On Monday this week we had a meeting with Dr Graham Kerr who works at NASA in the USA.
On Monday this week we had a meeting with Dr Graham Kerr who works at NASA in the USA. Dr Kerr originally comes from quite close to Banton, about half an hour drive away!
Dr Kerr tooks us through an explanation of his work on Sun, solar activity, solar probes and lots more. He told us some incredible facts.
He also answered our questions on a whole host of space related facts.
After the meeting I asked the Biggies to do some research and create some art on anything that had caught their interest. They have worked really hard both in school and at home!
Research
Art
And a Bonus Gif
Minecraft in Space
As today is the last day beforethe holidays, we spent some time making the solar system in Minecraft. Some of the builds were really inventive. The Sun, planets, astronauts and more. Juliet even had hollow planets with information boards inside.
This week we had a dash for the finish ending with a Exhibition in the Playground for the rest of the school.
I am incredibly proud of the way the children worked over the weeks. Especially on talking to Eilidh. She was very impressed at the children’s practical skills, the way they solved problems and their ability to talk about what they were doing and learning.
The class were especially impressive talking about their work to the other pupils and staff in the playground Exhibition.
Today the pupils continued to impress by writing about their projects. Some wrote about the technical details, some about the feeling and some wrote poems. All the writing below is by the artists.
The Swan – Tony
I wrote a wee poem for ye The auld swan shall come Tae me Doon the wee canal Ye may see it come round Tae ye The auld swan shall come Tae me
I chose a swan because when I think of Banton i think about nature and in Banton there is a pond with swans in it so that’s why I did it. I also chose it because I like swans and think they are cool. I like this idea and enjoyed making it.
The Forrest – Xander
My creation represents jealousy. It makes me happy when I look at it when I am jealous. Its leaves are green like nature. The leaves are crunchy when I step on the leaves. When I look at the animals they are cute. They are very fluffy and furry. The birds are very noisy alll the time. The trees are full of apples. The apples are very tasty. The forest is always there for me.
The Watermill – Calum
I made the water mill because I wanted to make some more complicated. I made a mechanism that made it spin round. It was hard to hot glue the curved cardboard. My creation makes me feel accomplished.
A few weeks ago we started art in the makerspace. An artist named Eilidh Manson came in to do some art with us. We made some sketch books. I didn’t actually choose it. Mr Johnston showed me how to make a tree trunk. I made a tree but I made a leap of logic and it gave me a super lit idea so I made a forest. When I cut the cardboard it was a bit stiff. It was easy to make animal figurines. The finished project made me feel happy.
Peepcorn and other consumables – Noah
They where called spittles it took a couple weeks to do but I done it (hardly). Tt was hard at bits I used creative thinking, problem thinking And more. Then I made a susy and peep-corn they both hard to made. The materials I needed were cardboard, fabric and more!!
The Cherry Tree Juliet, Chloe & Alexia
Once boxes and bags, Now a tall Cherry tree, And branches inside can’t you see. Tissue paper flowers and packaging paper bark. Held together by glue and duct tape and things like that. Some real branches hiding, They blend in so well, you nearly can’t tell, It’s a cardboard tree.
Door Toes & Prongles -Jason
The flavour of door toes is like fire, burns your tongue more than a ghost pepper nothing else can beat it in spice.
Prongles is the biggest snack you can have it holds world records with it, it never expires you will love it especially the new giant flavour even bigger that the big flavour so EAT NOW.
The Swan – Robert
The Swan is nice and relaxing, The cam seats are so calm, The atmosphere is quiet, A wee nice feeling roams the air.
I made the swan (pub/bar/restaurant) because I felt like it really symbolised Banton in a good way. The community made it a nice place to eat or drink at.
It makes me feel happy, calm, and bit sad and a wee bit nervous. I feel happy because I finally finished the project. I feel calm because now I don’t have to juggle all the thoughts of what to do next in my head and sad because Eilidh Madison (who helped us build it) will not come back. I also feel nervous because it might collapse. I feel quite good.
