For the first week of term the new Primary 1 class and their buddies (including primary 5) planned, organised and went on a Teddy bears picnic. Whether the activity  was creating some pretty nifty teddy bear invitations or  baking some teddy bear biscuits all the children involved themselves in the preparation with enthusiasm and passion. On the day the P1’s were escorted round the school grounds by their buddies. Stopping along the way to play some parachute games and be helped around the assault course. Then it was off to have some lunch in the outdoor classroom with sandwiches that had been especially prepared by the P5,6,7’s. Can you think of a more fun way to finish off your first week at school? we cant.

Today we went to Beecraigs country park and tested out our orienteering skills. We split into groups and each one took a turn at navigating using our maps. Along the way we stopped and explored various parts of the forest. We found a tree that we all thought fairies must live in because it was so old and the sun was shining on it in an interesting way. We all split up at this point and found our own tree to sit beside and stayed quiet for five minutes so that we could hear the forest around us. After lunch we came back to the school to make bat boxes. Some of use learned the importance of not hitting our thumbs with the hammer. The bat boxes will eventually be put up onto the school and we hope that this will attract loads of bats to help keep the midgie population down.

Today we started off at Polkemmet country park. To start off with we gathered together and Kenny (our guide) gave everyone maps. We were asked to locate ourselves and then we set off on our way. At regular points Kenny stopped us so we could have the opportunity to use our maps.  During the walk Kenny stopped us to discuss various things that we could use to start a fire. We learned that bark from a silver birch tree was excellent kindling. If we collected sap from an evergreen then this would help the bark burn longer. Once into the forest we were given fact file sheets relating to various trees and we split into groups to try and identify them. At this point it was time for snack so we settled down onto the moss and grass and had a well deserved break. Our next activity was a group challenge where Kenny asked us to make rafts out of twigs and whatever else we could find. We sailed them down the river Almond. Just after lunch Kenny showed us how to light fires using flint and steel and we all had a shot at making our own. We then went for a walk further into the woods and had a challenge at making a den. After evaluating our dens with green for growth and being tickled pink we all agreed that working together was the best way to make a den. Straight after this we had a toasted marshmallow from a fire that Kenny had made. He told us about fire safety in the woods and how to help put a fire out. After this it was time to head home to fill in our diaries and have a good rest for tomorrows fun activities.

This afternoon we were lucky enough to be visited by Generation Science who are part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The children took part in an interactive workshop called Power from the People. They explored electricity; what it is and how it is produced. The class were taken on a journey as Electric Scientists to discover how they could produce electricity from the movements of their bodies.

The class were able to explore the principles of electricity through use of circuits, flowing electrons, magnets and capacitors.  As a final challenge the class  worked in small groups to build their own generator to produce electricity from their own movement.