Tag Archives: Outdoor learning

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

The Voar Redd Up

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On Thursday 26th of April our school did the Voar Redd Up. Our school was nominated by a few people in the community to do the clean up. We also had to collect certain stuff that was on a sheet sent to us such as plastic bottles, mussel pegs, plastic rope and more. It was really nice that lots of the parents got involved. And we were very lucky as it was a really nice day outside. We found lots of interesting things. There were a lot of big pieces of cod boxes that had been broken up and washed up. Ruby and Tryphena were also collecting mermaid purses if anyone had found any. Someone also found a gas pump from Total.

You could definitely tell a big difference to the beach after it had been cleaned up, and I think everyone had done a really good job and  helped out a lot.

By Cerys P7

The beach before we arrived to clean it:

Hard at work

We were surprised just how quickly the skip for plastic filled up!

On our way back to school after a job well done.

The results of our labour- a much cleaner beach- but there is still more to be done.

Below the Hill during WWII

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On Thursday 27th September, Neil Cruickshank came to talk to P6/7 about the development of Sumburgh Airport and the surrounding area during WWII. It was an excellent presentation by Neil, full of interesting and surprising information, supported by a fascinating collection of wartime photographs. The children were surprised to learn that Sumburgh Airport began life as Sumburgh Links and that the first planes landed straight onto the grass.

We learnt that Shetland was of great strategic importance during WWII and that in November 1939 3 Gloster Gladiator fighters (Faith, Hope and Charity) were sent to Sumburgh to defend Shetland and the Fair Isle Channel. Sumburgh became a R.A.F. station and work began on building tarmac runways. There were many interesting visitors to the aerodrome including Beaufort fighters, Spitfires and  a De Havilland Mosquito which landed here on its way back from a raid on the Gestapo Headquarters in Oslo.

Neil told us many sad accounts of wartime crashes in and around Shetland including three Canadians who lost their lives when their damaged Bristol Blenheim reconnaissance plane crashed-landed at Grunay in the Out Skerries (20th March 1944).

After morning break we all set off by bus, accompanied by Mrs Leslie, to see some of the wartime remains still visible today on and around Scholland.

We saw remains of the huge line of ‘tank traps’ which were part of the first line of defence.

Above right is all that remains of an anti-aircraft gun post.

The Virkie school (above left) was used a a hospital during the war and local children had to use the previous school which was built in 1800s.

The Virkie  school in WWII is now used as a store. We tried to imagine what it was like back in the 1940s and the children who went there.

We walked up the old army road alongside what was Goat Camp  which housed soldiers and airmen during the war- there was even a barber, chemist and post office there.

We had a super time seeing lots of interesting things left behind from WWII, including the floor tiles in Dr Aitchison’s house-all that is left of his house which was demolished because it was in the flight path of the newly built runway.

A highlight for many was seeing one of the last machine-gun turrets remaining in Britain, which used to rotate 360 degrees, and now lies rusting in a field.

All of us in P6/7 would like to say a huge thank you to Mr Cruickskank and Mrs Leslie for an excellent morning. We all learnt a great deal about World War II in the Sumburgh area.

 

 

The New Primary 7 experience their first John Muir Challenge

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The sun was shining, the sea was calm, which all  helped to make Primary 7’s first John Muir Day a huge success.  Everyone returned to school full of exciting  recounts about their canoeing adventure. There was a great sense of achievement within the class at over-coming fears and pushing their own boundaries.  A huge thank you to  all who enabled this trip to take place; John and Jill who lead the day, Mrs Leslie, John and Vaila who accompanied the pupils (even the grown-ups had a super time).

As Molly said on her return, “Can we just go back to the start of the day and do it all again?”

Everyone getting their buoyancy aids on .

Bertie ready to go.

People were taking photographs of us as we paddled

alongside the cruise ship Hebridean Sky.

A highlight was exploring inside a cave.

A well deserved rest.

We really enjoyed being able to jump into the sea.

We had to stand up and balance on the canoe.

Everyone agreed that it was the best day ever.

Lauryn said, “It was a new experience and I’d definitely do it again. It made me realise I can do things even when I think I can’t.”

Carys thought it was great fun and particularly enjoyed going in the cave.

“It was really great fun. It made me think positively,” said Zara.

Niamh was fascinated to see jellyfish in the cave.

Bertie commented, “Even though I was a bit stressed to begin with, overall it was a fun experience.”

Ciaran thought the whole day was great fun.

Michael said, “It was an amazing day and I hope to do it again.”

 

 

 

 

 

On the way back- everyone tired but extremely happy!

Loch Insh day 4

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Yesterday we were kayaking, canoeing, archery, problem solving and had a disco in the evening. What a fantastic end to the trip.

Logan has most enjoyed everything!

Reece especially enjoyed the canoeing

Luke loved the archery , problem solving and everything else.

Calum has enjoyed all of it too.

Kyle loved mountain biking and kayaking.

Ben loved the archery

Ms Scanlan loved the way that all the P7s were up for everything and put 100% into the week.