We have a plan…
We are delighted to welcome back Nursery to P5 pupils on Monday the 22nd of February.
Have a look at our Newsletters in the NEWS menu or click on the link below for lots of up-to-date information:
Monthly Archives: February 2021
Home Learning Weeks 3-6
Dear Parents and Carers
We have prepared a new Home Learning Pack for the next 3 week phase of lockdown in response to your feedback and comments. We have kept the same basic format and we have added in some extra ideas to keep it interesting.
P1-5 teachers would really appreciate if you could return to school the empty case and reading books from the first 3 week phase of work. The returned resources can be left in the porch at reception this Friday, the 29th of January. P6/7 do not have anything to return on this occasion.
New Home Learning Packs will be prepared and ready for you to pick up on Monday the 1st of February, during school hours. Please get in touch if these hours don’t work for you.
Core Subjects
You will find booklets for language and maths in the pack. These are the core subjects and we hope you have a go at working through these activities. If you need support or advise you can use Seesaw to get in touch with a teacher and they will try their best to help.
Videos Online
We are offering online videos this time, which means the children can see and hear their teachers, as this has been highlighted as an important part of a child’s health and wellbeing. This will be accessible from Seesaw and will link with a booklet provided in the Home Learning Pack. The lessons will be recorded, and you will be able to watch them at your leisure, pausing and playing the recording to give yourself thinking time.
School Community Project
We have also included an activity about our School Community Project. This is a project which is evolving as a result of the Friends of Firth School (FoFS) discussing ideas and offering to support the school to develop better outdoor learning environments
In the Home Learning Packs we have included activities to involve everyone in the planning and development process of the outdoor classroom space. We would be delighted to capture inspiration from all generations and how we can continue to build something, even remotely, so people feel part of our whole school community.
Weekly Check-in
We would really appreciate an update every week to hear how the learning is going. The proud moments have been lovely to see. This will also let us know if you want to be supported in a different way or if you are happy with the provision.
You can check-in using whichever format is easiest for you. If you use Seesaw to upload your photos, you can also choose to share them on the class blog, or just with the teacher, it’s up to you.
Headteacher Time
Miss Ritchie will be adding a weekly video with a story and message for all our pupils. This will be available on Seesaw along with a reflection of the week’s achievements to round-up and bring together the successes of the school community.
Thank you,
From the Firth Staff Team
Websites from 2020
Literacy
- BBC Bitesize – a range of daily lessons focused on literacy – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
- Oxford Owl – https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/ – the website provides information for parents about developing reading and comprehension skills at the Early Level. There is free access to e-books from reading schemes used in schools with related activities.
- The Book Trust – https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/fun-at-home-with-authors-and-illustrators/ – a list of age related fun literacy activities, including videos of authors, such a David Walliams and Andy Stanton, reading from their books. Also top tips on from illustrators on how to draw your favourite characters.
- The Literacy Shed Plus – https://www.literacyshedplus.com/en-gb/resource/a-cloudy-lesson-ks1-activity-pack – a range of resources with a given stimulus to assist talking and listening, and writing activities as well as comprehension. There are linked fun activities which can be done outdoors, eg. from a story about a boy making clouds, activities are suggested around cloud spotting and finding shapes in the sky, linked to work on the water cycle.
- Scottish Book Trust – https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning-and-resources – a range of resources, with recorded interviews and readings by well-known authors, such as Michael Rosen.
- Pobble 365 – https://www.pobble365.com/ – a new image each day to inspire writing. This can be used for story starters or to inspire, talking, listening and writing activities.
- Education City – https://www.educationcity.com/ – fun interactive games to develop literacy.
- ‘Teach your monster to read’ – use the website https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/ – The website is a free resource whereas you have to pay for the App. This focuses on phonics and blending and is designed for those in the early stages of reading. Children get to design their own monster!
- Elevenses with the world of David Walliams – https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/ – daily free audio stories read by David Walliams.
- Elaine C Smith reading The Glasgow Gruffalo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq8zxYnWRW8
Numeracy
- Sumdog – https://pages.sumdog.com/ – a range of engaging and progressive maths games, tailored to each stage.
- Education City – https://www.educationcity.com/ – fun interactive games to develop numeracy.
- BBC Bitesize – a range of daily lessons focused on numeracy – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
- Numberblocks – https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/numberblocks
- Nrich – https://nrich.maths.org/ – games and challenges to develop problem solving and mathematical thinking.
Health and Wellbeing
- BBC Bitesize – a range of daily H&W lessons – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
- Childline – https://www.childline.org.uk/ – ideas and online resources offering practical support to support good mental health for children and young people.
