We had lots of fun exploring the properties of 2D shapes with Mrs Copeland and using these to create group pictures.
Symmetry
In pairs we used chalk to create a symmetrical pattern/picture by working across a line in the school hall. We then searched outside for examples of symmetry in nature. We collected symmetrical leaves, cut them in half and stuck the halves onto paper. We then had to draw the other half of the leaf as accurately as possible along the line of symmetry. This was tricky!
Measure/Estimation
We were asked to draw a line on the ground as close to 1m as we could without measuring . We used a metre stick to check how close we were (Ruby, Mark, Brandon and Holly were closest! – see photo 5040). We then drew a squiggly line as close to 1m as we could. This proved tricky to measure using a metre stick. We had to use our problem solving skills and decided to use string to track our squiggly line and then used the metre stick to measure the string.
P7- we were learning about scale and we were building a Lego HOUSE and measured what scale it had we also made a bird with glue stick lids, calculators and rubber dinosaurs.
P6-they were doing measuring in millimetres so they measured small things like ;glue sticks, scissors and water bottles stuff like that.
P5-we were learning about width and height we went through with a metre stick in pairs of 2 and measured stuff like the door or computer cabinet then we had to get skipping ropes and made a snake in a certain way then we had to put blocks in it to decorate it.
On Tuesday-
Today we all went outside to do some negative numbers work. We used a skipping rope and our whiteboards to write our numbers then peg them in order. We worked as a group, estimated the positions of numbers on our number lines and set Mrs F a number sequence challenge to solve.
We also had some compass work to do which linked to our map work. We used the ipads and Google maps to find North.
On Wednesday –
It was Riddle Wednesday today – with a Maths twist!
Why not challenge your family to the tasks! There is a photo of them below in case you’re needing a reminder!
We also watched a STEM Ambassador video clip. Alex works for Scottish Water and explained what her job entailed and how it linked to the wonderful world of Maths!
Some number digit puzzles got us scratching our heads too! We needed to reset the numbers but could only move on place left, right, up or down at a time. It wasn’t easy!
And of course, we had the every popular, super competitive BIG MATHS to do too!
On Thursday-
Well this was a busy day as we were visiting a film-set at Dunskey (as you do!) but we did enjoy High 5 Thursday with a distinctly maths flavour and cracked on with some collaborative problem solving – two brains really are better then one!
On Friday –
It was a MUST to get outside and enjoy the Autumn sunshine again!This time we had a measure and STEM challenge. Firstly, we measured the height and arm span of each other and then had to draw a ‘mini-me’ to a measurement of 10% or to a set scale of our actual height. – we did this in the school hall. Then we then headed to the Wetlands and had a timed challenge to build a ‘mini den’ with three walls and a roof to cover our mini-me! Great fun!
Not your average Thursday morning for the lucky pupils of P4-7 at Leswalt Primary – as today they got to visit a real film-set and chat to the cast and crew of upcoming movie Kingslayer!
This film is being shot at Dunskey – home of the Orr-Ewing family who very kindly invited our trio of schools to visit and absorb the film-set experience!
Malcolm and Noah wrote up this blog report once we got back to class!
On Thursday the 1st of October P4-7 had an amazing experience visiting the cast and crew of a film called Kingslayer. Each pupil got to meet Paul Boyce the Head of Makeup and Prosthetics, Jessica who was a member of the production crew and Stuart Brennan who played King Richard and wrote and directed the film! The Head of Makeup and Prosthetics had previously worked on Captain America and spent two years on the Harry Potter set – amazing!
The pupils each got a signed part of the script and got to see a scene of the movie being filmed and they got to say 3, 2, 1 Action! It was a lot of fun seeing the props and costumes. We also got to see the main character King Richard Lionheart. He is called King Lion Heart because he fought like a lion in war. The children asked questions like: When will the movie be out? Or like what’s the difference between a Producer and a Director? The answer is that a Producer gets all the right characters and all the right props ready for the film and then the Director tells them where to aim the camera and what to do. P1-3 will have this amazing experience too on Wednesday the 7th of October for their own eyes. The movie will hopefully be released in Spring 2021.
