P4-7 are continuing to explore instructions through a range of mediums. Today, we used our STEM craft skills to construct a paper hat. We were required to:
Sequence diagram images in the correct order
Carry out the construction stages to make a paper hat
Record each step with a clearer, digital photograph
Create a fuller, instruction text with all the required features i.e. Title, equipment, tips, stage photographs, written commands, sequencing connectives and imperative verbs.
The children then experimented with using ‘Sway’ to create their instruction text publication. Here is an example made by Findlay T – P7. Click on the link below then select play.
P4 -7 have been doing their coding course on code.org and they have also have been giving a robotic mouse instructions to find and collect cheese through a maze made by the pupils. We are working with how to create and debug instructional algorithms as part of learning about instruction texts in our language topic.
Findlay, our experienced digital leader, has been showing the new digital leaders how to upload photos to a computer from the digital camera. The new digital leaders have been learning how to create and publish a blog with their glow accounts.
Our new digital leaders are Findlay, Lillie, Maya and Rose.
As part of learning about instruction texts, P4-7 were set a technical challenge ‘a la British Bake Off’ style.
The children were given a pared down recipe instruction for pancakes with some basic instruction text features omitted from it. The recipe did not detail equipment needed, had incomplete steps and no sequencing connectives etc.
We used the real-life experience of making the pancakes for ourselves to ‘debug’ the instructions provided.
The children will follow up the activity by creating their own improved recipe instructions using I.C.T. technology. They will use the digital images we took in the activity to enhance their recipe with photographic illustrations. They will then add in features such as sequencing connectives, imperative (bossy) verbs and fuller, step-by-step stages.
We shared our pancakes with the whole school. They were our taste test judges and the verdict was they were all ‘Star Bakers!’
This afternoon we were delighted to welcome Cal Major into our school. Cal is currently travelling from Lands End to John O groats on her paddle board in a bid to raise awareness around the plastic pollution in our oceans.
“Paddle Against Plastic hopes to inspire and empower positive change, and bring hope and pride in being part of the solution.”
Cal, a veterinary surgeon, describes herself as an ocean advocate who is passionate about connecting people with the ocean and protecting it and its ecosystems.
Cal was speaking to the children about how plastic ends up in the sea, how we can help and how we can reduce our consumption of single use plastic.
Here are some of her top tips;
Help to raise awareness of the issue in a positive way
Participate in a beach clean
Remove fishing nets from the beaches
Buy a reusable water bottle
Don’t flush litter down the toilet
Take reusable bags with you when you go shopping
Cal then very kindly shared with us some fantastic videos of her journey. It was lovely to watch the images of our dramatic coastline as well as some clips of the animals that she has encountered along the way.
Her final message is not to feel guilty or negative about the current situation but to focus on what we can do instead of what we can’t. Every little helps as they say and doing something is better than nothing. Thanks again to Cal for giving up her time to come and visit us at Portpatrick Primary.
Primary 4-7 took advantage of the good weather to hit the ground running in our outdoor maths by playing Hula Hoop Place Value.
We positioned hoops to represent units, tens, hundreds, thousands and ten thousands etc. Each pupil was then given a digit between zero to nine and asked to stand in a hoop , displaying their number.
The children had to read and say the number we made. We experimented by rearranging the digits into different hoops; read and said them again, taking care to pay attention to the value of each digit based on its place in order. We also introduced decimal hoops for tenths and thousandths to add extra challenge.
We further increased the difficulty by putting two people into some hoops to make 10 or more. We then had to decide what we would do next e.g. 2+8= 10 units so put one more in the next tens hoop and put a zero in the existing hoop.
The school community gathered today to say goodbye to our P7 pupils and to celebrate success throughout the year. Awards were presented for the following:
100 % Attendance:
Alba White, Ruby Rankin, Rhian Palmer (3)
Responsible Pupil Awards:
P1-3 – Girl – Annabelle Thorburn Boy – Atticus Orr-Ewing
P4-7 Girl – Olivia Cumming Boy – Findlay Thorburn
Accelerated Reading:
Star reader in p2 – Lewis Mc Quillan
Star reader in p3 – Rose Santangeli
Star reader in p4 – Ava Lily and Alba
Star reader in p5/6 – Findlay Thorburn
Star reader in p7 – Rhian Palmer
Word millionaire:
Ava Lily
Platinum Rainbow Tables:
Findlay Thorburn, Ava Lily Orr Ewing & Lillie Baker
Platinum Rainbow Spelling:
Rhian Palmer
STAR awards – gold recipients:
Ruby, Max, Alba, Isabella, Liam , Rhian, Lewis
Barbara Lunch Helper Award:
Izzy White
Sporting success:
Footballers – Lee, Rhian and Rowan
Badminton: Rhian
Sports champions:
Junior Boy – Cameron
Junior girl – Erin
Senior girl- Rhian
Senior boy- Rowan
Artistic award Eileen Mc Donald Cup:
Ava Lily Orr Ewing
Literacy p1-3 Erin p4-7 Rowan
Numeracy p1-3 Jack p4-7 Ruby
HWB p1-3 Sophia P4-7 Lee
Endeavour award – Alba White
REACH award – P1-3 Rose P4-7 Lillie
Songs were sung to entertain the audience and to express the sentiment of the day.
Goodbyes, thank you’s and good wishes were said to Mrs Warwick, Mrs Wither, and Mrs Leek for their hard work throughout the year. Sian Roberts was thanked for her years of service on the parent council.
Mrs Baillie expressed thanks to all staff and parents for their help and support throughout the year. Mrs McHarg also thanked Mrs Baillie for her dedicated efforts.
We rounded off the day with a quick trip to the beach for a toe paddle and a play in the glorious sunshine. Let summer commence!
Our P7’s enjoyed a social evening dining out at the Mount Stewart to mark the occasion of their moving on to Stranraer Academy. Rowan, Rhian, Livvy, Myles and Lee had the pleasures of a meal together in the sun room. They then moved on to enjoy the sunshine in the village with just one more day left at primary school.
We wish them all the very best of luck on their new adventure.
The whole school tootled off in the glorious sunshine to enjoy a day trip to the Cream of Galloway yesterday.
P1-3 participated in a farm tour to learn about the farming industry. They saw where the cows are milked and then toured the byres. The children learned that the cows have massaging brushes to keep themselves in tip-top condition. All the cows were grazing happily outdoors. Cream of Galloway pride themselves in their treatment of their livestock, allowing as much outdoor time as possible for both mothers and calves.
P4-7 learned about manufacturing and experienced a Sundae making workshop. The children selected their own flavours of ice-cream, added sauce (lots!) and toppings (lots and lots!). They then went up to the viewing gallery to look down at the factory. Here, cheese and ice-cream are made in the vats; enough to fill a swimming pool each year. We learned about packaging design to appeal to customers.
After that, it was Go Boing, where all things bouncy was the order of the day. Everyone enjoyed climbing the six story 3D maze and scooting down the slides too. There was lots to keep everyone entertained.
P1-3 enjoyed an ice-cream of their choice after their lunch. P4-7 were all ice-creamed out from their earlier treat. It was all too soon time to return to the bus for the journey home. There were a few ‘zzzzz’ to be heard from the tired, but happy crew.
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