- Cosmic Kids Yoga – https://www.cosmickids.com/ – fun yoga videos for learners of all ages, set in engaging contexts.
- Workouts with Joe Wicks – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
- Storyberries (Feelings and Emotions) – https://www.storyberries.com/category/feelings-and-emotions/ – a range of online stories covering different emotion
- See Me – https://www.seemescotland.org/ – resources to support positive mental health.
- Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/for-children-and-young-people/understanding-my-feelings/ – resources to encourage young people to explore their feelings and talk about the supports they need.
- Mental Health Foundation – https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ – activities to support positive mental health.
- Just Dance – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChIjW4BWKLqpojTrS_tX0mg
- Zumba – https://family.gonoodle.com/channels/zumba-kids
Food and Technology
- Book Trust – https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/recipes/#!?q=&sortOption=MostRecent&pageNo=1 – have some fun using these recipes to bake cakes linked to famous books – whether it’s a Gruffalo cake or Nadiya Hussain’s Rainbow Fudge from her book, ‘Bake Me a Celebration Story’, there are lots of ideas to link with literacy and numeracy.
- Cbeebies – https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/my-world-kitchen – find out about food from all over the world as young cooks show how to make their favourite dishes.
- Cooking with Jamie Oliver – https://www.jamieolcom/features/category/get-kids-cooking/
Art
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpwB792UfmrY9JeQ2nk5Iw – Steve Lenton giving us some great draw-a-long ideas linked to characters in books for primary school children.
- http://www.claire-powell.com/lets-make-art-for-fun – daily art activities at 10am every day from Claire Powell, a children’s books illustrator -activities are on Instagram or Twitter so will need an adult to engage.
- https://pippapixley.co.uk/ – Pippa Pixley is an author-illustrator and she provides draw-a-long and paint-a-long sessions suitable for primary school children.
- http://www.missharcusart.com – ideas created and compiled by Miss Harcus for you to try.
Expressive Arts
- Music – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQh2wgJ5tOrixYBn6jFXsXQ – Music with Myleene Klass (1pm daily).
- Music – https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ten-pieces – BBC Ten Pieces.
- Music – https://www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/home-learning-resources/ – Music Mark
- Music – https://www.benedettifoundation.org/resources – The Benedetti Foundation.
- Music – https://www.youtube.com/user/Fischymusic – Fischy Music Assemblies (every Monday morning).
- Music – https://www.outoftheark.co.uk/ – Out of the Ark Music.
- Music – http://resources.bcmg.org.uk/creating-music-at-home/ – Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
- Dance – https://twitter.com/diversedancemix/status/1241098264373592065 – Dance with Darcy Bussell (1.30 pm daily).
- Dance – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – Dance with Oti Mabuse (11.30 am or anytime).
- Dance – https://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/activities/disney-workouts/ – Disney Dance-Alongs.
- Just Dance – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChIjW4BWKLqpojTrS_tX0mg
- Zumba – https://family.gonoodle.com/channels/zumba-kids
- Dance – https://family.gonoodle.com/channels/maximo
Languages (1+2)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVhfIgghOPw – Using the French Five a Day Programme, learn new French words to dance and music.
General
- https://www.twinkl.co.uk/ – a site with lots of ideas for every aspect of the curriculum
- Education Scotland’s online database of online learning resources covering all CfE subject areas: https://education.gov.scot/improvement/learning-resources/supporting-online-learning-links-for-practitioners/
- GLOW digital learning for parents, teachers and learners: https://glowconnect.org.uk/
- Local Authority Remote Learning Hubs, online resources: https://wakelet.com/wake/60094859-26ad-4034-82a7-6bfaca607667
- TES Elements, resources for teachers, parents and guardians to support home learning (usually a premium service, but now free – registration may be required but this is also free): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/tes-elements/free-home-learning-resources?fbclid=IwAR0YTOxukZtbk53KObYbPFvnbTsyotANiHMy4rr37AJmpFlhjsuQ1HZCFmo
- Parent Club is a website to support parents and carers with learning at home, as well as supporting their children’s health and wellbeing during the crisis. Also, a platform for the latest advice on school closures and those who are eligible to access learning hubs: https://www.parentclub.scot/topics/health/coronavirus
Note in relation to the use of online resources
Where online resources have been referenced, access to the resource is currently free. In some cases, this may be for a limited period and members should monitor their engagement on this basis.
All online references have been selected on an illustrative basis for the relevant potential learning activities. There may be other websites and platforms which will provide similar activities.
In referencing these websites, we do not endorse any advertisements shown on the page, the views of those presenting or the wider content of the website.
Active Schools Orkney
Active Schools Orkney have some ‘spud’tacular activities for you to try!
