INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING (IDL) WRITING/SCIENCE and FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

P1/2 have been working very hard on their writing and they have enjoyed using Topics / Mini Topics (e.g. Fairyland, Fairtrade) and Science (e.g. The Water Cycle ) etc., as a stimulus for their writing.   The children particularly enjoyed watching a very simple u tube video on how to make Top Hat Cakes for P5’s Fairtrade Coffee Morning.  The children then recounted what ingredients they would need and each First, Next, Finally step to the teacher, which she wrote on the board.  The children then used this to help write their Suported recount of how to Make Top Hats.  In the afternoon when they made the cakes, the children were able to explain the First, Next, Finally  instructions as the used them, as they made ‘Fairtrade Top Hat Cakes…

…THE WATER CYCLE

As we used a Kettle to boil the water to heat the bowl that would heat up and help to melt the chocolate, we used our Mirror from the play corner. T

The boiling kettle represented the heat of the sun.  As the children noticed the steam coming out of the spout they were calling out ‘water vapour’ coming from the changing water in the kettle and as it began to steam up the mirror they called condensation. Then as it  ran down the mirror one of the children said it’s running back down the mirror like rain on the window and said ‘it’s precipitation.’  Then they all started to sing the water cycle song.   Fantastic learning!  So proud of you all P1/2.

RERC – THIS IS OUR FAITH /THINKING CIRCLES and EMOTION WORKS

As we approached Ash Wednesday and Lent the children with the rest of the the school through their R.E, Thinking Circles, and Emotiom Works, discussed what Lent and our Lenten Promise can mean to us as well as others, and how it can effect others in a very positive way, not just physically but emotionally.  That the very simplest if kindnesses that we do, can have an enormous impact on the lives of those around us.

SEAL and SUBTRACTION

The children have been working very hard on Subtraction using a variety of resources to help them in their learning. Using the SEAL approach to learning has helped the children to have fun with their learning as they engage with this very visual whole school initiative.

Primary 3/4 returned to the school after the Christmas holidays very excited to start their new topic Antarctica. At the start some of the children got confused with the North and South Pole including Penguins and Polar Bears, but we got there in the end.

During maths Primary 3/4 remembered a lot about 2D and 3D shapes. We are still working on Money and playing with fake money and shops have really helped reinforce the importance and value of money.

All the children enjoyed listening to the story of ‘The Epiphany’ and discussed this special feast day of The Three Kings bearing gifts. The Primary 3/4 have started work on their booklets and preparation for Fist Holy Communion and Reconciliation. The children are very excited to be making these sacraments.

In science we have been working with Mrs Le Blond on global warming. This has been very exciting as we carried out an experiment looking at ice melting and the raise in water. We only have one plant and we really need to start looking after it.

February will start with our first Friday mass which we have been working really hard on.

Primary 6 have had a very good start to the year 2020 and have lots to look forward to before June!

We settled back in really well after the holidays and started off learning about Elephants and the poaching problem that is affecting their well-being.  Since then we have started our new classroom topic which this term will be World War 1. We are loving this so far and cannot wait to learn more. So far we have looked at how the war began and what countries were involved, it has been so interesting.

Still working on our class novels and trying to develop our comprehension skills. In Maths we have been looking at multiplication and division. It’s really important that we practise our tables and learn them off by heart.

We are looking forward to February and all the learning we have to do. Mr Ewing will also be back with us by the middle of the month, we are really looking forward to this.

Primary 5 are looking at Altars for inspiration for our class Altar.  The other classes have lovely Altars, don’t you agree?

Who could have guessed that blankets would be more popular than Lego? Primary 5 built lots of dens today and worked together to get the best results.

Primary 3 and Primary 4 have been working together to learn how to write instructions.

High achievers in Primary 4!

LITERACY / PEOPLE PAST EVENTS AND  SOCIETY – TRADITIONAL TALES

When the children returned to school after the Christmas Holidays,  they were very excited to begin their new  topics  and mini- topics. In particular Traditional Tales –  Fairyland.  After receiving a very special letter from the Friendly Dragon and Characters of Fairyland asking for help to rebuild Fairyland after it was lost,  the children couldn’t wait to get started!

ROBERT BURNS

The children were very interested in learning about the Traditions, life, poetry and songs of Robert Burns.  They particularly enjoyed learning about Auld Lang Syne, how it is sung with crossed over arms, holding hands in a circle.  That  it is  a well known and Traditional song, still sung today at the end of Weddings, Special  Occasions  and Every Year as the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve or Hogmanay.

LITERACY WEEK , THE LIBRARY  AND FORMER PUPIL VISIT

The children were very pleased to have some sunshine on their first visit back to the  library to change their books.  They also were very excited about some of our former pupils coming back to the school from Cardinal Newman, to read to the children and support them with their reading during Literacy Week.

The children have really enjoyed using many  of these  different experiences as a stimulus for their writing….Here  are some of January’s terrific Star Writers…

MATHS   –  NUMBER TENNIS AND TIME

As the children continue to develop confidence in number through the SEAL approach, they are very much enjoying and actively participating in their learning.  Through for example, active stations, songs, games etc.  They have enjoyed learning the rap time song and playing Number Tennis.

SCIENCE – THE WATER CYCLE

The children are learning about the Water Cycle and have  engaged fully in all their learning experiences and activities, enjoying in particular the Water Cycle Song. (See Link)

R.E.R.C. – This Is Our Faith  –  Feast of the Epiphany 6 January

On returning to School the children listened to the story of ‘The  Epiphany’ and discussed this Special feast day of The Three Kings bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.   After reflecting on the Birth of Jesus, the Holy Family’s final special visitors and their School Nativity,  the children were all very proud and pleased with what they had achieved in their learning, especially throughout  their practise and performance in their Nativity , ‘A Miracle in Town.’

HEALTH & WELLBEING (H&WB)  – EMOTION WORKS/ SHANARRI ACTIVE – Healthy Lifestyles/P.E

   

This month Primary 7 have been very busy working on their topic, WWII.  We found out that it was the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp on Monday the 27th of January 2020.

The class were introduced to their new science topic, The Solar System.  We are really excited to have been chosen to host a very special delivery of  moon rocks.  We have applied to NASA to study them in school and we await an inspection visit from a representative from NASA who will decide if we get to hold them for 2 weeks!   This month we have also learned about the order of the solar system and even made a mnemonic so that we remember what planets come first.

Some of our Primary 7 pupils were at a football competition last week and won first place, well done!  Other children were also involved in an inter-schools Netball Tournament which went very well.

In maths we have been looking at division and sharing equally as well as revising 2D and 3D shape, we have been asked to continue this work at home too .

In literacy,  we have also just finished our reading book called Divided City . The theme of this book is sectarianism and follows the story of  two boys who support different football teams but get on very well.  We are looking forward to a joint trip with P7 from Mossend Primary in the near future to build friendships and community with others.

In art,  we have been looking  at the works of the artist Claude Monet and they have ended up looking fabulous.  Hopefully we will be sending out details in the near future about an exciting Art Gallery Project…..watch this space.

And finally, our fantastic Parish Priest Father Brown had an accident recently and has unfortunately broken his leg.  As we missed his company so much, we decided to pay him a visit at home and have a doughnut with him to cheer him up!  Get well soon Father.