This year due to the limitations on social gathering, instead of our usual Nativity, we took on a project to make a video instead, to be shown on the Internet on Thursday the 17th December at 7pm, now!
We read the Nativity in a book called Catherine Marshall’s Story Bible and then planned our film using a storyboard. Some P5-7 children then wrote a script, whilst other pupils drew and coloured characters and backgrounds. Next, a couple of P7s scanned the work and saved them in our shared folder which we then used to make animations in 2Simple 2 Animate. After that Mr A transferred all of the animations and a couple of green screen videos onto another computer.
On another day, pupils from P1-4 made green screen videos of some of the scenes and also recorded songs which they didn’t sing but did actions in Makaton. These videos were also transferred to the computer.
Finally, Mr A edited all of the videos using OBS and iMovie. Then we narrated the video in the P5-7 class and also did the same in the P1-4 class, all with respect to social distancing, which was a challenge.
We really hope you enjoy our Nativity which has been loads of work and we’ve put a lot of effort into.
Today was a big day for everyone as we’ve all been working really hard in preparation for our little school closing, in line with all of the other schools in Britain.
I’d like to thank all of the Staff, Pupils and Parents involved this week, we pulled together to try to prepare for something that we’ve never done before. We’ll continue learning next week, just not at school and not all together.
The P7s were fantastic today and even baked their best shortbread yet. They also got ready incase this was their last day at Brydekirk Primary. I really hope it’s not and that we get a chance to send Helayna and Ami off properly as they deserve, they’ve been brilliant.
This was probably Dan and Izzy’s last day too. Good luck you guys, I would have loved to have taught you.
It might also be Miss Irvine’s last day too, and I never even said anything at the end of the day. Apologies Miss Irvine but I think our last afternoon with the kids was great fun playing Duck-Duck-Goose, Crocodiles and Monkeys, racing and even outdoor Dodge Ball. Again, I really hope we get back before the summer to finish off an excellent year and to say goodbye to you.
We had a wee blether at the end of the day and I decided to end on Burns. Auld Lang Syne didn’t seem right today so we did a one take wonder on a song we learned earlier in the term. Scots Wha Hae is the address to the troops before the Battle of Bannockburn, imagined by Burns and turned into song. Although it’s about the Scottish Wars of Independence in the 14th century, and Scotland, the UK and the world has changed enormously since, the idea of rallying the troops to a worthy, approaching cause resonates:
   Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled,
   Scots, wham Bruce has aften led;
   Welcome to your gory bed,
       Or to victory!
   Now’s the day, and now’s the hour;
   See the front o’ battle lour;
   See approach proud Edward’s power—
       Chains and slavery!
   Wha will be a traitor knave?
   Wha can fill a coward’s grave!
   Wha sae base as be a slave?
       Let him turn and flee!
   Wha for Scotland’s king and law
   Freedom’s sword will strongly draw,
   Freeman stand, or freeman fa’,
       Let him follow me!
   By oppression’s woes and pains!
   By your sons in servile chains!
   We will drain our dearest veins,
        But they shall be free!
   Lay the proud usurpers low!
   Tyrants fall in every foe!
   Liberty’s in every blow!—
       Let us do or die!
Robert Burns, 1793
Education is what will liberate us. We’re all going to endeavour through these times, learning together despite being apart and supporting one another. We’ll be back.
P2-4 learned the layers of the ocean. For example the darkest layer is called the trench. They also painted all the different layers for art. They enjoyed it very much and they are still doing it now!
The Annan Riding of the Marches Principles visited Brydekirk Primary this afternoon. This is a tradition that has happened for many long years and long may it continue. Following an introduction and short speech from Stuart Thompson, the pupils entertained the visitors with singing. Next Mrs Sybelle Raey announced the prize winners from Brydekirk in the competitions, including poetry, handwriting, colouring and poster; well done to all who took part. Especially well done to Lilian who won best overall poem, 1st place in poetry, 2nd place in handwriting, Hannah 3rd place in poetry, Izzy and Poppy. The pupils then gave the AROM Principles a couple more songs and wished them good luck to send them on their way.
One of our P7’s was inspired by their non fiction reading to write a poem. It’s rather excellent and deserves to be shared, demonstrating some clever language features including alliteration and plays on words, not to mention some super rhyming. Well done Lilian.
We’ve had some interesting Holiday Homework in this week: we’ve had stories about holidays, sticker books, Banagrams, Orangutans and this stop animation above.
The Eels in the Classroom Project that P4-7 completed last session has made the newsletter of the Solway Firth Partnership. Click on the image below to read:
School is closed again today. I hope everyone is safe in this cold weather.
Things to do other than destroy your brains with devices or TV:
Go out and play in the snow, this may be the most you’ll see in your childhood (make sure you tell whoever is looking after you and are prepared for the weather)
Read
Write about your day off (any P7s who have written a blog post, and have their password, should write it up on this blog and I’ll post it)
Do some iXL maths (see homework link at the side)
Do some Spelling City (as above)
Find out more about our topic, history: GD Alfred the Great, DS King Canute, EA Edward the Confessor, JF William the Conqueror, MB Henry I, AC Richard I, DN Edward I, ChR Richard III, HM Henry VIII, LO Mary I, AM Elizabeth I, BO James VI & I, HA Charles II, RL Victoria and ON Elizabeth II.
Commit all of the dates on the sheet of Kings and Queens to memory, in preparation for your quiz next week
Draw, paint or create something
and anything else that requires thought, concentration and effort.
Bring any work in to present, like you do after holidays.
