Tag Archives: Co-operative Learning

Fairtrade

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In Term 3 we were learning about Fairtrade.  We talked about what it means and who it affects.  We learned about people in other parts of the world and the different things that they can grow in their warmer, tropical climates.

We all love chocolate, but do you know what happens before it arrives at the shop for you to buy?  We do!  Our class learned about where cocoa comes from and all of the different parts of the chocolate making process.  It is important that people involved in this process are paid a fair price for the food that they produce.

We looked for the Fairtrade logo on different products and tried out a couple of different recipes containing these products.  Everyone helped to either measure, mix, whisk, fill muffin cases or wash/dry dishes.  What a busy morning we had!  Then we each enjoyed a muffin at snack time.  Yum!

There were several requests to have the recipes posted on our blog so that they can be tried out at home too.!  See below for the recipes.

Working with a partner, we spent time researching different foods that we want to see being traded fairly.  Our research posters are on display now for all to enjoy.

Banoffee Overnight Oats

Ingredients

80g  porridge oats
2 tsp sunflower seeds
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
200ml semi-skimmed milk
clear honey (optional)
2 tbsp toffee sauce
6 tbsp fat free Greek style yogurt
1  Fairtrade banana, sliced
40g fruit and nut granola

Method
Divide the porridge oats, sunflower seeds and ground cinnamon between 2 clean jars with lids, then pour 100ml milk into each
Cover and leave in the fridge overnight
In the morning, top each jar of overnight oats with 1 tbsp toffee sauce, 3 tbsp yogurt, 1/2 of the banana and 20g fruit and nut granola.

Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Muffins 

We used Fairtrade products where possible.

INGREDIENTS

  • 100 g unsalted butter, (softened)
  • 175 g caster sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 140 g natural yoghurt
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 210 g plain gluten free flour
  • 40 g cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • ¼ tsp corn flour
  • 50 g white chocolate chips
  • 50 g milk chocolate chips
  • 50 g dark chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 200’C and place 12 muffin cases in a 12-hole muffin tin.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, yoghurt and milk and mix again until combined.
  3. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cornflour. Fold in using a wooden spoon or spatula until combined. Then pour in the chocolate chips and stir in until evenly distributed.
  4. Spoon the mixture evenly between the 12 muffin cases, and then place in the oven. Bake for 5 minutes and then turn the temperature down to 180’C. Bake for a further 15-18 minutes and remove from the oven. They should be golden on top and a skewer in the centre should come out clean.
  5. Cool on a cooling rack before eating. Will keep in an airtight container for 2-3 days after baking, but best served slightly warm from the oven.

I wonder…

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Today we  got into groups to decide on our focus for our own dissolving investigations.  We spoke about making it a fair test, ensuring that we only change one thing so that we can see if that change had an impact.

One thing that every group chose to keep the same in their investigation was to use the same amount of water in each jar.   We had to make sure we measured it very carefully.

Some groups were keen to  find out what would happen if we mixed soluble substances and insoluble substances together in the water.  Most found that the flour just made the water cloudy so it was difficult to see if the salt or sugar dissolved.

Others wanted to find out if the water temperature would have an affect on the speed at which the substance dissolved.  One group tried to dissolve sugar in cold, warm and hot water.

I wonder if you can guess which jar contained the hot water…?

A couple of groups were keen to see if they could separate sugar and salt from the water once it had dissolved and how long this would take.   We won’t know the results of these investigations yet, but will keep you posted!

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Dissolving

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Our science focus this week has been investigating substances that will dissolve in water.  We had 4 substances to test – sugar, flour, salt and sand.

First, we made our predictions, then it was time to test!  We set up a fair test using the same amount of water for each jar, the same amount of each substance and we stirred each jar the same number of times.

We made some interesting discoveries and are already thinking about what we want to change about the investigation next week.

Some pupils want to see if the water temperature will affect how quickly a substance will dissolve.  Others want to try adding different amounts of water and some spoke about stirring the water for longer.

We are excited to test out our ideas next week!

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Our Day…

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Today we have been looking at our digestive system.  We worked in small groups to demonstrate what is happening inside our bodies when we eat food.  We used everyday items to represent different things inside our bodies.

First we “ate” some food (crackers and bananas) and it travelled to our stomachs (plastic bag).

Then we added saliva (water) and stomach acid (orange juice) to help break down the food in the stomach.

Next our stomach muscles got to work and squeezed all of

the food until it was a gloopy mixture.

 

I wonder if everyone liked this part…?

Then the food was transported to the small intestine (tights) where it was again pushed and squeezed by many muscles.  This allowed all of the useful nutrients to be squeezed out for the body to use, leaving behind what our body doesn’t need.

After that, whatever was left over was sent to the large intestine (cup) and left the body as poo!  This was the part that many found too disgusting to watch!!