We had a great morning learning lots about the film-world!
Report by Noah and Malcolm
We learned lots about the film industry!
3-2-1 Action! The scene is being shot!
We all got signed script extracts!
Strike a pose!
Dunskey – a wonderful setting!
Gathering by the firepit to hear about the production process.
Paul also worked on Captain America dn the Harry Potter set!
We all got signed script extracts!
Paul (Head of Makeup and Prostheitics) gets to work on Mr Orr-Ewing as an extra
Heading through the woods to the filming
Heavy chainmail used as part of the costume.
An imitation crossbow being used in the film.
We all got a signed script extract.
Smoke – tick! Actors – tick!
The Makeup artist uses silicon to create the wounds. He even had a ‘dirt’ spray!
In a bid to make the most of the late Summer and early Autumn sunshine, P5-7 have been enjoying their Fresh Air Friday sessions.
It’s a chance for us to be outside and learn together; using our playground and village surroundings as a real-life context for our activities.
From mini den-building to circuit training, storytime sessions to whole school rounders, place value maths game to chalk symmetry, village quiz walk to number games – it’s been a fabulous way to enjoy outside learning!
Fun, fresh air and learning – what’s not to love!
And next week marks the start of Maths Week Scotland – keep your eyes peeled for more outdoor activities featuring on this blog!
Village Quiz Walk
Gathered for Slime story-time!
Using natural objects as place value symbols.
chalk symmetry
Mirror images!
Brains are a-buzzing!
Nice work you two!
Some intricate symmetry being planned here.
Place value warm-up activity
Choose your place value column…
Talk Partners to write number depicted by their partners to nearest ten/hundred and thousand.
As part of their Social Studies topics, both P1-4 and P5-7 classes have been learning and discussing their local environment. Today we headed for a jaunt up to the Agnew Monument at the top of the hill – it’s on our school jumpers so we wanted to get a closer look and find out more about it!
Initially the rain literally stopped play – so we waited until the skies cleared, donned our hi-vis jackets and off we went. Blue skies encouraged us up the hill and all the pupils did remarkably well – some just needing a little encouragement from their buddies and parent helpers to keep going.
Once at the top, we challenged one another to spot Leswalt, the school, Stranraer and the ferries at Cairnryan. What a fabulous view we had! We all sang Happy Birthday to Rose (she’ll remember her 9th birthday for sure!) then Mrs Baillie took a few snaps of all the boys and girls standing by the monument. We found out that the monument was built as a memorial to Sir Andrew Agnew who was a prominent MP for the area back in the 1800s. Interestingly, there is a crypt in the old graveyard which P5-7 pupils spotted on their Tuesday adventures, which has the Agnew name on it too. We are presuming the Agnew name was a very important one – and Thomas assured us it still is!
As we stood and admired the view from the top, we did notice a rather grey cloud gathering pace and so we hot-footed it back down the hill towards school. We didn’t quite manage to dodge the rain though! Never mind, with the little stalwarts that we have at Leswalt, they headed back to school full of chat and giggles – if perhaps a little soggy!
What a lovely end to the week! Check out the smiling faces below…
Well done to this bunch of super workers! Usually we would have an end of term assembly to celebrate success, but unfortunately Lockdown meant this couldn’t happen. Still, we wanted to give a big ‘high five’ to these fabulous readers and to those who achieved their Gold Star award too.
This happy gang of readers were STAR readers within their year group. What brilliant bookworms we have! Keep up the fantastic work.
P2 – Ela and Hamish
P3 – Faye
P4 – Struan
P5 – Aidan (also a Word Millionaire!)
