Hi P7b readers, I wanted to update you on what we have been doing in our Learning Journeys since my last entry.
As part of our Countryside versus Concrete Jungle Learning Journey we revisited parts of plants and what they require to survive. Once having been explained how fertilisers affect the development of plants the pupils then researched different types organic and inorganic fertilisers. The class then created farming maps of Scotland and made a key to label arable, dairy and mixed farming areas. We have also partnered with the University of Glasgow and taken part in their educational programme Sci-Seedlets. In this project we did a science experiment to test and compare how maize seeds grow when given water or salty water. This was to check whether sea water would make a good alternative option to watering plants as droughts are increasing in parts of the world. We observed the growth progress of the plants over a couple of weeks and at the end of the experiment we took them out the soil to study. The pupils noticed that the roots were smaller in the salt water container and concluded that salt water could be used to feed plants but their growth would be delayed. P7B have also investigated how land is used and visited the National Museum of Rural Life. Whilst at the museum the pupils learned about how farming technology has evolved over the years, how maths is used to run a farm and even had a chance to ride a tractor! Inspired from this trip, the pupils have been looking at local maps and commenting on how the area around the school has changed due to the construction of commercial, residential and recreational buildings and with the development of transport links. They also used Venn diagrams to compare the differences between a Scottish clan settlement with a modern day town. P7B then evaluated sources of differing opinions on how land should be used which involved identifying the purpose, main ideas and highlighting the supporting evidence. Equipped with this information the pupils were then challenged to collaborate in groups and create arguments on their chosen stance about whether Rouken Glen Park should be replaced with homes or not.
Our new Learning Journey, STAT Wars, has challenged P7B to reflect on their own carbon footprints. In teams, the pupils have been applying their Meta-Skills of communicating, collaborating, critical thinking and leading whilst researching a specific problem related to CO2 which was identified when they completed their carbon calculator on Excel. The groups have been investigating different sources to help them make notes and have turned some of their recorded information into graphs which they will include in their upcoming presentations.