Note, Roberts use of cam in the poem is deliberate, a Biggie Engneering joke!
The Shed – Gene
Why I made it
I chose to build the shed and the tools inside it because at the start before we built anything I was struggling for ideas. I thought of tools outside in the playground and I thought of a shovel. Then after I built the shovel I built a broom then a bucket then the shed.
Exhibition
My class displayed the things we have been working on for the past few weeks. We told everyone about how we made it, features, why we made it and more like what’s above. Everyone liked the exhibition. It was very fun. Some things gone wrong but we had a great time. The exhibition was a success in the end.
This week we made a lot of progress in the MakerSpace. The class were so busy we did not have much time for reflection or taking notes. We can really see the ideas being brought to life. The class have a very wider range of ideas! Some of the ideas are beinging to expand, either in size or complexity.
This week we made a lot of progress in the MakerSpace. The class were so busy we did not have much time for reflection or taking notes. We can really see the ideas being brought to life. The class have a very wider range of ideas! Some of the ideas are beinging to expand, either in size or complexity.
I did ask the pupils how we could improve out teaching. This was met with a series of ideas for expanding the space. This included, planning & painting areas, Space for painting and being able to leave work in a more organised way. All good ideas but difficult to do given the space we are lucky have.
We had our second visit from Artist Eilidh Manson yesterday. Every one has started on a weird or wonderful piece of Art. We have mill wheels, cats up trees and giant packet of pringles, and a lot more great ideas.
Getting Startedpeep-cornfrog in a pondThe SwanA mill wheelA swanglue gunnin’weavingsketing outBusy Busy
The class are all now becoming increasingly independent in the MakerSpace, working safely with care.
Today in the maker space I started on making my water mill. I filled my toilet roll with tissue but then I took it out and but a stick in then put tissue back in it. I cut round card board and hot glued it on.
Calum
Today in the MakerSpace I made a tree and I made it into phase 2 Mr tree. I made it in one WHOLE day. When I cut the square on the bottom it was a bit stiff. I wrapped even more tape to make it less fragile.
Xander
Today I made a drinkable slush made out of cardboard and I made a pop corn which I renamed peep-corn it’s called peep-corn because you can look thru a hole I learned loads of new techniques and you can drink out the slush because there’s a cup behind the cardboard.
Noah
Today in the maker space I made a swan. I have made the main body. I have also started a slot so it can stand up. I haven’t finished it yet but when I do it will look beautiful. I learned that if something didn’t work try it again and if that doesn’t work leave it for later.
Tony
Today in the MakerSpace I started my art project. I started with making the roof for the first building. It was hard to do it but I kinda weaved cardboard to make it 2 times and put them together with an angle. The I added something to stop the angle from changing. Then I make 2 30x20cm parts and 2 30x30cm parts. I put them together to make a square. It got a lot better at making roofs with tiles and cutting with saws.
Robert
Today in the MakerSpace I started my art project. Im doing it with Chloe and we are going to do a tree with a cat stuck in it. We have got the base done and next week we are going to build it up then make the outside look like bark and add the branches and some flowers.
Juliet
Today we were in the MakerSpace and I made a giant Pringle can. I started by using a giant tube, then put a lid on the bottom. then made 2 small Pringles then curved them to look like Pringles, then I but some hot glue on the so they would look like a actual Pringle with all the powder things then I add all the labelling and picture of the guys face.
Yesterday we had a visit from Artist Eilidh Manson who will be working with us for the next few weeks in the MakerSpace. Putting an artistic slant on our making.
Eilidh stated by talking about how important sketch books are and show us how to make our own. We started using these straight away thinking about Banton and places and things important to the pupils.
We then headed through to the MakerSpace, to experement with cardboard and other materials. This is a warm up for next week when the children will be working on turning their own ideas into art.
We will do some more advanced projects. I know what I’m going to make. I have ideas I want to try. What I think working with Eilidh will be awesome. My techniques I have learnt.
