Category Archives: A1

Learning Outdoors

May 3, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

ASD1 are looking at a variety of Scottish Habitats this term and this will mean lots of Outdoor Learning.
We started by exploring our school grounds to find out what wild plant life and animal life we could spot there and what evidence we could gather.
We spotted things we expected to see, like the jackdaws that we regularly feed, but we also spotted an oystercatcher in the playground.

We also looked for mini-beasts in our sensory garden, lifting logs and plant pots to see what we could find and photographing them. Do you know what these are?

We brought these things back into our classroom to look at in more detail and to start an entry in our Nature Journals.

On Wednesday 3rd May we focused on the different types of mini-beasts that we could find. We searched on plants, in the soil, under bark, logs and leaves and various plant pots, as well as the container and eaves of the outdoor classroom. This time we collected various mini-beasts in bug spotters and recorded them on our spotting sheet.

We then carried our discoveries into the outdoor classroom where we finished recording our data, before we looked at each mini-beast up close using the bug spotters. The two creepiest were definitely the leatherjacket and the big spider! However we all liked the little ladybird.

It was such a lovely day it was nice just to relax in the outdoor classroom after we had let all our creatures back into their habitat.

A1, Whole School

Sampling Victorian School Subjects

March 10, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

Pupils from ASD1 have been trying their hand at sewing. One of the subjects taught in Victorian Schools was sewing and often children made samplers to show off their skill.
We planned our samplers using dotty paper to make sure our lines were straight and all decided to use our full name (or nickname) plus the year as our sampler. We also chose the colours we wanted to use and chose thread that was a close match. This activity went really well as you can see.

Then came the practical part. It took us two sessions to transfer the design onto hessian (in a frame) and then sew over our design with blunt, large-eyed needles. Some pupils needed a little help with their work but others were able to follow the lines and sew independently – see for yourself! Our finished samplers will be stretched and framed.

A1, Whole School

World Book Day

March 3, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

In the run up to World Book Day ASD1 have been looking at the story of “Alice in Wonderland”. This book was written in Victorian times, which fits in beautifully with our IDL context. This week we have used ICT to research the book and its author, made a Mad Hatter style hat and coloured in characters from the book for our door display.

On Friday we joined a “Where’s Wally?” search with Miss Cleland and other pupils from various classes before coming back to class to make sandwiches, complete some Alice themed activity sheets and decorated cup cakes all ready for our Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
This was fun! We put on our hats (or ears) and then enjoyed all the food we had made – there wasn’t any to take home!

Victorian experiences.

January 26, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

After researching the equipment that was used to care for our clothes in the Victorian Age, ASD1 had a go at doing the wash the Victorian way.

First of all we hung out a washing line in the playground. We then filled a basin with hot water (luckily we had a hot tap and didn’t have to heat up our water on the stove). We had a washboard and bar of soap which we all tried out, but found that those stubborn stains were still there! (No fancy washing powder either!) It was hard to wring out the wet clothes before we used old fashioned “dolly” pegs to hang them up.

Our next Victorian experience involved imagining what it would be like to have no shoes to wear – this was a fact of life for many Victorian children. Then we took off our shoes and tried walking on some different surfaces in school, including sensory stepping stones with very different surfaces on them. We agreed that it was fine on all the smooth surfaces inside the building, however it felt very different on the freezing, metal fire escape – that was so cold!

We all put our shoes back on to walk to the sensory garden where pupils were invited to try to walk on some of the surfaces in their bare feet, but only if they wanted. Everyone had a go, some even trying to walk on our stony path (ouch!) but the grass was so frosty it even felt too cold to walk bare foot for long.
The verdict? We think we prefer to have our shoes and socks on outside!

Only Connect…

January 22, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

It’s that time in a new term when we have to think about a new topic and how to introduce it.

This time ASD1 did not have a mystery box, but a Wonder Bag with six things in it. Firstly these were to be felt in the bag (not looked at) and for the pupil doing the feeling to guess what it might be. Then we looked at the object, described it and then tried to think what connection it might have to our yet unnamed context for learning.

