At Fair Isle Primary, we enjoy times during the week where we are able to lead our learning and pursue our own interests. We know that learning is also about those skills that we will need for life, such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking and self-motivation. In Term 4, the children all select a topic that we would like to tackle for our “Endeavour” projects (self-directed learning that spans the whole term). This also considers the 4 capacities that are at the heart of the Scottish curriculum.

It has been lovely to see our learners so engaged in what they are doing. We have overcome hurdles and difficulties, thought and worked very creatively and have invited members of the community into school to help us along the way. This is what life in Fair Isle is all about, learning from all our adults and involving them in the life and work of the school.

Here is a flavour of what we have been up along with some descriptions of our projects.

P6 – Fair Isle and Fishing
This includes going out at the weekend on a fishing boat to learn those skills associated with catching, gutting and cooking fish. This is building towards a tasting menu for others to try in school (already a mini-version of this has taken place with seaweed crisps and limpets). During some sessions in school, a very creative “fish mobile” has been crafted and made too.

P3 – Hercules Plane Model
This has included some excellent problem solving as this learner is making his very own model Hercules plane. Design and technology skills have been at the forefront of this particular project with the fuselage, wings, engines all being drawn according to a scale with some fantastic sanding and collaboration with a community member (Neil) with an interest in model planes.

P1 – Fashion
Our youngest primary learner loves all things fashion and really wants to learn sewing and making skills with a final aim of creating her very own dress. This is a fabulously creative project with lots of drawing and conceptual tasks before the making process has begun. For this, we naturally had to call upon a community member (Anne) who has a wealth of experience with both knitting and dressmaking.