Recently at Kirn Primary children in P4, P5 and P6 were treated to a fantastic morning with zoologist, author and BBC presenter Nicola Davies. Nicola told us about her work as a zoologist and drew us a picture of one of her favourite (but most weird) animal, the sperm whale. Then we all transformed into whales, and dived to the bottom of the ocean, holding our breath and clicking frantically to ‘see’ down there in the dark depths. We caught a giant squid and swam back up to the top of the ocean again to learn about whale skin, whale poo and whale tails.

More very interesting information about poo and it’s many uses in the animal world followed, with Nicola demonstrating how giant otters use poo. Nicola then read us a story which had been inspired by a real event in her own life, rescuing a crashed swift from the lawn with the help of her grandfather. Finally we had a question and answer session with some amazing questions from children to Nicola. She told us that writing was the best way to pass thoughts from the world inside our own head to the worlds inside everyone else’s. We learned that to be a writer you need to hang on to your writing like a terrier to a stick, and before you can be a writer you have to be a reader – something we are all keen to be at Kirn.

Thank you Nicola for coming to Kirn Primary!

(This visit was part of the Scottish Friendly Book Tour, and funded by Scottish Book Trust.)