Month: December 2017

Thank you Miss Welsh for your support and help during your placement. As Hafsah so eliquently put it; “She’s always there to talk to and listen to our problems”.

Miss Welsh has adopted an Orangutan in the Bornean Rainforest, called Lola. We are going to take Lola (our fluffy companion) on all of our travels, and show her Glasgow’s best bits over the next few months. What a thoughtful gift!

We went to the Panto on Tuesday, to see Jackie and the Baked Beanstalk. It was so funny, and we had a right LOL at the jokes;

“What did the jam say to Beyonce?”

“I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly”

Here’s some snaps of our live Art exhibition. The judges from the Tramway said they were really impressed with our class’ knowledge of Palm Oil. And they loved the different elements of it; consumerism alley, the chanting recording playing in the background, the live actors, and the narrators. Well done Primary 7, feeling very proud!

Primary 7 have been studying The Rainforest as part of our IDL work, and looking at the impact of human activity on the biodiversity of plants and animals. We have looked specifically at the journey and story of Palm Oil, as many Rainforest environments are being destroyed due to its production and therefore, use, in many everyday products.

Our Art installation considers the theme of conscious consumerism, and tries to promote a greater understanding of the consequences of our purchases beyond the supermarket checkout. We hope to change your attitudes towards what you’re buying, and how to check packaging and labelling with an analysing eye.

Primary 7’s rehearsal for the Q&A;

How does what’s happening in the Rainforest affect us?

-There will be less oxygen in the air, as the rainforest trees can be described as the “lungs of the planet”

-Plants and tree species could have potential, undiscovered medicines

-It affects us because we will no longer have a range of animals to appreciate and study/see. No more fluffy animals to admire.

 

Can you describe the journey of palm oil from the plant to our shelves?

1. In the Rainforest, they take the palm oil fruit from the tree and the harvesters gather this and take it to a local factory.
2. They squeeze the fruit to extract the oil. They then ship it to different countries internationally.
3. When it arrives at its destination, it is then used to produce everyday materials that we find on our shelves.
4. It is then transported to our local supermarket, and is ready for us to buy.

 

What can we do to help? Can we make a difference?

-Get in touch with local businesses and make sure they understand the palm oil crisis

-Hold a persuasive meeting/write persuasive letters to local supermarkets

-Buy alternatives to palm oil, or be mindful when shopping to look for an RSPO sustainable label

-Spread the word around our local community/global companies/try to educate people worldwide

 

What are the consequences of unsafe, unregulated palm oil production?

-The rainforest will continue to be wiped out

-Local, indigenous tribes could be forced to leave their homes

-Animals will lose their habitat

Here’s a sneak peak of our installation, we will post some more pictures of our amazing models later…

 

The gold curtains are a symbol of money and consumerism. Our signs, for contactless payments, or logos associated with online shopping, are meant to represent just how easy it is to purchase items and spend money, without really thinking. It is a bid to show the judges how we can all become consumed, victims of materialism and buying for want over need.

Displayed on our conveyor belt are everyday products which contain Palm Oil. Bet you didn’t realise just how much stuff we use and eat with its addition, right?!

Miss McFadden has been leading some really fun warm-ups during our Outdoor P.E. session. At the moment, we are improving our Hockey skills. It was a brrrrrrilliant session, and we couldn’t resist the chance to take some pictures of our Primary 7’s exercising in the sunshine.

We’ve been feeling very festive lately. Our Christmas party is today after school, the school Nativity will be on Monday and Tuesday, where Primary 7 will be singing ‘Last Christmas’.

On Friday 8th, we had our Christmas Fayre. The candy cane lollipops we made were a huge success, and flew off the stalls.

Mostafa, Subhaan and James put on a FABULOUS performance as magicians, showcasing their skills to all! Miss Cohen and Miss Bull decided to have a FROZEN photobooth, and dressed up for the occasion.

Tomorrow is Miss Welsh’s last day at St. Albert’s. We’ve decided to throw her a leaving party, and we’ve planned a Secret Santa Reveal…can’t wait!

As part of our Rainforest topic, we have been participating in active debates around the subject “Whose Rainforest?!”. Primary 7 have been adopting a variety of roles; ecologists, government officials, ranchers, miners, native tribal leaders, medics etc. and arguing their points about why they should have ownership over the Rainforest and its land. We used lots of persuasive language and related our roles to current, economic wants and needs to try to sway others’ points of view.

We also created gorgeous pictures of Rainforest animals using oil pastels and chalks. They look so lifelike and effective.

Mrs Kheirabi has been helping us to create list poems about the Rainforest using descriptive vocabulary, powerful nouns and super similes. Here are some examples of our fabulous Literacy work when describing a Rainforest habitat;

“The bold coloured cheetah stared at its prey like a Mum giving her child a growling stare” – Abu Bakr Qasim

“The happy, hungry family of orang-utans were sharing a nutritious bamboo stick happily” – Dany

“The timid centipede spiralled his hairy body to preserve warmth” – James

“The maginificent, tropical trees loomed over as if they were giants, watching over a thousand species” – Areeba N

“The magnificent monkeys are so playful when they are not being pursued” – Adam

“A chorus of croaking frogs were heard through the distant, Rainforest fog” – Maria M

“The delicate, elegant butterfly flutters its wings as it whooshes past you, eager to feed on the glamorous daisies.” – Hafsah

“In the large, colourful rainforest, the sparkling clear water drizzled down the stone-age rocks” – Muntaha

“The petite and colourful frog is leaping to the nearest rock, hoping to be able to find a snoozy spot for his afternoon nap.” – Abu Bakr H

“One can see a courageous, cunning tribal leader swooping through the forest, thoughtfully bringing home food for his people.” – Zaina

As part of our Art installation next week, we will be using face-paints to replicate animals of the Rainforest. We had a go yesterday to practice some designs on a partner’s face, they turned out fantastic! Have a look…

We will post some more pictures and videos next week of our Art installation, and how it’s materialised.

Miss Cohen