Roll up cardboard to make a tree trunk.
Scrumple up cardboard to make leaves.
Xander
I think I will do well over the next few sessions and also I think other people will do well too. I know what I am going to make. I’m going to make the shed in the playground. I think working with Eilidh will be fun. I have learnt the technique stacking and I don’t really like it.
Gene
I think over the next few sessions we will start to work on the pieces of art. I think I am going to try to make a tree, I think I want to try using little pieces of wet cardboard as bark but glue it on. I think it is going to be fun working with Eilidh. A new technique I have learned is weaving cardboard.
Juliet
I think it’s going to be a good bunch of sessions and it will be all calm and nice.
I do know what I’m going to make and it is: The Swan (the restaurant in banton)
The ideas I want to try are: making textured walls and making a roof that doesn’t fall.
I think it is going to be nice.
I have learned how to thread cardboard and make 2 walls support a small roof.
Robert
I think we will keep on experimenting Im going to make a slushy and you can remove the lid and replace it I’m still thinking of ideas I want to try I think it will be fun and entertaining Putting your finger into the top of a bottle and it will be easier to cut it.
Noah
I am going to make the Banton mill I think that we are going to make interesting things I think it will be good working with Eilidih
The Biggies had their first Trip to Dow’s Wood this year. Ice Hair, Adjectives & Land Art.
On Wednesday the Biggies had a trip to Dow’s Wood for some outdoor learning. The plan was to make some Land Art and gather some adjectives.
Our new pupil and Miss Baxter, who is working with the Biggies this term had their first trip to the wood so we had a look around first.
Eagle eyed Noah spotted some Ice Hair:
Ice Hair a rare find.
It is quite rare to find ‘hair ice’ in Scotland so I was quite excited. We also had a look at some hazel catkins.
On the way we gathers a few straight sticks and dead stems. We had been looking at some images and video of Land Art. This is art made from natural materials, that can be left in place after taking some photographs. We were careful not to damage any living things.
Working on Land Art
Most of the class were quickly absorbed in putting together some abstract shapes, some using their engineering skills to balance, and construct strange shapes. These things often go wrong, this class are becoming expert in making mistakes, meeting failure and pushing on to success.
Weaving a tangled webDelicate workMiss Baxter Joins inEngineering in actionLollypop treeMoss MountainThe Monster
The first thing we did in the woods was collect sticks and make art. We could work in partners or by our selves, I worked with Gene. The first idea I had was to make a circle but me and Gene couldn’t really get it very Sphere like. We tried making a stick out line first and filling it in with smaller sticks but that didn’t really work. Gene then had an idea of how to make a better one but we ended up making a monster on a giant mossy rock. Gene made a really cool stick line down for hair. I built the face out of muddy leaves and mud which made my hands freezing. But It was really fun.
Mud is the new Glue
Juliet
One morning we went to the woods. About half way through the trip, we made some sculptures next to the big rocks. I started making some gigantic but also wee structure, first I wanted to make a ball but I found out it was too hard to do it, instead I made Some pillars and connected them. I made it all with sticks. It was very hard but it turned out very well! It kind of looked a bit like a circle of pillars with one in the middle and a roof.
Robert
Me and Juliet built a sphere and a rock monster. First we built the sphere. It didn’t really look like one. We built it only out of twigs/sticks. Just a sphere. But I thought of a different way to build it. We didn’t build the different version because Juliet thought of and excellent idea. We built a rock monster on a mossy rock. It went tremendously. It went better than I thought. I’m still baffled that the twigs/sticks didn’t fall off. I had a lovely time working with Juliet.
Gene
This morning, we went to the woods. We made some art, we used sticks, rocks, and leaves, and maybe some moss. Me and my friend Alexia Were partners with each over. Luckily we both have creative minds. We started off putting a bunch of twigs together, and then we added the big sticks. Then Alexia’s strange but creative mind took over, she added hats to all the sticks! It was strange but it was also cool because it was a cup of an acorn, after a little while I asked Alexia about putting clear rocks in it and she put it around the centre we called these moon rocks. After that Mr. Johnston showed us other people ideas, after seeing Mr. Johnston’s we decided to do a leaf circle like him and then we were finished.
