Category Archives: Mild literacy

Map Skills

Hopefully you have spotted the task on the grid about drawing a map. Map reading and map making are both very important skills to learn. Sometimes the biggest challenge is understanding a map as surprisingly every map is different. So our first challenge is to read and understand the map we plan to use. I found a number of different maps in my house and have added these below for you to look at.

What information do they all have?

What similarities do they have?

Can you spot any major differences?

Is there anything that is unique to each or one map?

See below for some map making and map reading tasks, feel free to do more than one task. I have added some already sent into Seesaw so thank you to those pupils who have shared these.

Task 1 – Describe a journey 

Describe the journey you would normally take to a friend’s house/shop/school or favourite place from your home. If possible, pace it or walk it to help you describe it easily. You could draw it out as a map and add some noticeable buildings or points of interest to your map or you could make a fantastic leaflet or map like the examples below.

Use words such as –  

  • left/right turn 
  • First/Second junction 
  • Walk/drive/run 100m (or relevant)

 Task 2 – Using a map 

Choose 5- 8 cities or towns in Scotland and try and work out how far these are from your home. You could use Google maps, a real map or similar and record the data collected in a table.  See below for an example already posted to Seesaw.

 Answer these questions –  

  • Which city/town is closest? 
  • Which city or town is furthest away? 
  • Can you write any more questions for someone reading your table? 

 Task 3 – Online mapping activities 

Try out the games and activities on this website to learn more about maps. 

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone 

MILD: Literacy – Scottish Wildlife Quiz

I hope you have enjoyed taking the time to read our featured stories and completed some research into learning some facts about the featured wildlife…

Take part in the quiz below focusing on Highland Cows, Bottlenose Dolphins, Eider Ducks and Puffins.

Remember this quiz isn’t to test your knowledge, it is for fun and what you don’t know, is another new fact to learn!

 

Follow the link below and enjoy…

The Scottish Book Trust competition – Story Writing

You may have seen on the Literacy learning grid that the Scottish Book Trust is holding a story-writing competition.

It is open to all ages, and there are 4 different categories – Adult,  5-11, 12-18 and Gaelic.  Prizes will be awarded for the winning entries in each category, and they will also be published on the website.

You can find more details here:  Entry Details and Entry Form

Click on the Sway to learn more, and also for some story-writing tips.

Remember – the subject must be ‘Fog’, the maximum word limit is 50 words and the competition closes on 30th June.

Good luck to everyone taking part!

MILD: Literacy – Harris the Hero

Time for our final Wildlife friend to join us.

Meet Harris he is a Puffin and on his adventure he meets many animals along the way.

Follow the story and complete our regular tasks, then learn where you can visit to see these animals in person and learn some amazing facts!

You could also go back to Miss Maturana’s post and learn in detail all about puffins!

 

MILD: Literacy – My Favourite Spot

This fortnight is all about celebrating Scotland and our Local Area.

We all love Methlick and there are many places to love Methlick. But each of us will have that one special spot. Somewhere that could have a great view or it could be somewhere that you visit regularly or somewhere that brings back memories.

In our writing we want to make a Mild guide of places to visit in Methlick, as described by you.

Follow the Sway below to learn more…

There is a PDF attached underneath which you can print or refer to in your writing. One side is for taking notes and planning and the other is for the your final writing piece…

My Favourite Spot Support Sheet 

Here is the link to the unique address website.

https://what3words.com/

Can you tell me where I am?

///ticket.functions.tickles

///cafe.deal.dried

///code.fooling.toasters

You can search them on the website, can you try and read the map?

 

MILD: Literacy – How much Scots do we know already?

Scots is a language that was commonly spoken all over, however, today we now commonly use English. The funny thing is, is that certain words creep back into what we say, those words are often from the Scots Language.

Watch the following videos to learn more, do you recognise some of the words?

One of our favourites stories is the Gruffalo, listen to it in Scots.

Complete the sheet below, you do not have to print it out, you can refer to it and have a discussion with family members or phone a relative to sound out the words and learn what they mean.

Scots Words Activity 

Share your responses with your teachers through seesaw or email.

 

Mild – Literacy and Exp Arts – An ending to dance to!

What a fortnight of Tiger Tale writing!

  • You have prowled!
  • Found the main character in your story.
  • Been surprised!
  • And now have a problem in your tale!

Time to write the ‘Tail’ end of your story.

How will the problem be solved?

What type of ending will you choose?

  • funny
  • sad
  • surprising
  • happy

What type of ending have I chosen?

 

Did you expect that?

The mermaid and the tiger danced till dawn!

Let’s dance to celebrate your fabulous Tiger Tales!!

 

 

 

Mild – Reading – DCA Shorts ‘Tiger’

Every week, since schools have closed, Dundee Contemporary Arts, DCA have been sharing short films from the children’s collection for their annual Film Festivals.

I was delighted when the DCA team shared the film ‘Tiger’ last week. Perfect timing!

(Short films and animations are a type of text that we share and talk about with your children, in a similar way to picture books.)

After watching ‘Tiger’ talk about the questions below.

There are many surprises and problems; funny sound effects and a great ending to discuss. Talking about this might help you when writing your ‘Tiger Tale’

The DCA have also shared the activities they designed for schools.

Take a look! Tiger Activity Pack

I wonder what designs you have on your plates at home?

What might happen if they came to life?