If you’ve been reading the national press lately you may have seen two of Strone Primary School’s record breaking celebrity pupils!

Our P7 twins, Nuala and Cliona have just completed all 282 munros, breaking records for being the youngest twins, as well as the youngest Scottish girls to complete the challenge.  They completed the 282 together with mum and dad, Neil and Diane, and their dog, Aonach.  The girls started their challenge when they were just four years old, and have been travelling around Scotland ever since, in their quest to “bag” them all.

Continue reading Strone Primary’s Twin Munro Bagging Champs →

Butter Fingers!

Health and Wellbeing, Primary schools

As part of this term’s food and farming work, P6/5 in Garelochhead have been investigating dairy products and the journey they make to reach our plates.  We have been looking at dairy farming and the milk industry in Scotland. We also tasted many of  the different types of milk and discussed the similarities and differences.  We then went on to making our own butter.  It was really interesting to see the cream separate into curds and buttermilk. 

The butter was put into the fridge overnight and in the morning we had hot toast with our butter. P7/6 loved the taste of the butter too.

Continue reading Butter Fingers! →