For the last few weeks the Biggies have been spending their time in the MakerSpace tackling a Christmas Challenge.
Design & construct a Christmas Model
Design & construct a Christmas Model that includes a moving part
Design & construct a Christmas Model that includes a moving part & a simple electrical circuit.
Design & construct a Christmas Model that includes a moving part, a simple electrical circuit, & a programmable element.
We started off by making plans:
We talked a bit about the skills needed for carrying out or plans and the design cycle.
He results show not only our pupils imagination but a range of skills.
For the last few weeks we made some Christmas models in the Makerspace. We could make anything we wanted, as long as it is Christmas themed. I decided to make a Christmas tree! I was the only one who made a Christmas tree.
There was a lot of problems we had. Here are some of the problems I had:
The motor didn’t work
The tree was moving when the motor was on
The motor was falling of a bit
Here are the solutions I had for the problems
Check and re-wire the electronics
Add some weights to the tree
Tape it on a bit
Robert
I made a train with a carriage carrying presents. I thinked about connecting both the locomotive and the carriage together. So I used pipe cleaners to hook them together. The final product was a success. I liked how I added presents to the carriage.
Problems & Solutions
I used wood to make the presents but they were too tiny so I used Lego to make the presents. I wrapped some wooden circles in tin foil to make some presents.
Xander
I used lots of my skills but I used five main skills. 1. I used planning and organising because I had a plan on what to do. 2. I used ICT for my micro:bit. 3. Numeracy for measuring things. 4. Problem solving for my short and tall stuff. 5. Creative thinking to add details.
Tony
For the maker space Christmas challenge I made a sleigh pulled by a rain deer. It had a light collar and a micro bit in the sleigh. It also moved. We had to make it max 30cm wide, long and tall.
A few problems I had were I didn’t have enough space to make two reindeer like on my plan so I had to move the micro bit to my sleigh. Another problem I had was that my reindeer was to heavy causing my sleigh to tip forwards so I had to pup my rubber in the back until I got the wires and batteries in which held it down.
Some skills I used were planning and organising, ICT, creative thinking and practical skills.
Juliet
First I made a net. Then I hot glued the net together to make a square then I made a roll for the front. Then I added 2 light bulbs and with then I wrote Santas express on it. Lastly I added an spoiler and an antenna and that was me finished
I used my practical skills and my ICT. My problem was the clips would not connect to the light bulb. My idea totally changed at one point because my original plan was a slay that you pull Back against an elastic band.
Noah
Problem SolvingPractical SkillsCreative ThinkingPlanning & OrganisationICT
We had a great time, here is what some of the class thought:
First we did a warmup called traffic lights, Chris had 3 cones a green cone, an orange cone, and a red cone. When he held up the green cone we were to dribble about, but we were to keep the ball close and have control over it, Chris calls this penguin taps. If Chris held up the orange cone we were to do this motion called toe taps, a toe tap is when you tap the ball with the tip of your feet one after the other. If Chris held up the red card we are to hold it still and sit on the ball
Chloe
The second game was hungry hippos. We had to dribble a ball Back to our team and to get the ball we had to high five a partner and go on my team was Jason and Juliet we won 2 times in a row.
Noah
I got better at dribbling the ball the session was really fun I like the football training a lot because it was very fun.
Jason
At that lesson I got a bit better at football. I didn’t really learn anything as far as I can remember. I felt competitive in the session and I really liked it. I had a lovely day yesterday in school and I enjoyed the session so much.
Thank you Clyde football club for coming to Banton.
Gene
Lastly we played football we split into teams then to. Then we started Calum was great he would find away to get the ball of you every time. It was 1&1 it was great
Tony
Finally we played a game of football the opposite team got a point then I got the ball under every ones legs and Jason got it in the goal.