P6 – Luke and Gregor
P7 – Finlay (another Word Millionaire and not in the photo above as he’s now in S1)
Ela, Hamish, Faye, Struan, Aidan and Finlay were also our winners in our inter-schools challenge. We had a super exciting trio partnership competition to aim to be the STAR reader across each stage in all 3 schools and, amazingly, 5 out of 6 of those pupils were from Leswalt Primary! Whoop whoop!
Star Awards are home/school activities which pupils work on throughout the year. There are Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates to achieve and two of Leswalt Primary’s pupils worked super hard to reach Gold last session.
Well done to the Gaw team of Phoebe and Noah – fantastic work! Phoebe has headed on to pastures new (S1 at Academy!) but Noah is pictured below.
We can’t tell you how good it was today to see all the smiling faces of the pupils of Leswalt Primary! We had the most wonderful day – check out our photos below to see for yourselves….
Mark and Rachael have been very busy whilst school has been closed! Mrs McKnight had set her task a weekly maths topic based around money. Team Drummond decided the very best way to learn lots about money was by using it in a real-life situation, so they decided to set up a little shop next to the road at their farm. They started selling crisps and rolls to passers-by. I am sure their winning smiles drew would-be customers in! They then decided to make cakes and biscuits to add to their stock. Their very kind Grandpa offered to match the money they made – and they contacted Mrs McKnight last week to say they had a fantastic £300 to donate to the school!
What a lovely thing to do and such super teamwork! A huge thank you from Leswalt Primary staff and pupils.
‘Get arty and create a rainbow of hope’ was the challenge set down to the pupils of Leswalt Primary by Mrs Copeland our Art Specialist. Well, neither she, or any of us, were quite prepared for the multitude of colourful rainbow designs which came flooding in. They certainly raise a smile to all who spot them in windows; at road-ends, pony jumps or even on a pony’s rear! Pens, paint techniques, chalk, fruit, vegetables, Hot Wheels cars, science experiments, salt dough, pony rosettes – there really is no limit to the creativity of our pupils. Our tech-savvy pupils then emailed and uploaded their photos and pictures in to be added to our Rainbow blog to be enjoyed by all.
We absolutely love them! Most of all, we love the wee community spirit of Leswalt Primary.
Thank you! You have all made us very proud.
Jack and Ellie with an important message…
Team Reid hold their rainbow high!
Team Gaw’s rainbow at the road-end
Erin’s geometric rainbow
The Clark’s saltdough rainbow
The Clark’s saltdough rainbow at nana and papa’s in Kilmarnock!
Team Clark spreading some love!
Erin’s pony with a rainbow rump!
The Browns’ finished product!
The Browns in creating mode!
Mrs Baillie’s rosette rainbow
The McHallum’s fruity rainbow
A Hot Wheel rainbow from Thomas!
Malcolm’s perfect rainbow picture
Finlay’s rainbow complete with cartoon illustrations
Joshua and Kaiden’s beautiful rainbow window!
Noah’s Lego rainbow!
Ela’s scientific rainbow!
Murray Reid brightening up our day!
Murray’s heartfelt message!
Hamish McGregor’s rainbow and lovely motto!
Chloe’s rainbow brightening up her window!
Team Reid’s rainbows
Faye’s finger-painted rainbow!
Even Mrs F’s crazy bunny Jessie has a rainbow!
Mrs McHarg’s healthy rainbow!
Auryn and Breagh’s pony jump rainbow!
Aidan’s splatter painting rainbow!
Mrs Copeland’s Zia and Ari with their rainbow!
Ramsay McKnight’s rainbow
Mark and Rachael’s chalk rainbow!
Brandon’s beautiful rainbow
Tristan’s artwork with a lovely message to the NHS
Sun shining? Tick! Smiling, happy pupils? Tick! All the ingredients for fabulous fun outside for Fresh Air Friday!
We looked out the playground games and enjoyed one another’s company. From skipping games to dominoes, hula hoops to draughts, balance boards to Connect 4 – there were plenty of laughs to be had.
I hope these photos make you smile. Hopefully we’ll all be back together soon to plan some more fun times.
