Tag Archives: Outdoor learning

RSPB Birdwatch

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On Friday 1st February, Glen Tyler came to school to help us with our RSPB birdwatch. He took everyone out in small groups and we used the binoculars that Hugh Harrop and Ness Engineering have bought us.

We saw lots of starlings, house sparrows, a hooded crow, 2 herring gulls and a blackbird. The birds have enjoyed the seeds that we’ve been putting outside in all this cold weather.

On Monday 4th February our P6s (expert birdwatchers!) paired up with the Nursery bairns to help them complete their birdwatch.

Isaac “It was good fun and the nursery listened well.”

Cole “We helped the nursery go through all the bushes, so that they didn’t get hurt and it was good fun.”

Robert “It was really fun and they were so cute.”

Mirrin “It was really good and I was surprised at how well they listened and how many birds they knew.”

Our first John Muir Day

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On Friday the 5 October the primary 7s went on our first John  Muir trip to Fladdabister. Pete Richerson came and met us at school , he gave us waterproofs , helments and backpacks. We got the equipment and went out to the mini bus, when we got to  Fladdabister, we have got our waterproofs, and backpacks on.

We set off heading North with partners and arrived at a square of stones, John  came to meet us.  Next Pete told us to get a different partner and follow him around the loch with a bit of distance between each pair. After a long walk we made it to the Fladdabister mills and sat down to have our snack,it was very nice and peaceful.

After snack we walk down the stream on our own with a bit of distance between us, we had to listen to the sound of the stream. When we got to Pete we got our helmets out our bags and put them on Pete made sure that they fitted. John did the rock climbing and stream jumping with us, we started easy and then got harder.we got down to a pebble bit at the bottom of the stream we had our lunch and left our backpacks behind when we went rock climbing. We climbed over lots of rocks and ended up in a massive cave where water was dripping off the edge and it looked incredible! We stayed at the cave for a little while and listened to all the lovely noises around us.  After that we went back, collected our bags and started walking back. We walked up a massive hill but after a little while we had a rest and there was a rainbow, Pete told us a story about a rainbow and after he told us the story we kept walking and got back to the mini bus and went back to school.

We all loved the day, it was fantastic thanks to Pete for taking us and we are all really looking forwards to the next John Muir Day!

By Ruby and Katie

 

Staycation-Geocashing in and around Spiggie

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On Monday the 11th of June, the four P7s went Geocashing at Spiggie beach. We had a lot of fun doing the Geocashing. Once we found the box, we took an item from the box and put an item back. Then we went on the big Spiggie beach and we all climbed a sand hill. Then AJ surfed down the sand hill and Zara, Lauryn and Bertie came down the hill too. Finally, we went back to school.

I really enjoyed skimming stones and climbing the sand hills. It was great and fun I think everyone else enjoyed it too.  – Lauryn

I had the most fun in a very long time, and would be really keen to do it again sometime soon. – Bertie

I really enjoyed the day. -AJ

Loch Insh Day 3

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Still fine weather as I write but there is rain and wind forecast later – doesn’t matter here as the bairns are soaking wet half the time anyway!

Today the groups have cycling, archery/problem solving and sailing or sailing, cycling and raft building.

I am so impressed by the bairns so far.  They are all up for the challenges and really doing themselves, the schools and their families proud.

There are a few tired faces – mainly staff!

 

Loch Insh Trip – Day 1

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Wow! What a busy day.

We were all up at 6 for breakfast on the boat. The bairns all did ever so well again, being polite and well behaved. They all left their cabins ship shape!

We left Aberdeen at 7.30. A lot of excited chatter from all the bairns on the bus. We stopped at Tesco in Huntley for a snack and then set off for Landmark.

We arrived at 11am. The bairns really enjoyed exploring the park and challenged themselves to try the activities.  They were all very independent and responsible.  A lot of supporting and encouraging each other.

We set off for Loch Insh and arrived at 4pm.  We had dinner at 4.30 and then had a short while to unpack before having our briefing talk.

The first activity was called ‘Wayfind’ and it was exactly that. Teams of 4 used map reading skills to solve clues. This all helped the bairns find their way around the site.

Supper and phone time followed at 9. Lots of the bairns were asking to go to bed! They have had a very busy day and were all tired! No wonder.

They are all asleep now and I’m looking forward to our first full day in Loch Insh. It is absolutely beautiful here. I’m sure we will have an excellent day tomorrow. I only ask for a little more wind to blow the midges away!

 

John Muir Day at Kergord

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On Monday 4th June the P7s went to Kergord and we took a mini-bus. It was a 40-45 minute drive. When we got there Pete Richards told us what to do and we walked into the woods. John took us on an obstacle course around the trees.Then we went in a broken-down house and had our snacks.

After we got split up into 2 groups to build dens. I was in a group with Molly, Michaela, Lauren and Bertie.

