Hello to all the P5/6 blog readers, it’s Mr Atkinson here! As you will know this year I am doing NCCT for primary P5/6 with a focus on developing Crookfur’s Inquiry Based Learning approach so I wanted to give you an update of what we have been doing.

In our first Learning Journey – Exploring the Solar System, we revisited the planets and recorded some of their features in a comparison table including their size, distance from the sun, length of day etc. In the beginning we researched astronauts who had ventured into space and answered questions about them. In our investigations we discovered how planets have been studied by using Rover explorers. We were then set a challenge to design and construct a working 3D model of our very own Rovers! We were taught how to draw to scale and we revised different types of measurements. Afterwards, we used recyclable material to build the models and we had to make sure they had real-life features such as cameras, arms and an energy source. It was very challenging making wheels and a pulling system so it required a Growth Mindset to overcome the successes and failures during our tests. At the end of this Learning Journey we did a showcase with the other P6 classes and presented our model rovers and showed how they worked. Amongst all of this we visited the Glasgow Science Centre and experienced the IMAX: Space – The New Frontier 3D show.

The class were then introduced to the META Skills of Creativity and Curiosity. We reflected on how these skills had already been utilized in our previous Learning Journey and discussed how they could be used in our upcoming focus on Fairtrade.

Our second Learning Journey –  Fairtrade, has been supported by the organisation Fairtrade International. First we discussed wants and needs of people from other countries and compared them with our own. Next we discovered where products are from and how purchasing Fairtrade items environmentally, socially and financially help those that farm and gather the resources. Working in groups or with a partner we created presentations using information we had researched and summarised about a specific Fairtrade product that most people would not know about. There were a lot of surprises! Afterwards we learned how solve profit and loss calculations using coins and we were shocked to discover where the profits go in the supply chain process! To finish off our Learning Journey we designed our very own Fairtrade items using Tinkercad and then applied our persuasive skills to create advertising posters for our products as well as an advert which we recorded on the iPads and some of us edited on iMovie.  Alongside our work and evidence gathered we are hopeful that our efforts will be eventually recognised by successfully renewing the FairAware Award.

We are now focusing on applying the new META Skills of Communicating and Collaborating in both school and in real life situations. After reflecting on the different ways humans express themselves we researched how animals communicate and presented what we had discovered to the class. We have also looked at how laughter is an important form of communication but that we need to be mindful of when we are doing it.

We are just about to start our third Learning Journey – Water Treatment Campaign, which we are all excited about!

Mr Atkinson