We had a great day out, visiting the beach for a play and a picnic, then heading to Aberdeen Science Centre for some fun learning.
Click on the link below to see photos of our day.
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This week we spent Friday afternoon working on a number of tasks in the school grounds.Everything in the polycrub needed a good watering and our Livingstone Daisy seedlings needed thinning and potting on. We also washed the mud kitchen equipment, ready to play with next week. Some children painted cardboard flowers, which we will use as decoration. We did some recording for a ‘Braemar TV’ programme about outdoor learning. We also had an opportunity to use our new woodworking tools, with some children sawing and using a hand drill to make wooden sections for our playground snakes. Lots of new skills to be developed in the coming weeks!
Today we went outside to take part in the Nuart graffiti art event for schools. We came up with a word bank of words we would use to describe our school then Lucas S, Ivy and Edith mapped out on paper how to arrange them. We used chalk to transfer the words to a big 3m square in the playground. We will send a photo of our word square to be included in the event next month.
We also spent time in the polycrub, planting sunflowers, Livingston Daisies and Crocosmia. All our seeds got a good watering as it was very warm in there.
P5-7 had the opportunity to have a go at lighting a fire with the fire steel, in a very controlled and safe environment. Our outdoor learning progression is based on safety and an awareness of the Outdoor Access Code, so we were not able to have our firepit out this week due to the Wildfire Warning in place, however the children reinforced their understanding of the fire triangle and were able to develop skills in undertaking a risk assessment. The aim of this aspect of our outdoor learning programme is to equip our pupils with life skills, help them to assess and manage risk and become responsible users of our local environment, both now and in the future.
We finished off our ‘Wildlife and the Weather’ IDL with a visit from Lianne, Mar Lodge Ranger. She took the children into the woods where they they looked at the changing seasons and how animals respond to this.
On Friday afternoon we talked about our learning throughout the week. Edith has enjoyed learning how to multiply. Scarlett has been practising her 2, 5 and 10 times tables. Craig has been ‘learning his numbers’. We talked about how division is a bit tricky and how it’s the opposite of multiplying. Some children mentioned learning how to join the letter ‘s’ in handwriting and how to write stories like a news reporter. They are enjoying opportunities in class to play at being reporters, complete with wearing a suit! In PE they have been learning how to play volleyball and in RME the class have been finding out about the colourful Hindu festival, Holi.
In assembly this week we found out about lots of different kinds of scientist, as part of British Science Week. To be good scientists we have to be curious and ask lots of questions, and we spoke about what kind of scientist we might like to be. Lots of information and activities available on the British Science Week website here.
This afternoon we all went outside to work together on some important jobs, as well as taking part in a creative activity in the snow!
We cleared all the raised beds in the polycrub and had a good tidy up, so that we are ready to start planting and sowing seeds soon. Lucas and Ben harvested a giant turnip and Craig found 2 big cabbages. We stacked and tidied all the plant pots and put any waste into the compost bin. Jamie spread some extra bark chips at the entrance where it’s starting to get muddy.
We also sorted equipment for our ‘Mud Kitchen’ and had a chance to have a play with it in the snow, making snow pies and giant ice creams. We think this will be a very popular playtime activity all year round! A big thank you to everyone who sent in old kitchen equipment for this project.
P1-4 have been learning about how animals cope in winter so we decided to set up ‘Squirrel Cafes’ around the school grounds, using the pinecones we collected earlier in the year. Hopefully our local squirrels will enjoy a wee treat over the weekend while the school is quiet.
February is “Random Acts of Kindness Month”. Inspired by the book and animated film ‘Thread of Hope’, pupils discussed what kindness looks and sounds like when playing and learning outdoors. They then painted in the snow with warm and cool colours to represent feeling upset (cool) and the kindness (warm) that can help in those moments.
Finally, we warmed up with a cup of hot chocolate at the end of the session. Great teamwork from everyone this afternoon!
This term our topic is the weather and its impact on our local wildlife.
We will regularly update the slideshow below to let you know what we are learning in class.
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Good morning again, P1-4,
here are some activities for you to try today.