Item number 1
This was described as soft, squishy, white, round, a cylinder and we use it in our house.
Item number 2
This was smooth, hard, cold, metal and made a great pop-up sound. We also use this in the house.
Item number 3
Smooth, hard, it has buttons, phone home, dial 999 it’s an emergency….
Another thing we use at home, but what is the connection?
Item number 4
Pirates use this! It is round, I can see you! We don’t really use this at home and we still couldn’t see a connection.
Item number 5
Smooth, cold, funny shape, metal, glass, don’t break it! It’s another household object.
Item number 6
This was tiny, paper, sticky, square, not square, it’s Christmas! Although we agreed that it’s something people use this was not the connection.

We talked about how each of these things looked very different when Miss Carson was young and even more different when her Grandparents were young. Were these things invented long ago? Now we were getting there! With a choice of the 2000s, 1900s or 1800s the pupils agreed that these things might have been invented in the 1800s – which was correct. Did you know that all of our objects were first invented in the Victorian Age?

Over most of this term ASD1 are going to look at what life was like for a child in the Victorian age and what differences and similarities there might be between then and now.

Just think when you use any of these items that they were invented in the time of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901)!

A1, A2, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7

It’s a MYSTERY!

January 11, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

It’s been an interesting few days for ASD1. At the Assembly on Friday 6th January we were given a mystery box and told we were not allowed to open it. Miss Carson had to carry it with her at break and lunchtime and we had to LOOK, THINK and WONDER about the box.

We were able to see that the box was tall and narrow, it didn’t weigh much and something moved inside when we held it. We thought it might be a soft toy or sand or a few other things. We wrote down everything we thought about what was inside.

Finally, the moment arrived and we opened our box today (Wednesday 11th January) to find a very funny umbrella. It is made of wood and paper. We will be doing some activities about our umbrella over the next few days but the first things we wanted to do was dress up as the person who owns it.

Who do you think we are?

A1, A2, Hopefield Nursery Class, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, Whole School

Sports Day 2016

August 29, 2016 Mr Riding Leave a comment

Firstly all the staff would like to say a massive thank you to all the parents and carers that managed to make it along to support their children. I’m sure you will agree that great fun was had by all and you were as relieved as us with the weather staying dry for the whole event.

A1, A2

A chilly, Hilly adventure

May 2, 2016 User deactivated Leave a comment

On Thursday 28th April, six pupils from our ASD resource classes and five staff members made their way by car and packed minibus up into the hills behind Kirknewton to stay the night at Hilly Cow Wigwams and complete a day of outdoor learning.

We left the minibus behind and headed off on foot, led by Forestry Commission Ranger Jim, across fields filled with sheep and lambs to Selm Muir Wood.

Jim showed us a variety of tree and plants, including how useful a willow tree is, and taught us how to tell the difference between pine and spruce needles. We also gathered some twigs and birch bark (which is good kindling) to make a campfire and when it was burning we boiled water for hot drinks and toasted marshmallows. We also had to take shelter under a big tarpaulin as it started to snow and some of the group were feeling the cold, so the hot drinks were very welcome!

When we got back up to Hilly Cow wigwams we had time to unpack our stuff into the wigwams before making some glass coasters in the big barn with Nancy. After that we had some free time in the playpark before pizza and oven chips for dinner – yum!

There was more free time for games and stories before bedtime and soon we were all snuggled up in our cosy wigwams.

We woke up to a different view of the world because it had snowed heavily overnight! This didn’t stop Miss Carson and two pupils from getting dressed and heading out to build a snowman before breakfast!

After we had packed up, we had a quick tour of the farm to meet some of the animals. We especially liked the new lambs and calf. We headed back to Kirknewton to Potter Around, where we all decorated our own mug before heading back to school.

We had a great time and it was a great adventure!

A1, A2, P3

Exciting and busy times ahead.

December 10, 2015 User deactivated Leave a comment

Pupils from ASD1, ASD2 and P2/3/4 are having a busy time practising for their part in our Christmas Concert, Craft, cake and Coffee afternoon on Monday 14th December at 1 p.m. I hope you have a note in your diary!

Before that, our little “Glee Club” will be getting videoed by West Lothian Council, for inclusion on their Facebook page, and will be performing some of our Christmas songs. I’ll post when that is likely to happen after we have been recorded.

When Monday is over there still won’t be any rest as the 3 classes are leading the Christmas Assembly next Friday (18th December) at 10 a.m. in Blackburn and Seafield Parish Church. Hope you can make it along to support us – Merry Christmas!