John Johnston

Banton Biggie Highlights Week Ending 18 Dec 2020

We are having a nice end of term.

We had out Christmas party this week, slightly quieter than usual, as we had to stick to our bubbles. The Biggies managed to enjoy themselves. My favourite part is watching some of the pupils being wrapped up.

Episode 3 of the Banton Biggies Podcast came out this week. The pupils are organising, writing, recording and editing this by themselves.

🎅🎄BBP Episode 3🎄🎅

We have been decorating or tree using or digital and maths skills, 3 D shapes and microbit driven decoration:

We also belatedly joined in the #12sketchesofchristmas and learned a fair bit about using Sketches for School on out iPad.

Steady Hands 2

We took our Micro:bit games a little further today. Working on Game Over animation (we had Y-M-C-A, dancing and dying) and code for losing lives as opposed to counting touches.

The Class also started to think about designing games using the same ideas.

Episode 2 of the Banton Biggies Podcast

Now out:

BBP Episode 2

Have a listen and let us know what you think.

Biggies Litter Pick

As part of our eco schools program the whole school was out and about picking up litter. The biggies were tasked with covering the surrounds of the school and the play park.

Despite the weather we got wrapped up, put on hi vis vests and protective gloves and go busy.

After we got back to class we estimated our weights and weighed our rubbish.

Steady Hands

After working on some basic circuits we had a challenge today. To make a steady hands game.

The class worked really well on this, working in partners, using nearly all of the skill we could thing of. In particular, practical, communication, creativity and problem solving. We ended up with 100% success and 1 very proud teacher.

Banton Biggies Podcast Episode 1 Out Now!

BBP Episode 1

The Pupils have been working really hard on the podcast. They have created a website, scripted, recorded and edit the first episode. Different pupils were involved in different roles, production, publicity & sponsorship. We are learning a lot about organisation and planning.

Basketball Skills

Primary 6 & 7 have been working on their basketball skills with Miss Meechan. This week she asked them to make some videos to show what they have been learning.

We were working on self awareness, dribbling, shooting and working with others.

We played King of the Castle to warm up. King of the Ring helps with awareness and ball control and defence. Aim practise from different angles. One on One helps with defending and attacking, you don’t stop.

We also played no-net basketball, where a person is a net!

king of the ring no hoop basketball

defence teamwork

Basketball Shooting

Warmup Defence

BBP Episode Zero

The Biggies have been really busy getting their podcast off the ground.

Banton Biggies Podcast – The Banton Biggies Podcast Site!

Where you can here Episode 0

BBP Episode 0

The class have been busy organising themselves, making graphics, writing script, creating the website and getting sponsorship!

We expect episode 1 to be out in the middle of November, but for now you can list the site, listen to episode 0 and find out more.

Biggie Highlights of the Week 23 Oct 2020

The Biggies showed amazing creativity early this week:

Creativity from a Triangle

We have had a couple of maths stars, Alfie decided to up his game with division 812352 divided by 6

And Alice has become a speed demon at multiplication.

Ben showed his amazing general knowledge in a quiz, answering more questions than the rest of the class put together!

Lastly we have a pupil working from home today and making a really good job of keeping up with the rest of the class in Teams.

Creativity from a Triangle

The biggies were given a sheet of paper with a triangle on it and the instructions “Complete the Artwork”

Half an hour later we had a wide range of really creative ideas:

Then we discussed the “Creativity Skills” of Open Mindedness, Curiosity, Imagination and Problem Solving. We could identify where we had used each of these skill making out pictures.

We got the idea after Mr Johnston saw this video when there is a correct answer Exercise in creative thinking – YouTube