Category Archives: Technologies

Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 5, STEM 2016, Technologies

Mission 5 ready for lift off…

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Learning Intention:

We are learning how to design a space craft of the future.

We are learning how to use a range of materials to create a space craft of the future.

Success Criteria:

I can work as part of a team to create a labelled design of a space craft of the future

I can work as part of a team to create a model of a space craft of the future

 A successful model will:

  • Show an awareness of scale
  • Be well constructed using a variety of materials
  • Use appropriate colours

 

Mission 5 landed in Primary 5 last week, and we are happy to announce that it is ready for launch. We were challenged to design and create a space craft of the future. We began by watching two videos to help us to understand more about space crafts and how they operate.

A History of Space Shuttles

How Rockets Work

After a little research, we discussed the idea of scale and technological developments and how we could incorporate these into our designs. We decided to draw our designs out on whiteboards before beginning our final diagram so that we could experiment and be creative.

When we were happy with our final sketches, we transferred this onto our design briefs, labeling each component and their function.

Next, we got to work on building our space crafts using recycled materials. We presented our finished products to the class, justifying our choices and explaining how we constructed our rockets.

Who knows, maybe one of our designs could end up being used by NASA! Watch this space…

 

Anytime Anywhere Learning, Community, Events, Maths & Numeracy, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7, Sciences, STEM 2016, Technologies

STEM Open Morning

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This  morning, MCPS opened its doors to parents, carers and friends in order for pupils to exhibit their learning through our STEM (Sciences, Technologies, Engineering ad Mathematics) contexts for learning. This included:

P1: The Garden

P2-3: The Great Deserted Island

P4-5: Project Planetarium

P6-7: CSI

Our guests spent time in their children’s classes taking part in a wide range of activities including; designing space crafts of the future, information sessions, demonstrations, Science investigations and lots more.

We also used this time to ask parents for their input into our Curriculum Rationale, the the results of which will be shared soon.

Thank you to everyone who came along to support the event.

Anytime Anywhere Learning, Expressive Arts, Primary 5, Sciences, STEM 2016, Technologies

3..2..1.. Mission 4 accomplished!

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We are learning to research and report on scientific news items

A successful report will include:

  • Mission name
  • Date it happened
  • Information about the significant event
  • Country responsible
  • Duration- 1 minute

This week, Primary 5 received Mission 4 as part of their IDL context, Project Planetarium. We were challenged to work in our home teams to research two significant space missions from throughout history. We then worked as a class to put together a timeline of space exploration in our very own documentary, A History of Space Travel.

To prepare, each home team had to select an envelope containing two space missions they were to research, along with some QR codes which linked to useful websites they could use. We also had a set of useful links posted on our Yammer page and could use our own or the schools devices to access these.

Most teams decided to share the work between them, researching a different mission each and then sharing their findings with each other. Next, we began to rehearse our news reports, utilising the skills we have been developing in drama, and, finally, we filmed them. So fasten your seat belts and prepare for lift off as we blast you into the past on a journey through space travel…

English & Literacy, Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 2, Sciences, Technologies

The Great Deserted Island STEM Challenge Two

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LI. We are learning to develop our knowledge of measurement, forces and scientific processes to solve a problem.

SC. We can plan, design and build a bridge that will hold weight.

SC. We will test and discuss what happened, what worked and what we would do differently next time.

This week P2 have been helping  Sir Harley Houndstooth III  survive on the deserted island by constructing a bridge to help him cross a lagoon. First we chunked the challenge and thought about how we were going to help Sir Harley. We decided to build bridges to help him cross the lagoon. Next we drew bridge designs and we used these designs to help us build a bridge using lolly pop sticks, string and cello tape. We all worked well in our teams and were able to able some of the team work targets that we had set in challenge one. We then tested our bridges by seeing how long they would be able stay up with one rubber on them spanning a 25cm gap between two tables and without falling down. We are all really enjoying our IDL context and are looking forward to the next challenge.

Anytime Anywhere Learning, Primary 5, Primary 7, Technical Troopers, Technologies

BYOD Glow Meet

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To celebrate Digital Learning Week, today some of our Technical Troopers took part in a Glow Meet with Williamston Primary School to share our progress with Bring Your Own Device so far. Both schools shared how they have been using BYOD to enhance teaching and learning, and it certainly inspired our thinking and gave us some great ideas about what we could do next. Some of the pupils in Williamston have been using online tools to create their own profile pictures for their Yammer accounts, which has inspired P5 in Mid Calder to do the same.

Thank you to the pupils who gave up some of their lunch time to share some of the great examples of learning through digital technologies happening in both schools.

Anytime Anywhere Learning, Maths & Numeracy, Primary 5, Sciences, STEM 2016, Technologies, Uncategorized

Anytime, Anywhere Learning: Socrative

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Yesterday, Primary 5 used Socrative to demonstrate our learning about space and our Solar System. We completed a ‘Space Race’ which involved us being put into teams and racing to answer 25 questions all about what we have been learning about through our IDL context, Project Planetarium. We were able to track our progress on the SMART Board, which definitely encouraged us to be quick and accurate with our answers.

Today we expanded our use of Socrative, using it to demonstrate our knowledge of fractions during a mental maths warm up. We had to answer a range of different styles of questions including multiple choice and true or false. We’re looking forward to exploring other ways we can use Socrative in our classroom.

Anytime Anywhere Learning, English & Literacy, Sciences, STEM 2016, Technologies, Uncategorized

Mission 4: Astronaut Adventures

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Mission 4 arrives at project Project Planetarium this week and it was all about Space Missions!

Part 1:

We used Twig on Glow videos to investigate how the news reported Neil Armstrong landing on the moon compared to Tim Peake at the International Space Station. We recognised that videos have changed over the years, for example videos now are clearer, coloured pictures, sharper images and have zoom. We also noticed how Tim Peake used Social Media to share his adventures in space via Twitter and a Video Log, this is something they could not do during Neil Armstrong’s mission.

Part 2:

Each Home Team are currently researching 2 space missions each. We made notes under the following headings:

  • Name of the Mission
  • Date of the mission
  • Important information about the mission

We skimmed and scanned a selection of websites and books to find out the relevant information. We had to use key words to research using different search engines. We used Yammer to make a list of useful child friendly websites that we could use – this was so we could help each other. We will use this information to make a timeline of missions.

Part 3:

We have been learning about the job of a astronaut. We used books, videos and websites to discuss:

  • The role of an astronaut
  • The experience you need
  • The skills/ qualities you need

We found out that you need to have a qualification in Science or Technologies, and that is was useful to have a knowledge of different languages. We will use the information we found out to write a job advert for an Astronaut.

We also have been trying to build our own spacecraft – watch this space!

After School Clubs, Anytime Anywhere Learning, Health & Wellbeing, Primary 5, Sciences, Technologies

Orienteering Club

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For the last 4 weeks, the orienteering after school club have been having great fun learning all about the different knowledge and skills needed for orienteering. This week, we brought all of these skills together to take part in a space themed orienteering challenge using QR codes to help us. We split into teams and, by using our growing map reading skills, we navigated our way around the school to locate 10 different markers. At each marker, we had to answer a space quiz question by scanning a QR code and using the URL link to find the correct answer. When reflecting on the challenge, we thought we had used our listening, memory, sharing and teamwork skills. We also had to use our sense of direction, as well as our ICT skills.