Poor Peter just couldn’t look!

We began our new novel today The Nowehere Emporium.  Don’t worry if you are not in school right now, you can catch up with the story on Teams!  Mrs Smith will post more information on this soon.

After playtime we did some Maths, focusing on different aspects of multiplication.   Keep practising at home too everyone!

In the afternoon we spent time in our research groups to begin our posters.  Each group has chosen an aspect of Human Body that they would like to find out about.  Everyone worked so well in their groups, making sure all members had a job to do and felt included.

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Quiz Time!

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In P4/5/6, we have been learning how to build electrical circuits as part of our topic work.  We have also looked at which materials act as conductors of electricity and which materials are insulators.

We found out that metal is a conductor, so we used tin foil to help us build an electrical quiz board for the younger pupils in our school.

We thought carefully about  the focus for our quizzes and tried to keep in mind how to make the questions suitable for younger pupils.

It was amazing to see how many social skills were developed during this process:  turn taking, co-operation, talking and listening, compromising and providing support and encouragement to each other.  Of course, there were opportunities to develop ICT skills too.  It was lovely to see so many pupils eager to pass on their ICT knowledge!  What a team!

To play our games, you need to use an electrical circuit.  Instead of completing the circuit, the  wires at each end connect to our quiz board – one wire to a question and the other wire to the answer.  If the question and answer match, the bulb will light up!  This means that we have completed the circuit!

We can’t wait to show you the finished quiz boards soon and test them out on the P1/2 and P2/3/4 classes!

 

 

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Wind Turbine Challenge!

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As part of our topic work, we have been learning about Renewable and Non Renewable energy sources.  We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of these and which ones would work best in Shetland.

Last week, we worked in teams to design and create a wind turbine using a selection of materials.  The turbine had to turn when  we used a hair dryer on it and it also had to lift a plastic cup!  Lots of things to consider in their designs!

It was lovely to watch everyone interacting and taking turns to contribute.  Everyone showed consideration towards the ideas shared and compromises were made as to what the design would look like and how it would work.

It was important to try little tests now and again, to check if any changes needed to be made.  Some groups found that when the hair dryer was switched on, the blades of their turbine were not strong enough and required further reinforcement.  Some found that there blades were the wrong size or shape and some discovered that they needed to attach their cup differently so that it would lift without getting tangled in the turbine blades.  Lots of learning going on!

We tested all the designs and everyone had the chance to add their thoughts on what they thought had worked well and what could be done to improve their designs further.  I was impressed with how the children were able to make suggestions in a such a positive, caring and considerate way.  Look out world…some future engineers here!

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Animations

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During P6 Bikeability time on Monday afternoons, P4/5 have been busy working in small groups to create their own animations.  The plan was to create an animation to help children in the school learn something that they might find tricky.

Our groups are making animations showing alphabetical order, 3 Times Table, Tricky Words and Telling the Time.

We have a couple of weeks left to tweak our animations and then hopefully we can share them with you!

Some people chose to use words and pictures in their animations…

Some groups chose to use items in the classroom to make their animations…

We can’t wait to see the finished products!

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Having fun together

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Over the past week we have been sharing thoughts on how to stay positive and how we can help other people feel good about themselves.  On Monday, everyone decided on some positive words to paint on to a rock and chose a design to accompany it.  These will be displayed outside the school next term for all to enjoy.

We have also been finding out even more interesting facts about Space and enjoyed looking at some of the PowerPoints that were created during Online Learning.

On Tuesday we visited the frog pond in the nature garden.  It was good fun trying to find the frogs hiding in the heather.  They were very camouflaged!

On Wednesday, we had lots of fun with our literacy Escape Room challenge.  It was very active!  Each team raced to find clues hidden outside and then brought them back indoors to solve as a team. Everyone did really well to take turns and involve every team member in the game.

Just before the next rain shower came, we squeezed in an Easter egg hunt and had fun re-hiding our eggs for someone else to find!

Phew!  What a busy time and still two more days to go! Well done everyone!

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Group Presentations

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P5/6 have spent many weeks researching an area from our Biodiversity topic and have been preparing a PowerPoint presentation to share their learning.  It was wonderful to finally see their presentations this week and give each other feedback as to what we thought went well and what could be done to make it even better.  Each group looked at the importance of plants and how they benefit society in different ways.

Well done P5/6!

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Playtime

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The wet and windy weather hasn’t stopped us from enjoying our new playtime equipment.  The skipping has been very popular and I think it is possibly time to dig out all of those old skipping rhymes for the children to try!

It has been lovely to see the class taking turns, co-operating, negotiating and problem solving in our outdoor play area.  Well done P5/6!

The class like to try and jump over the spinning rope without the rope touching them.
I wonder what’s on the menu today?

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