Category Archives: Social Skills

Listening and Talking, literacy, maths, numeracy, Social Skills

Sorting Data

June 4, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

The children have been learning about tally marks and this has really helped improve their ability to count in 5’s.

The primary one’s collected flowers sticks and stones and created this pictograph together outside.

The children have loved carrying out surveys and asking each other questions.

The primary ones practiced sorting objects using different criteria. It could be by colour, shape or size.

They worked really well with a partner discussing how they were going to sort the objects and taking turns at different stations.

Art and Craft, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, Science, Social Skills, STEM

Colour in Nature

May 28, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

As part of our On Our Doorstep IDL we went to explre the areas nearby the school and find different colours of plants.

The children were vary careful and only picked what they needed to work in their IDL groups to create Colour in Nature pictures. They talked about and named different types of flowers and plants they found.

The results were beautiful…….and fun!

Art and Craft, Expressive Arts, Listening and Talking, Science, Social Skills

Dandelion Art

May 23, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

The children went out and looked at dandelions in the nature garden. They saw them at different stages of their lifecycles.

They looked at the dandelions using magnifying glasses to see the different parts and especially the little seeds. They watched the seeds float and fly around and learned about wind dispersal and self seeding.

They created these wonderful pieces using cut paper and paint.

Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, maths, Social Skills, STEM

Compass Bearings

May 14, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

As part of our IDL about ‘On Our Doorstep’ the children practiced using a compass and looking for different landmarks in different directions.

They worked in their groups of four to complete the task and had great fun.

There was time left before heading back to school so they had a giant whole school game of ‘Octopus’ at the Strom Pitch.

maths, Social Skills

Weighing in class

May 5, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

The children have been learning about weighing recently. They worked in pairs to compare objects and then use non-standard units to weigh items from around the classroom.

The primary 2’s then moved on to learn about kg and 1/2 kg and had great fun trying to estimate each others weights.

Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, literacy, maths, Social Skills

Hills and Parks

April 29, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

As part of our IDL topic this term the children have been out and about again………

Today the children set off up the hill to explore and appreciate the amazing views which are just ‘On Our Doorstep’.

Once at the top they found ‘First Base’ and then they went into their mixed groups to complete their task. They had to find all the markers with letters on them and put them together to solve a puzzle.

It was great to see the children helping each other and working in their groups. There was time for a little rest at the ‘second base’ before heading back to school.

Going down the hill was much easier than going up.

Last Monday the children all went over to Strom Park. This time in their groups they used some sports equipment to practise some activities for Sports Day.

in their groups they had to decide what activities to practise and set it up themselves. It was amazing to see the inclusion of all pupils of mixed ages.

Listening and Talking, Science, Social Skills

Sowing Wildflowers

April 28, 2024 Mrs Forsyth 1 Comment

At the end of last term the children sowed wildflower seeds into pots. These have been looked after in the polycrub and were now ready to be transplanted outdoors in the wildlife garden.

Every child in the school helped to sow seeds and many of them helped to plant them out amongst the trees in the afternoon.

Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, Science, Social Skills, STEM, technology

Outdoor Learning with Loose Parts

April 28, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

Great teamwork from the children working together to create a ‘hot tub’ which became a ‘chocolate flavoured hot tub’ with the addition of some mud!

The children had a snack area and enjoyed sitting together outdoors in the sunshine.

Lots of engineering going on to make the water flow around bends and pour into different containers. Also using the water as a force to push objects down the pipes and figuring out how to make the water flow faster and slower.

Children’s imaginations are wonderful….these vehicles were taking them all over the world and beyond!

And there is always time to do a bit of climbing amongst the trees. The children learn how to do this safely and are really good at helping each other.

Art and Craft, Expressive Arts, Listening and Talking, Science, Social Skills, STEM

Lifecycles

April 20, 2024 Mrs Forsyth 1 Comment

As part of our ‘Changes’ IDL learning the children loved the activities around lifecycles and metamorphosis. It all started with a visit to our school pond when we spotted several frogs.

The children worked in groups to create a 3D collage of a pond showing the different stages fo the lifecycle of a frog. it was lovely to see them collaborating and supporting each other with this.

