All posts by Miss Sherlow

Touching tales of tsunami survivors

We are learning to write an interview with a survivor of a tsunami.

Success Criteria:
I can use features specific to interviews including:
-an introduction to set the scene of the interview
-the name of the person speaking on the left, followed by a colon
-relevant and appropriate questions and responses
-a new line for each speaker
-adjectives to describe the feelings and emotions of the survivor
I can use question marks correctly

This week, our IDL lessons have focused on the natural disaster, tsunamis. We learned all about the key features of a tsunami including how it is caused and how it can affect the land and population. We then used our own and the school devices to research the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, collating and sharing our notes on our P5B class OneNote. We demonstrated our developing skills of writing in our own words and using bullet points to organise our notes, as well as learning how to insert a picture into our section of the OneNote.

Now knowing about the devastation that the Boxing Day tsunami caused, we watched an interview with one of the survivors that the film ‘The Impossible’ was based on. We learned all about her terrifying experience then looked at other examples of interviews, learning about the layout and important punctuation that we had to include. We used all of this knowledge to write our own interviews with a survivor of a tsunami.

When we were finished, we presented our interviews to an audience using our drama skills of expression, volume, pace and tone to portray appropriate feelings and emotions of the survivors.

Tales of disaster in Primary 5

Yesterday, Primary 5 had two very special visitors who came to share their experiences of natural disasters as part of our IDL context for learning. Ellie shared her experience of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that followed in Japan, telling us all about what she went through personally, what devastating effects both disasters had, and how the people affected worked together to rebuild their lives and their cities. She also told us about a memorial in Ishinomaki which has the words, ‘Ganbarou! Ishinomaki.’ We learned that this was a message of hope at a time when the people of Japan didn’t have any.

Mrs Findlay also shared her story of an earthquake she encountered in Rhodes while on holiday with her family. She told us how people had to react quickly despite being completely unprepared, as well giving us some advice about what to do to try and stay safe in an earthquake. She also shared how each of her family members reacted to the shock of the event. Both visitors shared very different experiences, but both were caused by the same extremely dangerous and highly unpredictable natural disaster.

A big thank you to both of our visitors for sharing their experiences. It was invaluble for us to hear first hand about how terrifying these disasters can be, and how much damage they can cause.

Bring Your Own Device Update

This week, the Technical Troopers met to discuss the use of Bring Your Own Device in MCPS to find out what is going well and what can still be improved. As we are still in the trial phrase of Bring Your Own Device, we have decided to allow children in P5-7 who have a signed BYOD contract to use their own device during Free Time Friday. The Technical Troopers brainstormed the benefits and possible problems that could occur with this, and also discussed the possible consequence of the contract being broken during Free Time Friday.

We decided that all of the details outlined in our Responsible Use contract will still stand. This will be reviewed regularly to ensure that our pupils, staff and devices remain safe. You can see a copy of our Responsible Use contract here. If you would like your child to engage with Bring Your Own Device, copies of the contract can be obtained from the class teachers in P5-7.

In addition to this, and following on from our taster session from Google at the end of last term, we have recently purchased a set of 10 Virtual Reality headsets. These can be used with most smart phones using the ‘Expeditions’ app. Google Expeditions takes children on virtual trips all over the world, allowing them get up close with historical landmarks, dive underwater with sharks and even visit outer space! This is an exciting new use of Bring Your Own Device that we are looking forward to exploring.

Horrible Hurricane Histories in P5B

We are learning to research a significant natural disaster from throughout history.

Success Criteria:
I can identify reliable websites and understand when a website is trying to influence me
I can organise my notes under appropriate headings
I can summarise my findings using my own words
I can use my notes to contribute to a class OneNote

As part of our IDL context, Natural Disasters, this week Primary 5B have been learning all about hurricanes, tornadoes and cyclones. First of all, we learned that the main difference between these weather phenomenons is the location where the storm is formed. Next, we used our own and the school devices to research a well known hurricane in pairs, taking notes on our findings.

We also used our findings to contribute to a class OneNote, where we had to input the cost of damage caused by our hurricane, and the number of lives lost in the disaster. We then used the data handling skills we have been learning in our maths lessons to transfer this information into a pie chart and a bar chart using Purple Mash. We posted our charts onto our Natural Disasters Yammer page.

We then brought all of this information together to write a newspaper article about our hurricane. We imagined that the disaster had just happened and we had been given the job to tell the world about it.


What a whirlwind of a week for P5B!

Winter Ready Homework: Pure dead braw poems for P5!

It is that time of year again where we celebrate one of Scotland’s greats, Robert Burns, at our annual Burns Assembly on January 20th 2017. Please find the two Scots poems for Primary 5 to choose from for this year’s competition. Each child must learn as much of the poem as possible, and we will hold our own in class judging to select the two representatives to perform at the assembly. P4-7 will also then have the opportunity to be chosen to recite their poem and represent Mid Calder at the West Lothian Schools Burns Festival. Good luck and remember to gie it laldy!

Scots poems- P5 2017

To demonstrate that you are winter ready and can access our school blog, please comment below with the poem you have chosen to recite to celebrate Burns this year.

 

Celebration Assembly- Term 2

Today we held our second Celebration Assembly to recognise the successes and achievements of children from across the school. We began with a welcome from Mr Povey, then shared the winners of our STEM Superstars and Remarkable Readers awards, as well as our top scorers and winning House- Calderwood. We also celebrated BB Bonkers’ success following their Dragons’ Den win yesterday.

A big well done to all of our award winners!

Dragons’ Den

Today groups from Primary 4 and 5 presented their persuasive pitches as part of a Dragons’ Den challenge linked to their topic of George’s Marvellous Medicine. They were judged by a panel of experienced Dragons including Mrs Pendry, an expert in setting up cooperative businesses, and Mrs Ross, a representative from Enterprising Schools. The standard of pitches was extremely high and all of the teams did a fantastic job in selling George’s medicine to the judges.

A huge well done to Lewis, Lexie and Ben who made up the winning team, BB Bonkers, and a big thank you to our Dragons- Mrs Ross, Mrs Pendry, Mrs McKenzie and Fraser. Thank you also to Miss Burton for setting us such a great challenge, one that we really enjoyed taking part in.

 

Google Virtual Reality Expedition

Today, P5-7 had a very exciting visit from Google Virtual Reality experts who took us on amazing 3D journeys using the Google Expeditions app. As reading is a whole school focus this session, our experience was centred around the life and works of Roald Dahl. We used our Virtual Reality glasses to explore the film set of Fantastic Mr Fox, the place where he used to write some of his books, his old classroom and the crash sight of the plane accident he was involved in. The buzz and excitement about using this technology was electric, and we’re looking forward to using Bring Your Own Device to explore its possibilities in the new year.

P5 Christmas Party

“Tis the season to be jolly…” and Primary 5 were certainly feeling jolly today when they celebrated at the P5 Christmas Party.

We kicked off the party with a game of Christmas themed Corners followed by a very impressive game of Musical Statues that Miss Sherlow and Mrs Redmond found extremely difficult to judge because everyone was so good! Next, we played an energetic game of Musical Arms. After that, we stopped for a bite to eat in to replenish our energy, then got back to party mode with another game of Musical Arms. We then took part in a P5 Mannequin Challenge. We finished our party by showing off our dance moves in the Primary 5 Dance Off. Everyone had a fantastic afternoon :) Merry Christmas Primary 5!