Category Archives: Curriculum Areas

Community, Events, Expressive Arts, Primary 5

The Lion King Junior

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What a week for Primary 4 and Primary 5! On Tuesday evening, Wednesday afternoon and Thursday night, the children put on the show of a lifetime for their parents, carers, friends, family members and invited guests, and each time the audience was blown away by their talent. They showed true determination, dedication and enthusiasm throughout the 8 weeks of rehearsals and pulled everything together for three incredible shows to demonstrate their amazing skills. A huge well done to all of the cast and backstage crew for putting on a phenomenal production.

A big thank you to Linda Matthews who took photographs of our Tuesday night performance, and to Eddie Anderson who filmed our Thursday evening show. You can see the photographs that Eddie took here: https://en-gb.facebook.com/westlothiancouncil/

A DVD copy of the show will be given to each family before the end of term.

Primary 1, Primary 2, Sciences

Electricity in P2/1

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Learning Intention:

  • We are learning to identify objects that use electricity from the mains electricity or alternative sources (batteries, solar panels etc.).
  • We are learning to describe an electric circuit as a continuous loop of conducting materials.

Success Criteria:

  • I can talk about the importance of electricity in our daily lives and identify different sources of electricity (wind turbine, solar panels and hydroelectric dam).
  • I can suggest objects that use mains electricity or batteries.
  • I can build a simple electric circuit including a battery, wires, bulb, buzzer and a switch.
  • I can draw a simple circuit diagram using the correct symbols.

Last week, P2/1 started learning about electricity in science. First of all we discussed different sources of electricity, such as wind turbines, solar panels and hydroelectric dams. Then we used skipping ropes to help us role play the journey of electricity to our homes in order to help electrical objects work, such as a hair dryer, television and lamp. Finally we made and decorated our own wind turbine to add to our electricity learning wall.


This week, we had to use our problem solving skills to make a simple electric circuit in a group without the help of an adult. We then discussed our findings and we discovered that the circuit had to be complete in order for the electricity to flow through the wires to make the light bulb glow! We also explored the use of a buzzer and a switch in our circuits and shared our findings with the rest of the class.

In addition to building our circuits this week, we also learned about the symbols for the different parts of our electric circuit and we were able to use this knowledge to draw a circuit diagram on a whiteboard.

We enjoyed using the UK Power Network website to research and find out about electricity (http://powerup.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powerup/en/under-11/).

 

Events, Expressive Arts, Fundraising, Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 5

The Lion King JR Dress Rehearsal

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We are learning to perform on a stage
– I can show awareness of space and audience
– I can listen for musical and vocal cues
– I can project my voice using appriate pace, tone and expression
– I can move on and off the stage appropriately and safely

We are learning about the different backstage roles
Lighting and sound- I am aware of how the equipment works and know my musical and vocal cues
Props and scenery- I am aware of what is needed on stage for each scene and know my musical and vocal cues

This term, Primary 4 and 5 have been working extremely hard to prepare for their upcoming performances of The Lion King Jr. We have been learning all about the different roles that are need to prepare for a production like this, and each member has been contributing enthusiastically to their role. On Friday, we showcased everything we have been working towards to the school in our first dress rehearsal, which was a huge success. We received lots of positive feedback from our peers and staff and know our next steps for our final rehearsals. We Just Can’t Wait to deliver our three shows next week now!

To raise money for our show, we also held an animal dress up day for the whole school and raised £113.18.

A huge thank you to all who donated!

Primary 7, Sciences

P7 trip to the botanics

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P7s went on an excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. Their IDL topic has been ‘How does our garden grow?’ with a focus on plants. One of the outcomes they have been working towards is:

Through carrying out practical activities and investigations, I can show how plants have benefited society. SCN 2-02b.

At the Royal Botanics the groups each got a workshop with Ginger who worked on developing their understanding of how important plants are to the world and how almost everything we eat or use can be traced back to plants. We also got to explore the beautiful grounds. We may have had a very wet day, with some thunder too, but we didn’t let that spoil the experience.

Primary 7, Technologies

P7 Skype with West Calder High School

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On Wednesday the P7 pupils going to West Calder High School had a Skype session with S1 pupils. They had prepared questions that they wanted to ask. During the session the P7 pupils took turns to ask their questions and S1 pupils answered them. It was great to hear about life at the school from the pupils. The Head Teacher and Head of Year also came to have a quick chat. Skype was a great way to talk to the high school and ask our questions without having to travel all the way there.

Achievements, Community, Events, Health & Wellbeing, JRSOs, Uncategorized

MIDCALDER PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPIL RECOGNISED IN GLOBAL ROAD SAFETY WEEK COMPETITION

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Kaylie Preston, a pupil at Mid Calder Primary School has been awarded runner up position in a Scottish Junior Road Safety Officer (JRSO) competition.
 
To support Global Road Safety Week 2017, hundreds of children throughout Scotland entered the competition to design a poster to highlight the dangers of speeding.
 
Now in its fourth year, the United Nations Global Road Safety Week runs from 8 to 14 May and seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding through its #SlowDown campaign.
 
Pupils from JRSO participating primary schools were encouraged to get imaginative and enter the competition through their own choice of media.
 
A total of 616 pupils from 37 primary schools entered with a range of impressive and informative poster designs, including traditional hand drawn entrees to digitally created designs as well as some accompanied by a selfie.
 
Pupil Kaylie Preston impressed the judging panel with her excellent road safety poster design that carried the messaging: ‘#NoSpeeding.’

The overall first prize went to five year old Isra Ahmed, a primary 1 pupil at Milton Primary School, South Lanarkshire, with her creative design that kept it simple yet impactful with the message: ‘Read the sign, take your time.’
 
Michael McDonnell, director of Road Safety Scotland, said: “The enthusiasm of young people and schools across the country never ceases to amaze me, and the quality of the submissions shows great imagination. 
 
“Hopefully, the underlying reasons for the competition and Global Road Safety Week will be brought home to the children and strike a chord with their teachers and parents. The road environment can be dangerous and inappropriate speed choice is a major factor in the type of injuries vulnerable people can suffer.
 
“JRSOs do a fantastic job of promoting road safety messages in their schools and it’s encouraging to see so many schools getting involved and putting Scotland on the global road safety map. A massive thank you and well done to all those involved.”
 
A further 26 runners up and 77 commendations were awarded to pupils from schools in Aberdeenshire, East Dunbartonshire, Midlothian, Moray, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, and West Dunbartonshire.
 
All schools who entered received a participation certificate.
 
For further information or to view the competition entrees, visit: http://jrsocompetition.com/competition-gallery-2017