Category Archives: Curriculum Areas
P4A’s STEM afternoon
This week, we had the opportunity to set up a number of experiments and activities, that are part of our STEM topic ‘Project Planetarium’. This included designing and building a rocket launcher, which we then tested according to how high the rocket would go from the launcher.We had some help from the parents that came along top our open afternoon.
We created an experiment using a rocket, balloon and string to test the most effective way of forcing the rocket to move. Lastly, we were able to reinforce our knowledge of constellations using marshmallows and toothpicks by carefully following the design of different constellations. Well done Primary 4A and thank you to the parents that came along to see our hard work.
P4b’s Super STEM Challenges!
This week, P4b have taken part in a range of exciting STEM activities that has developed our understanding and knowledge of our solar system. We worked together in our space teams to experiment with a range of materials and used a range maths skills.
We created galaxy jars, marshmallow constellations, balloon rockets and moon craters. On Thursday we were able to share what we had learned with our relatives and parents and the STEM Open Afternoon.
‘It was fun and exciting to teach our parents how to do different experiments’ Daisy
‘I really enjoyed seeing our parents around the classroom’ Megan
P2/3 STEM challenge – to design a bike accessory
P2/3 for their STEM challenge at open day on Wednesday 15th March had to design a bike seat for Mr Tickles or Snuggles.
We learned to:
consider a design brief
take part in a group discussion in our bike teams
draw a design sketch
make a seat from cardboard that had fastenings and would be of an appropriate size
evaluate their designs
Alfie said it was quite hard to make the seat. He thought the cutting and shaping to make it fit was tricky.
Nathan thought it was fun and a little bit hard. It was hard to decide on who had the best design in his group.
Jessica thought it was fun to have the parents and grandparents come into the class to help. She thought her design was fun to make but was not so sure how practical it was.
STEM Sharing the Learning Afternoon
This afternoon we opened our doors to parents, carers and friends to come and explore our STEM interdisciplinary learning. In the different areas we had:
- Nursery: STEM activities
- P1 and P2/1: Building our Nursery
- P3/2: Bike Challenge
- P3: Baby Gym
- P4: Project Planetarium
- P5: Kidnapped: CSI
- P6-7: Cool Chemistry
Visitors had an opportunity to take part in a range of science, technologies, engineering and mathematical activities with their children including chemistry experiments, designing the front of our new nursery, making parts of a bike, trying out toys for our baby gyms, making star constellations, fingerprint analysis and showcasing how we use digital learning.
The Nursery used this opportunity to try out their Go Pro, and Scarlet and Archie recorded the STEM afternoon through their eyes.
Our Technical Troopers also tried out using Microsoft Forms to collect information about out visitors’ experiences. This was a fantastic and instant way to gain feedback. You can complete the form by clicking here if you did not have time to do so during your visit.
Some of our feedback so far has included:
The most popular Science, Technologies or Mathematical skills evident during your visit:
- Creativity
- Observation
- Problem Solving
- Scientific inquiry and investigation
- Discussion
We use a range of ways to involve parents/carers in their children’s learning. The methods you prefer are:
- Newsletter
- Parents Night
- Sending jotters home
- Sharing the Learning Afternoon
At Mid Calder we use digital technologies in a range of ways to enhance learning and teaching experiences. How do you feel the use of digital technologies enhances your child/ children’s learning?
- To enhance learning for the future and modern living. Knowing what is safe and secure online. Learning new things that I may not be able to help with or understand.
- Excellent , as technology is the future and will be used more and more as my child gets older and becomes an adult. I would encourage more use of technology in school and support the use of all types of digital technologies.
- The use of digital learning will enhance their learning experiences and translate to real life.
- I think they find it more engaging and interesting. Technology is everywhere, in leisure and the world of work and it helps to learn about it now. In the case of Sumdog, learning can be continued at home.
- I feel that the digital technology used in the nursery is a great way to help the children’s understanding of how the things in the real world work. Everything is digital now and learning to use these technologies at a young age is beneficial as these can be used in a range of ways. We have a range of different devices in the household and although used more as a treat, I feel that my child knows how things work and can’t believe how quickly things can be picked up.
Thank you to everyone who came along to support the event.
Euroquiz
Last Friday, four pupils from Primary 6 – Aiden, Matilda, Calum and Erin – took part in the West Lothian heat for Euroquiz 2017. This took place at Howden Park Centre. The Scottish European Educational Trust runs an annual Euroquiz for P6 pupils, which sees teams of four working together to broaden their knowledge of Europe. Subjects covered include history, geography, sport, culture, languages and the European Union. Our four did us proud with their knowledge, effort and behaviour. They were a credit to the school and all really enjoyed taking part.
Nursery Number Walks
I can recognise numbers in the environment around me and I can talk about why they are important.
The nursery boys and girls have been learning more about numbers in the environment. At home they worked with their mummy’s and daddy’s to take photos of the numbers they saw at home and why those numbers were important. The children could tell us that buses have different numbers because they go different ways, everyone needs a different phone number and the houses on their street all have different numbers so the postman knows where to go!
The children decided that they wanted to go on a number hunt around the school! They were amazed at how many numbers they found. The children took photos with the ipads and have been trying to recognise the numbers in the photos now they are back in the nursery. Thank you for all your help when we came over to visit your classrooms boys and girls. We really enjoyed it.
Yammer Responsible Use Agreement
As lots of our classes are using Yammer to share their learning, the Technical Troopers created a Responsible Use Agreement to ensure that it is used in an appropriate, relevant and safe way. Kirknewton Primary School had kindly shared their Glow Charter with us to give us ideas about the important statements to include. We decided on the key ways that we need to keep ourselves and our information safe, as well as how we can share our opinions in a kind and mature way.
We then sent our agreement to our Rights Respecting Schools Junior Leadership Team, who linked some of our statements to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. You can find a copy of the agreement here. Each class will review this together, editing it to suit their needs if appropriate. The new copy will then be posted to their own class Yammer page to show that everyone has agreed to the Responsible Use Agreement.
West Lothian Burns Competition
This evening Niamh, Cailin, Zach and their parents went along to St. Kentigern’s Academy to represent our school by reciting their Burns poems at the WL Burns Competition.
A big congratulations to all three pupils for being confident individuals.
Crystal Grotto at Jupiter and the P2/3 response to it!