Literacy
Write a set of instructions for how to build a snowman. Imagine they are for someone who has never seen a snowman before – include lots of detail. Try to use a different opener for each line. For example:
1. First….
2. Next…
3. After that…
Numeracy
Symmetrical snowflakes – can you draw a picture of a snowflake which has one or more lines of symmetry. Perhaps you could carefully cut one out of paper and draw the lines of symmetry onto it.
Click the link to go to Hit The Button to practice your maths skills.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
Science
How much snow investigation
You will need:
2 containers that are the same, e.g. large yoghurt pots or butter tubs
snow
water
Fill one tub to the top with snow.
Fill the other tub with water.
Leave your tubs in a warm place until the snow melts.
What do you notice?
Try packing the snow into the tub by pressing it down. Weigh the tubs. What happens when the snow melts?
Do water and snow have the same volume?
Have a great day,
Mrs McKnight
Madainn Mhath P5/6/7,
It’s Friday already! Here are some learning activities to try today.
Maths:
Literacy:
RSPB 8 ways birds beat bitter weather reading Taskmap. Find the article here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/how-do-birds-survive-winter-and-how-to-help-them
Read and Understand:
Infer What’s Not There:
Explore Some More:
Reflect and Respond:
Create Something Great:
Design a poster explaining how people can help birds in winter.
Get Outside:
Frozen Ice Lanterns
Step 1:
Step 2:
Put a plastic bag around the second bowl and lower it so there is a layer of water all around the bowl. You might need to pour in some water or add stones to stop the smaller bowl floating out.
Step 3:
Leave to freeze then pull the two bowls apart.
Step 4:
Place a small light inside your lantern to see it glow.
If you have missed any of the activities from earlier in the week, take a look back at those today.
As always, I will be online and able to answer any questions, help with tech problems or just say hello by email.
Miss Florence
Hello again P1-4,
Thank you to the Shirrans for sending in these lovely photos- I can see you are having fun in the snow. That’s a great snowflake picture too! We love to see what you’re getting up to. ❄️
And great photos from Oscar this morning, digging a snow tunnel in the field.
Mrs McKnight is ‘in class’ today and has asked that you have a look at the learning activities below.
Literacy
· Think of an animal that lives in a cold or snowy place. Draw a picture of the animal and write around the outside things it has to help it to survive the cold (e.g thick, warm fur). Perhaps an adult could help you to research the animal online or in a book?
· Adjectives are describing words. How many adjectives can you think of to describe today’s weather? Make a list to share with me when we are back in school.
Numeracy
· Log into Sumdog and continue practicing your maths skills.
· Measure the snow, in the same place somewhere in your garden at different times during the day. Is the snow staying at the same depth or is it changing. Can you make a chart to record your results?
Here is an example of how to record your data:
Depth of snow on the patio
| Time of measuring | Measurement in cm |
| 10am | 32cm |
| 11am | 28cm |
| 12pm | 26cm |
| 1pm etc… |
P3/4 – can you work out the difference in snow depth between your first and last measurement?
HWB
· Make up a dance routine to your favourite song.
· Create a gymnastics routine using some of the balances, jumps, rolls and travelling movements we worked on last term.
Have a great day,
Mrs McKnight and Mrs Maclean
Good morning P1-4,
I hope you are enjoying the snowy weather! The penguins kept us entertained yesterday- did you get a chance to see them being fed? Lots of you have already spent time on Sumdog this week- well done! Mrs McKnight and the MacFadyens have been busy building snowmen, and my doggies have enjoyed running around our garden. If you have a picture you’d like to share here, just drop me an email.
Here are some learning activities for you to have a look at today.
Literacy/IDL/ Get outdoors
Part of our new topic for this term is learning about the weather and its effect on animals.
When we are back in class we shall do some planning together, but you can make a start by finding out about snow. Click on this link and work through the page, watch the video and then try the quiz at the bottom. If you’d like a challenge, can you write a poem about a snowy day?
Look closely at the snow outside- ask a parent to help you zoom in on a camera app on a phone or tablet. What can you see? Can you draw a snowflake?
Numeracy
Log onto Sumdog and practise your maths.
If you prefer, have a look at Hit the Button. There are lots of different levels and you can practise number bonds, times tables or halves and doubles.
If you want to let me know how you get on, ask a parent to help you leave a comment on this post.
Stay cosy and hopefully we will see you soon,
Mrs Maclean