The final ponds looked fantastic……..

As part of their learning about lifecycles they discussed the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. It was so much fun learning this through drama.

These are the eggs!

Out of the eggs hatch the little caterpillars

The chrysalis/cocoon/pupa hangs while the caterpillar transforms inside.

The butterflies emerge from the cocoons, dry their wings and fly away.

Then they lay eggs!

Art and Craft, Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, Science, Social Skills, STEM

On Our Doorstep

April 20, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

The children are learning about what is ‘On Our Doorstep’ this term so every Monday we are heading out to explore.

Our first trip out was down to Taing beach.

During each trip out the children have a little challenge or activity to do in mixed age groups of four pupils. For this first visit the children had to collect 10 shells each and work together to create a design.

it was great to see the pupils of different ages working together on this task.

Listening and Talking, literacy, maths, Social Skills, STEM

measuring length

April 20, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

The children have been having fun learning about length. The Primary 1’s created these flowers and talked about longer, shorter, taller, tallest, smaller etc. Lots of great discussions and vocabulary used.

They used their ‘magic sticks’ to compare the size of objects outdoors.

All the children used different body parts to measure objects eg. ‘heel to toe’ steps, and handspans. They loved doing this and got good at estimating their answers before actually measuring to check.

The Primary 2’s used different units to measure objects in the classroom and outdoors. They then went on to learn about metres and half metres.

They worked in pairs to create a snake which was exactly 1 metre long.

The primary 1’s showed their buddies how to measure objects using their sticks and the p7’s recorded the answers.

They have had fun using the playdough to make long and short worms.

Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, literacy, maths, Sciences, Social Skills, STEM, technology

Go Furt Fridays

April 20, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

Go Furt means get outdoors………It was a chilly 3 or 4 degrees on Friday morning but the children were still keen to get outside to build shelters and play together.

We will be heading out every Friday to make the most of our wonderful outdoor space at Whiteness. There is a shed full of loose parts which the children use to develop so many important skills including problem solving, cooperation, teamwork, etc.

It is fantastic seeing them having so much fun together and there imaginations are just the best!

Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, literacy, Social Skills

World Book Day

March 15, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

It was great to see the children dressed up as all different characters or wearing their pyjamas to school last week.

It was also wonderful to see how enthusiastic they were about stories and books.

During Buddying time they got to share some of their favourite books with their buddies and draw some favourite characters together.

Art and Craft, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, literacy, Social Skills

Changes In Me

March 5, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

There have been visits from local babies Daniel, Kit and Orla this year so it has been great to chat about how the children have changed since they were babies.

They love playing with the babies in the role play area of the classroom and are very good at looking after them.

It was great fun to chat about and compare all the things they can do now that they couldn’t when they were babies.

Thy have also been learning about the different parts of their bodies and about how they will continue to grow and change as they get older.

Art and Craft, Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, maths, Science, Social Skills, STEM

Kites STEM Challenge

March 5, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

The children worked in pairs to create a kite using a variety of materials. Lots of skills were being developed through this activity – for example collaboration, co-operation, problem solving, listening etc.

The wind was blowing so it was great to go and test the kites. The children soon found out that in order to fly the kites well they had to work together.

Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, Science, Social Skills

Polycrub Preparations

March 5, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

The children were excited to get back out to the polycrub and have a think about what they are going to be planting this year. The raised beds are all ready and the water butts are full.

Art and Craft, Expressive Arts, Listening and Talking, literacy, Social Skills

The Wind and the Sun

February 22, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

As part of our topic the children listened to the fable about the Wind and the Sun. They acted out the different parts of the story.

The lady got so hot she had to take her jacket off.

The primary ones made books sequencing the story.

The primary 2’s wrote the story, remembering all the different parts. Below are two examples of the p2’s writing. They all did so well.

Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Listening and Talking, Social Skills

Drumming with Joy

February 20, 2024 Mrs Forsyth Leave a comment

This term the children are enjoying African Drumming lessons with Joy. Lots of concentration and confidence building going on in these classes.

As well as drumming the children learn about the drums and where they come from. There is also time for lots of games, dancing and singing during the lessons.