Happy New Year to everyone! We hope you all had a happy holiday together. P3 wanted to start their blog by remembering the fun they had last term.
The P3 children were very lucky to be given the responsibility to lead the enterprise activities with the P4’s. First, they went to work with all of the classes to make the items to be sold at the Christmas Fayre. Elliot said. ‘I felt like a good leader and seeing everyone have fun was really nice.’
Then the children had to take on even more responsibility when they were asked to sell these items at the fayre and help at all the other stalls too. Tutsi was proud to say, ‘I felt like one day I could be a real leader.’ I think you are right Tutsi, it was such a great experience for you all.
Emma- ‘I felt happy to help the school manage it.’ Great job Emma!
Florence- ‘I felt happy, excited and helpful.’ You were all a great help and we really couldn’t have managed it without you!
The Christmas party was a great success. Amelia tells us, ‘I liked when we danced together and played all the different games like Pass the Parcel and Musical Statues.’
Wallace agreed and added, ‘Santa gave us all a book and a candy cane. I liked the book but the candy cane was very tasty!’
We even saw a panto…at school!
Before Christmas the children even got the opportunity to learn sign language. The children were very excited to learn how to sign their names and also a Christmas song. Thank you to Ms Barnes for teaching us!
Numeracy
Last term the children did a lot of work on Measurement with Mrs McGarvey. Isla wanted to say that, ‘When we were using rulers and metre sticks we were measuring the length of different things. We measure length using metres, centimetres and millimetres.’
Maisie wanted to add that we also measure height using the same units of measurement. She really enjoyed, ‘measuring each others height and then sharing this learning with each other.’
Emma also adds that, ‘We measure capacity using litres and millilitres. For fun we had a go at measuring using cups and bottles. We were pouring water in to see how much there was. We learned that even though the container might look a different size it can still hold the same amount of liquid.’
Gabs also wanted to say, ‘We measure weight using kilograms and grammes.’
Cameron enjoyed that the class, ‘were using scales to measure the weight of different things like pencils, glue sticks and even shoes!’
Since we came back from our holiday we have been learning about fractions. The children wanted to say that they have been learning about halves, quarters, wholes and also other equal parts of a whole.
Amelia tells us that there are two parts to a fraction. ‘The bottom number is called the denominator and that tells us how many parts there are altogether. There is also a number at the top and that is called the numerator. That tells us how many parts we are working with.’ Well done Amelia, very well explained!
Emma wanted to mention that, ‘At the start fractions were quite tricky but the more you work with them the easier they get!’ That’s good to know and I think there are plenty of people that would agree with you Emma! Tutsi also wanted to say that she has enjoyed learning about equivalent fractions. She says, ‘It means that sometimes fractions can be equal, like two quarters is the same as one half.’
We also learned a trick for finding out quarter of an amount… Hugo tells us that you, ‘half the number and half it again and that gives you the quarter of the number.’
The class are really enjoying using Sumdog to practise all their numeracy skills. This targets particular areas and reports back to Mrs Gilroy where any difficulties might lie. ‘We have been playing Sumdog on our new iPads. It’s really good and it actually helps alot with my Maths.’ says Jack S.
Jaxyn adds, ‘It’s really fun to play the Maths games and at the end you can see the mistakes you made so you understand where you went wrong.’
Tutsi- ‘Most maths games are difficult but Sumdog is good because you can play at your own level.’
We have sent all the log in details for your child to be able to log in at home too. Normally we wouldn’t encourage screen time but I think on this occasion, and in moderation, it is definitely worthwhile! Please feel free to let us know if you are having any trouble getting on at home.
Literacy
Last term we were learning how to write a piece of Procedure Writing. The children had written sets of instructions for various reasons including writing how to make a ‘Jeely Piece’ inspired by the song the class sung at the retiral assembly for Mrs Gardiner and Mrs Barnes. Wallace tells us that, ‘was really fun because we worked as a team to write a set of instructions for another group and then that group had to follow our instructions. Then they could tell us what we had missed out. The sandwiches we made were really tasty too!’
Writing our instructions for the other groups.
Oskar proudly showing off his jeely piece!
We are now working on how to write a Narrative using the correct features. We are looking forward to reading all those super stories!
This is our first use of an AI tool called Gemini to make a story book based on a story that Elliot had written the plan for called, ‘A Brave Day for Lottie’. The class found this very exciting.
We continue to work hard on our spelling. All the practice the children do at home really helps when it comes to their writing.
Roman tells us, ‘I like to practise all my spelling words using different strategies in my jotter.’
Tutsi adds that, ‘I find it very good that we get to do partner work all the time when we are learning our spelling words because instead of just working alone you have a partner who can help you when you are stuck.’
There are so many aspects to Literacy. Gabs loves, ‘writing my news because you get to write whatever you want.’
Katie likes, ‘handwriting because I like to learn how to join so that I can write quicker.’
Some of the children have been using an application called IDL. Millie thinks, ‘IDL is fun and I think it is helping me with my spelling.’ Great news Millie, well done!
STEM
IDL
Our new IDL topic is ‘Scotland’. We will be focussing on the cities, towns and rivers in Scotland.
Amelia tells us, ‘we made Scotland flags and I really enjoyed feeling all the different textures of the paper and materials.’
Katie wanted to say that, ‘ we made a map of the major cities in Scotland. It was a bit tricky to work out at first but I feel that I know better where they are all now.’
Emma also wanted to add that she has enjoyed making paper thistles, ‘They are our national flower and I think they are great for our environment. It was also really fun to make paper ones.’
FYI P3’s assembly will be about Scotland and will be on Friday 13th March. The children are looking forward to sharing all their learning and having lots of fun too!
PE
Here is a selection of photos of Outdoor and Indoor PE. There are lots of different team games, often chosen by the children and examples of gymnastic movements and skills.
These photos taken when the school had workshops run by a visiting Drama and Dance School recently. The children loved it!