I learned some new games practiced and got better at dribbling the ball. It was really fun and I really enjoyed it.
Last Friday The Biggies took part in the School Harvest Assembly. As well as collection food for food banks we made bread to go along with the soup made by the younger children. We used Juliet’s recipe and the bread turned out really well.
We also shared some of our learning so far. The class discussed what to include and we settled on Wolves, Coding and Monsters as our topics.
The children then went into groups and discussed what they could say on these subjects, wrote their own scripts and made a slide to go along with their words. I pasted some of the reports they wrote below along with images from their presentation slides.
The class all did a great job, from deciding what to do, writing scripts, producing slides & talking.
Working With OthersPlanning & OrganisationLiteracyCommunicationProblem SolvingICT
Wolves
Now here is some fun facts about wolves, did you know wolves don’t howl at the moon they howl to communicate, wolves are apex predator that means they are top of the food chain. Wolves has two layers of fur, the inside to keep them warm and the outside to protect them from the bad weather.
Alexia
First we brainstormed using post-its on the things we could talk about, our included: eye of the wolf book, wolf faces and information texts. On Friday I felt nervous about talking in front of the parents. I think my voice was clear because that is what my gran said. Next time I am presenting to others I will try look up that the parents when reading.
Lexi
Last Friday the class presented to our parents and friends on our learning. My group talked about wolves, When talking in a group we need to think about, speaking clearly and all words should be understandable. On Friday I felt good at first, but when it was my time to speak I got really nervous. I Think it was really cool to be there and talk in front of all the parents, because they were there to listen to us and have a good time. Next time I am presenting to others I will try to slow down a little bit.
Chloe
Monsters
We have been doing some research about wolves. First we we used Safari to find some websites. We used more than one site to check the information. The whole class gathers all the information on a big board. We wrote notes to help our writing. It was interesting and fun.
Noah
We then wrote text for different sections, I wrote: We were working on our scissor action extenders. First we used 6 pieces of card and put them together with split pins. Then we drew and cut out our monster heads and bottom jaws and finally coloured in our monsters.
We practised in class. To help me speak I thought about starting with a nice and clear voice. On Friday I felt happy and nervous. I think it went well.
Xander
We practised in class. To help me speak I thought about starting with a clear and nice voice. On Friday I felt nervous at the start because I had a lot to say but I got through it. I think I did a good job and I’m very proud of myself.
Tony
Coding
We then wrote text for different sections, I wrote:
We have been making a bee game because we have a bee man coming to our school every week. He comes to our beehive for a hour or less. He brings bee suits so we can come. So we thought of making a been game ,had some problems like when the bee wouldn’t move or the flowers wouldn’t disappear when they got to the end of the screen. But we fixed the problems so now we the bee can move, the flowers can disappear. Because we changed the code of the flower and bee.
Jason
We then wrote text for different sections, I wrote:
Recently we have been working on a bee game on scratch. Scratch is a programming web site and there is also a scratch junior for younger ones. You drag code blocks to create lines of code. There’s to many code blocks for me to explain them all but you can listen to the others for more information on our bee game though. But be for the others speak, I need to tell you some basic code blocks, move your number of choice, rotate your number of choice and one for scratch only, next costume.
Gene
We practised in class. To help me speak I though about speed, clearness, looking at the audience and speaking loudly. On Friday I felt a bit nervous but when I spoke I was a bit less nervous. I think it was a good experience that I will remember. Next time I am presenting to others I will try to talk a little bit clearer and louder.
Robert
Last Friday we had our harvest assembly and presented to our parents and friends about our learning. My group talked about coding on scratch and micro bit. When talking in a group we need to think about being clear, looking up at our audience and not holding the microphone too close to our mouths. First we brainstormed and wrote on post-its things we would talk about, ours included what scratch is, our bee game and the introduction or reintroduction to micro bits.
