Category Archives: Maths & Numeracy

Term 4 Celebration Assembly

Today we had our final Celebration Assembly. The Technical Troopers past and present were recognised for their contributions across our whole school community, from supporting teachers to setting up for CEMs, presenting to WL Head Teachers and staff to organising our Digital Award Accrediation. They have worked very hard to embed digital learning across our school and nursery.

We awarded Remarkable, STEM Superstars and Top Scorers for the term. Congratulations to everyone who received an award.

 

 

Congratulations to Cunigar for winning the house cup this term.

Digital learning in P2/1

This week in P2/1 we have been using digital technology to support our learning in maths.

We have been using the netbooks to explore the topmarks website to help us learn about sharing (division).

You can visit the link below and practice your skills at home.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=sharingv2

 

We have also been using programmable toys to help us learn about position and movement. We have been using BeeBots to give and follow directions.

We have also been using the free Beebot app on the Ipads (This is available to download for free from the app store).

Digital Learning Week: Sumdog Contest

P1-7 have been entered to take part in Sumdog’s special Scottish contest to celebrate Education Scotland’s National Digital Learning Week. This runs from 12-18th May and can be played at both home and at school using the Sumdog website or app. All pupils should have their Sumdog log in their homework diary/ book.

The children have to answer 1000 questions and their score is based on accuracy, not speed or winning games. There are also prizes to be won and certificates will be given out at assembly for those children in the top 50 from across Scotland.

Good luck everyone!

Digital Learning Week: Supporting Learning at Home

Sum Dog and Purple Mash are two online resources we have purchased to support learning and teaching in Maths and Language. These resources can be used in school and at home. The PSA have helped us to purchase Purple Mash.

Teachers may set homework using these resources, however if homework has not been set parents can use these resources to support Maths and Language development at home.

Sum Dog

P1-7 have a Sum Dog Reading and Maths account. They can access this account at home by using the log in provided in their homework diary/book.

To access Sum Dog go to: http://www.sumdog.com/

If you have an apple device you can download the Sum Dog app for free.

Purple Mash

P1-7 have a Purple Mash account. They can access this account at home by using the log in provided in their homework diary/book.

To access Purple Mash go to:

https://www.purplemash.com/sch/midcalder-EH53

To find out how to use Purple Mash on your tablet you will find information here: https://www.purplemash.com/#app/documents/purplemash_on_tablets

To find out how to use Purple Mash with iPad apps you will find information here:

https://www.purplemash.com/#app/guides/mashificationguide

 

Information to support parents/ carers: using-ict-to-support-maths-and-language-updated

#digitaldifference

Probability in P5B

Learning Intention: We are learning to talk about how likely something is to happen and can order events on a simple probability scale

  • I can talk about how likely something is to happen using a wide range of vocabulary
  • I can order events on a simple probability scale
  • I can create my own simple probability scale and place events on this

In maths this week, P5B were learning all about probability. We focused on the key vocabulary of the topic, using words such as certain, good chance, even chance, unlikely and impossible to describe different events. We found it more difficult than we thought we would to think of examples that were impossible, although we were pretty sure that none of us would be eaten by a dragon our way home from school!

We had to order given events on a probability scale, as well as adding our own examples. There was lots of rich discussion going on as some of us had very different answers to certain statements based on our likes and dislikes and our lifestyle habits. We also took part in a probability Sumdog challenge. We look forward to learning more about chance and uncertainty, unless we were all eaten by dragons after all!

P7 using multiplication and division strategies

LI: We are learning to choose the most effective multiplication or division strategy for a given calculation.

S.C: I can use a range of strategies

I can say why a strategy is best the calculation.

I can explain my working out.

In P7 we have been going over our strategies that we know in multiplication and division. We all knew a range of strategies and certainly had our favourites. We then looked at different types of questions and which strategy would be most suitable. We learnt that it is always best to try to solve it mentally first. The class favourite is the grid method but for simple calculations like 4 x 26 then it is not the most suitable. For this one we would use strategies like partitioning, doubling and halving or using number facts like 4 x 25 = 100 and then add one more 4.

Fractions in P1

This week P1 have been exploring fractions.

LI  We are learning to recognise half of a shape

SC  I can recognise 2 equal parts of a shape

I can name each equal part as a half

We began by talking about our experiences of sharing things like a piece of fruit or a pizza between two people. The children were very adamant that to be fair each person should have the same amount. This meant that each piece would have to be the same size. We learnt that this is called making equal parts. We looked carefully at different shapes and decided if they showed equal parts or not. When a shape had two equal parts we called each part a half. We practised folding and cutting different shapes into two equal parts. We labelled each part one half or 1/2.

 

LI  We are learning to recognise half of a quantity

SC   I can make 2 equal parts by sharing

I can say how many there are in each half

Next, we wondered if we could half a group of items. We discovered that if we  shared a group of counters equally between two children, each child got the same number of counters, so each child had a half. We practised this a few times altogether, and then we worked with a partner sharing out dinosaurs, cubes, counters and elephants.

Soon, some children began to use their knowledge and understanding of doubles to help them work out half of a number. A great job P1!

 

Term 3 Celebration Assembly

This morning we welcomed parents and friends along to our Celebration Celebration so that pupils could receive their STEM Super Star and Remarkable Reader Awards. We also announced the Top Scorers for each house and a big well done to Almondell who won the House Cup for last term.

Miss Sherlow presented those pupils who came in the top 50 of the West Lothain SumDog Competition with a certificate.

Lewis and Ross, both past pupils from our school who now attend West Calder High shared their achievements with us. They reminded us it was important to achievement academically and in other areas of life, and also to have fund along the way. A big thank you to Lewis and Ross for joining us.