All posts by Mrs Hamilton

I'm the P5-7 teacher in Fisherton Primary.

新 年 好 Chinese New Year – 2018 – Year of the Dog

新 年 好

Xīnnián hǎo

Happy New Year – 2018 – Year of the Dog

As part of our Festivals and celebrations topic we investigated some of the traditions of Chinese New Year.  We discussed the similarities and differences to some of the celebrations we have in Scotland and with our families.

We enjoyed the story of Chinese New Year and why the celebrations include fire, loud noises and the colour red.

 

Sid Squad 2018

WINNERS!!!

We won the South Ayrshire Internet safety Competition and were delighted to receive the prize of a BB-8 App- Enabled Droid as well as a £20 iTunes voucher.  Well done to #SidSquad

Chinese Lanterns in Edinburgh

On the evening of Thursday 1st February P7 and Mrs Hamilton travelled to Edinburgh to see a wonderful lantern display in Edinburgh zoo.  It was a real spectacle and the performances were very entertaining.  The kids even got an opportunity to use some of the Mandarin they had learned when they were buying items at the stalls.

The pupils said:

  • All the sculpture were very impressive especially the temple.
  • It’s an experience I’ll never forget.
  • The giant snails were fantastic!
  • The journey was worth it. 
  • You could see there was a lot of hard work been put into it.

 

Outdoor learning – Burns Walk and Den Building

On Tuesday we had an outdoor learning day in Alloway and Rozelle.  We went on a Burns walk and built a den in Rozelle.  P5-7 were our tour guides.  They had decided on a route and created fact cards for each landmark.  They also devised an activity for each place we stopped.  Here are some of the places we visited, the activities we took part in and some pictures of us.

Brig o’ Doon

  • The Brig o’ Doon is thought to have been built in the early fifteenth century . The bridge was thought to be built by James Kennedy.
  • The bridge is on the Bank of Scotland £5 note.
  • The final scene in Tam O’ Shanter took place here.
  • The Brig o’ Doon, sometimes called the Auld Brig or Old Bridge of Doon, is a late medieval bridge in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Activity:

You are going to get 5 groups of 5 and we will give you parts of Tam O’ Shanter to act out or characters from Tam O’ Shanter to act like.

  1. While we sit bousing at the nappy,
    And getting fou and unco happy,
  2. Where sits our sulky sullen dame.
    Gathering her brows like gathering storm,
    Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.
  3. Or catch’d wi’ warlocks in the mirk,
    By Alloway’s auld haunted kirk.
  4. Weel mounted on his gray mare, Meg–
    A better never lifted leg–
    Tam skelpit on thro’ dub and mire;
    Despisin’ wind and rain and fire.
    Whiles holding fast his gude blue bonnet;
    Whiles crooning o’er some auld Scots sonnet;
  5. Ae spring brought off her master hale,
    But left behind her ain gray tail;
    The carlin claught her by the rump,
    And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.

Burns Memorial Gardens

  • The building is 70-foot high Grecian-style temple.
  • It was designed by Sir Thomas Hamilton.
  • It has nine pillars.
  • It was built In 1823.

Game – What’s the time Mr Burns

Haggis, neeps and tatties time – 3 steps

Poem time – 1 step

Lassies time – girls only 1 step

Lads time – boys only 1 step

Kilt swing time – 2 steps

Highland fling time!!!! – all perform pas de bas or high cuts – best dancer is the next Mr Burns.

Auld Kirk      

  • The Auld Kirk is mentioned in Tam O’ Shanter.
  • William Burns (Rabbie’s Dad) is buried in the graveyard.
  • The Alloway Auld Kirk dates back to the 16th Century.

Activity-

  • Work in pairs to find different textures within the graveyard.
  • Use paper and a crayon/ charcoal to create a rubbing of the texture.
  • Discuss the different textures you find and use adjectives to describe them to each other.

Poets path

  • This attractive pedestrian pathway connects Burns Cottage with the main museum site.
  • Look for creative ironwork signage crafted by Timorous Beasties and bordered by attractive seasonal plantings.
  • There’s plenty of art to spot along the way. Look out for Kenny Hunter’s cast iron mouse and Jake Harvey’s larger-than-life granite haggis! 

Activity: tim’rous beastie (like murder wink)  

  • The mouse must twitch their nose at people in the circle.
  • Step out of the circle and hold your tummy when you’ve had too much cheese!
  • The ploughman must guess who the mouse is.

Burns Cottage

  • Burns Cottage was built in 1757
  • It was built by William Burns
  • Robert Burns was born on the 25th January 1759 and died on the 21st July 1796 at 37 years old
  • Michael Jackson’s song Thriller was said to be inspired by Robert Burns poem Tam O’ Shanter

Activity – Burns Photo Poses

  • Witch from Tam O’ Shanter
  • Tam’s Horse Meg
  • Angry Haggis
  • Playing the Bagpipes
  • Highland Dancing

Rozelle park

  • Rozell House was made in the 1700’s.
  • It’s open all year long.
  • There is a very big house there called a mansion that people like to visit.
  • There are lots of animals to look out for. There are foxes /wood peckers /owls/baggers/birds/squirrels/bugs and more.

Activity – Den building.

We are going to have a picnic lunch then work in teams to make some shelters.

 

 

 

 

 

January 2018 – Article of the Month

Article 12

You have the right to give your opinion, and for adults to listen and take it seriously.

 

Pupils are busy planning their topic for term 3 and their ideas are very important to us. They are also being encouraged to share ideas about what developments and changes they would like to see in their school for 2018.

Festival and Celebrations Topic