Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is an initiative offered across all West Lothian schools to give children the opportunity to safely use their own devices in school.
At all times, children will also have access to school devices such as netbooks and iPads, this is an opt in programme.
Please watch the video below that the children have made. If you would like your child to take part, please read and complete the contract with them. This will start on 19th October. 2021.
This week we have been extending our skills, knowledge and understanding through exploration, investigation and play in STEM.
In Orkney, Mull and Shetland we have been learning about toys whizzing faster or slower down a ramp, depending on the angle of the ramp and the force applied by little hands. We have lots of great photos to show us learning through play and collaborating with others in our gallery. I wonder if you could explore: ‘how does the surface of a ramp (whether it is rough, shiny, smooth or bumpy) change the speed or distance a toy travels?’ at home. You could give it a go with a car, train, bus, lorry, any mode of transport which takes your fancy or even see if this movement changes if the toy doesn’t have moving wheels. We can’t wait to see how you get on!
In Bramble and Bluebell we put on imaginary wellies and headed off to the beach to extend our learning about under the sea to explore food chains at the seaside. We learned new vocabulary such a predator, prey and tides. We applied this new knowledge through imaginative play and games outdoors and had such fun doing this! We also took time to sort different types of animal and plant we would find at the seaside and learned a bit more about carnivores and herbivores at the shoreline. If you want to extend your learning you could click here to find out more about rockpools. We can’t wait to hear about your research next week, in Calderwood!
In Ness we were imaginary intrepid explorers in the Amazon Rainforest this week. Last week we managed to conceal ourselves well enough to go unnoticed on the Amazon Rainforest’s floor; as we lay in hiding we watched Capybaras grazing, Caimans lurking in the water nearby and Goliath Tarantulas hiding in their burrows until nightfall. This week we fashioned camouflage from cocoa tree leaves and, when satisfied with our disguises, steeled ourselves to venture out of our hiding spot into the Understorey. Our first encounter was with a Praying Mantis, hunting prey with deadly precision. We had a few too many close calls with a jaguar so decided to make a speedy getaway into the Canopy Layer ready to explore further in Calderwood, next week!
In Rannoch we donned our imaginary rock pooling gear and waterproof jackets (to make sure we didn’t get splashed in the spray zone!) to explore the intertidal zone. We clambered to high ground as tide rushed in and the wave action caused conditions like a washing machine and as the tide rushed out we watched as crabs burrowed into soft sand and hid in small holes in the rocks. Through this imaginary exploration we were able to understand the specialist adaptions afforded to animals and plants which reside in this extreme environment. We used this newly-acquired understanding to put our sorting skills to the test – deciding which animals and plants would live in the high, mid and low tide zones. At home could you explore the types of food webs and chains which can be found in these environments and share all your great ideas with your adults in school next week, in Calderwood!
In Tay we built bridges to round off our amazing research into types of bridge and bridges in the world around us. You can find some great shots of us with our bridges in the gallery. We have had great fun exploring shapes which make a bridge stronger and the sorts of problems civil engineers need to overcome to build structurally sound bridges. We think the smiles on our faces definitely show how proud we were when applying our research!
In Ben Lomond and Ben Lawers we explored the concept of Algorithms. We learned that algorithms are sets of precise instructions used with digital technology. We then extended our understanding, and put our coding skills to the test, by creating our own written algorithms for different tasks. We had great fun acting out these instructions to check how precise they really were. You could explore this further at home by using free online coding games – we can’t wait to see how you get on next week, in Calderwood!
It’s been lovely to welcome the children and parents of Shetland Clan to Calderwood Primary this week. I am so proud of how wonderfully the children have settled into life at school. They have worked hard to learn our daily routines, started to build strong, positive relationships with other Clan members and Champions, found their bearings in a new building and increased their independence with a variety of tasks as the week has progressed.
We have played lots of team games, had Clan discussions and enjoyed engaging in a range of play contexts to help us get to know each other better. Shetland Clan loved using their problem solving skills at the construction zone, developing their fine motor skills at the Funky Fingers station, displaying their creativity through imaginative play and exploring the sand and water trays.
We also had our very first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) session with Miss Christie. We explored the story of an adventurous mouse and made our very own rocket mice. We had to use our STEM brains to decide which bottles we could use to shoot our rockets into space. We had so much fun!
We’re looking forward to more learning adventures next week!
Have a lovely weekend.
Miss Greig
It has been a busy week for all of our new P1 pupils in Mull Clan. This week we have had a big focus on:
All of our pupils have worked hard to find their way around our school building, how to access the toilets and playground with increasing independence. We have had to look after all of our belongings, remembering to put our things safely in our bags (we will keep on working on this!). Many of our pupils have also had to learn how to order their lunch and manage the routines in the dinner hall; we now know where we need to sit and our collect cutlery and drinks.
Mull Clan have played lots of team games that have helped us; learn about each other, follow rules; listen carefully to instructions and most importantly have fun!
In our classroom we have tried hard to build up new friendships through our play zones. We have enjoyed lots of construction, imaginative role play, exploration of sand, problem solving with puzzles and time to explore our fine motor skills with writing and drawing opportunities.
We even had a visit from Miss Christie who helped us investigate STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) where we explored the story of an adventurous mouse
and made our very own rocket mice using our STEM brains to decide which bottle we could use to shoot our rockets to space.
It has been wonderful to see everyone’s confidence grow in such a short space of time.
Have a lovely weekend.
Mrs Robertson
A huge welcome to Primary 1! We have had a very special and exciting week in the Orkney Clan. It was our first ever week of school and the first ever week of Calderwood Primary! It has been amazing seeing everybody come together for the first time.
The children have settled in beautifully into their new environment and routines. They have made new friends and enjoyed getting to know each other. They have also been developing their imaginations and experiencing the world around them through play.
Orkney Clan loved learning about STEM with Miss Christie, they were discovering how they could make a rocket fly by using a plastic bottle. After learning about the rockets, some of the children have even tried to make their own in the construction area. They also enjoyed developing their movement skills for PE with Miss Miller.
I have been so impressed by the children’s curiosity, excitement to explore and enthusiasm. It is fair to say Primary 1 have had a fantastic week and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again next week for some new learning and adventures.
Have a lovely weekend,
Miss Cunningham
We have had a very exciting first week at Calderwood!
Our P5&6’s have enjoyed getting to know each other, taking part in challenges, games and getting to know you activities.
By far, our favourite (and messiest) task was making towers from spaghetti and marshmallows! Well done to Team “Wyvern Wolves” who won by making the tallest tower! Everyone worked well to communicate, problem solve, try our best & of course, have lots of fun.
We’ve also been outside playing lots of games with new friends.
It’s been lovely for Miss Watt & Mrs Clarkson for meet all of our new pupils and we are looking forward to seeing you all next week for some new adventures!
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