Our den was okay but the other group’s was better. Then we went back to the house to have lunch and John got a fire going and told us about John Muir. Later we went into the middle of the forest and played a game similar to Hide and Seek. Overall it was an amazing day and I would love to do it all again.  (by Declan)

I really enjoyed going to Kergord to do our John Muir day. It was really fun going round and up the trees. I would love to do it again. (Fearghas)

I really enjoyed Kergord because it challenged me to do different things and have fun in the woods.  we did flips over logs and walked on logs over burns and we made dens out of twigs we found.  it was just overall a great day. (Carys)

Yesterday we went to Kergord Woods, I was really scared because I hadn’t brought any of the essentials. Luckily it was a very gentle activity. When we got there we were told to smell the grass and the soil, then we went for a trek around the forest, across the stream, bridges and up trees. Then we arrived in a small den which was absolutely FILLED with midges. We had a snack then we were told to find a good spot and build a shelter out of nothing but wood and then we had a pretty woodland home. After lunch John hosted 5 games of Hide and Seek, but with a slight twist to it. Then it was time to go back on the minibus and be driven back to school. Overall I really enjoyed the experience and would quite like to go again sometime. (By Bertie)

When we got there we walked up a small hill to get to the woods. First we all lay down on the grass and we had to smell it. John said it made him feel calm and he liked the smell……. After lunch we built dens and played a game called ‘The World’s Best Game’. I really enjoyed it and would do it again. (Eve)

Yesterday we went to Kergord on a John Muir Day. We did an obstacle course, climbed trees and later on Pete told us a story. We built dens and played a game of Hide and Seek- it was really fun and I hope to do it again.  (Michaela)

…….Once we had lunch we played a game like Hide and Seek and then we headed back to the mini-bus to go back to school. It was a really fun day and I would definitely want to go back again. (Emily)

,,,,,,,We went to Kergord forest and it was great. We climbed trees and there were some logs over a burn and we had to walk over them. There was an old broken building that we went to. We had our lunch and snack there and John lit a small fire and Pete told us a story. We also built shelters and played a really fun game. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next John Muir trip. (Lauryn)

I had a really fun time at Kergord with Mrs Leslie, John and Pete. First they gave us a backpack, a water-proof jacket and some water-proof leggings……

…….Then we played the best game in the world where someone was in the middle and everyone else had 30 seconds to run away and hide. The person in the middle had to stay where they were and see if they could spot anyone. If they couldn’t then the time would get less and less down to five seconds and the closest one to the middle person wins. Then we ate a clover and it tasted like a green apple. (Molly)

When we arrived we got out of the mini-buses and got told to face-plant the grass and smell the soil and grass. We got to climb up trees and walk across big logs………

……. Then we had lunch and Pete told us a story called The Cat’s Whiskers. After lunch we played a version of Hide and Seek. (Zara)

Tree Planting in the School Grounds

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We had a super time helping to plant new trees and cuttings in and around the school.

The weather was brilliant and we even had Sid, the cat, helping us in our work.

We were split into two groups, with one group planting willow cuttings in a wet corner of the nature garden. Luckily, because of the wet soil, it was quite easy to push the willows down into the ground, although we did have a spade and fork if needed.

The other group worked with John to plant a variety of trees outside the Primary 1/2 classroom and Music Room.

As this was a much drier area we had to use a hose to soak the ground and give the newly planted trees a drink.

We will have to put in temporary shelter fencing to protect the new trees over the autumn and winter.

We really hope the new trees and cuttings take hold and grow as well as those we planted in previous years.

A fun time was had by all. We even had time, later on, to sketch some of the established trees and enjoy reading our books surrounded by our growing ‘forest’.

 

P7’s trip to Michael’s Wood

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On the 10th of May  P7 went to Michael’s Wood for the day to help maintain it and clean it up. We had to go on the bus to get there. When we got there we got sorted into jobs.

Learning how to protect new trees.

Some people cleaned up moss and some people were painting wooden posts. Molly painted a a little toy house and Ayla and Emily painted an arch, Emily had to go on Ayla’s back to reach the top of it. Before they started painting Molly, Ayla and Emily swept up and cleaned inside the little toy house and the poly tunnel.

Some people were going round with wheelbarrows and picking up sticks that were on the path and other people were planting trees.

Some people were going round with wheelbarrows and picking up sticks that were on the path and other people were planting trees.

We stopped to have snack, we had it in the poly tunnel and it was warmer than it was outside in there.

We helped to plant new trees.

Ally clearing away moss.

Molly painting the arch.

Emily required help from Ayla to reach the high parts!

We worked again after snack then stopped to have lunch. We were allowed to have it were ever we wanted, some people had it at the teddy bears picnic but some people had it on the swings. After lunch we got to play, some people played hide and seek and some people played with the children’s toys. we finished our jobs and then we had lunch . After lunch we played whole class hide and seek in the woods. It was a really good day and everyone enjoyed it.

By Niamh, Ally and Fearghas