Day: March 15, 2022

As part of British Science Week 2022, primary 5-7  became engineers for the afternoon and took part in their very own engineering challenge!

Before the challenge began, we watched a short video clip about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, helping us to understand what engineering is and how his work shaped the way we live today.

For the challenge, pupils were put into groups of 3 and tasked with creating their own structure using only sticks, string and rubber bands. They were given 2 minutes to decide what it was they were going to create and then we headed outside to get to work. The groups were set a time limit of 20 minutes and within this they had to create a stable structure and also decide on a creative name for it.

Once the 20 minutes were up, there were an array of structures to view. They ranged from the ‘leaning tower of pizza’, to a take on the Brooklyn Bridge, and even a bug hotel and an army den.

All groups used their imagination and problem solving skills to create their unique structures, and they clearly enjoyed being out in the fresh air!

Now to tomorrow where we will see what their next science challenge of the week will be….

 

This morning, Leswalt and Kirkcolm upper classes were lucky enough to enjoy a hands-on session with the marvellous Kathryn Purchase of History Alive!

Both classes have covered the Scottish Wars of Independence as their Social Studies topic for this term – and Kathryn was the very person to help bring this historical period to life for them with her fact-busting whizz through the years in question, answering any questions pupils had about the events of the time (clue – lots of unfortunate deaths, power struggles, scheming nobles and some ghastly treatment from both sides of their enemies!

The pupils were enthralled. Kathryn has a wonderful knack of really bringing the history to life for them. Needless to say, her huge collection of artefacts (some bought and some made by herself) helped too. The classes listened to her retelling of the life and times of King Alexander III, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and those momentous battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn and , after a quick break, Kathryn let them explore the helmets, shields and swords  (safe replicas!) and ask questions. Such fun – just take a look at the photos below!

This was a wonderful way to bring the children’s learning to a conclusion. It was a morning to remember – thanks Kathryn!