In Maths we have been working on fractions. ( Links to fraction games sent via email, let us know which ones you have tried.)

This week we also saw the first few presentations for our completed Genius Hour projects.Children talked about the skills they have been developing through personal learning projects over the last few weeks. Alex talked us through his project, finding out about jaguars. He had made a huge poster to share his learning. We gave him very good feedback on how he had presented facts about jaguars and we especially liked his illustrations.

We also heard from Alexis. Her project was to learn how to use a sewing machine. Over the last 6 weeks she has found out about the different parts of a sewing machine. She made a small cushion, a fabric container, which she is using to store pens at home, and her final creation was a skirt. Such a lot of learning in a short space of time! She is going to extend her project by using the skills she has developed in her chosen Masterclass next term.

Our final Genius Hour presentation was from Libby. She has written a book over the last few weeks, inspired by a classmate’s love of collie dogs. The book is beautifully presented, with carefully-drawn illustrations. Libby read the book to the class and then spoke about the writing process- from initial ideas, through editing and checking and then finally creating the illustrations. We were all very impressed with the story, so much so that we asked her to write a sequel! She is also going to develop a Reflective Reading taskmap so that a reading group can use her story for guided reading next term.

We discussed how many of the skills we have developed through these projects link to the wider world of work, as well as to our learning in school. We can’t wait to see the rest of the Genius Hour projects next term!

We had a visit from Lianne, Mar Lodge ranger,who came to our Assembly to tell us about the Cairngorms Nature Festival art competition. The children heard about the theme for this year- water- and Lianne gave lots of examples of what that might include. Click here to visit the Cairngorns National Park website for inspiration. Artwork can be in any format, but no bigger than A3 size. Entries should be in school on the first day back after the Easter holidays.

On Thursday we worked with Katie Spragg, artist in residence at The Fife Arms, on a nature- themed clay workshop. We went to the woods and gathered natural materials, along with imprints of textures we found there, and then used these to help us create tiny, textured nature scenes which told a story. Here we are making our models.