Category Archives: Learning Stories

Probability in P5B

May 9, 2017 Miss Sherlow Leave a comment

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!

Nursery

Nursery transition visits

May 8, 2017 Mrs Diamond Leave a comment

The nursery children who will be moving to Primary 1 after the summer holidays have started their transition visits. So far they have been to assembly with the whole school and a visit to the P1 classroom. The children were very excited to visit the classroom and joined in with a Primary 1 lesson. The children will have more visits over the next few weeks, as well as meeting their buddies and having an opportunity to try school lunches.

Nursery

The seeds of success

May 8, 2017 Mrs Diamond Leave a comment

The nursery children have been very busy planting seeds. Last week they planted beans and this week the will be planting sunflowers. The children selected their seed, filled a pot with compost and planted the seed. We are encouraging them to water the seed and keep checking for signs of growth. The children will also have the opportunity to get planting in the nursery garden. This work links in with our “Spring” topic.

Maths & Numeracy, Primary 7

P7 using multiplication and division strategies

May 8, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

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.

Maths & Numeracy, Primary 1, Uncategorized

Fractions in P1

May 6, 2017 Mrs Smith Leave a comment

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!

Maths & Numeracy, Primary 3

P3 Solve Problems with a Cheerleader theme?

May 5, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

P3 got together on the 5th of may to solve a problem by Acting Out a Situation and Looking for a Pattern. Ask them how they got on. What did they use to help their group? Did they find all possibilities? What did they find difficult? Did they work systematically?

It was a ‘classic’ problem to solve – The Tower of Hanoi

Events, Primary 3, STEM 2017, Uncategorized

The Primary 3’s had fun at our Brilliant Baby Gym Assembly!

May 5, 2017 Miss Clark Leave a comment

Last Friday Primary 3 presented an assembly all about our Baby Gym Challenge. We had to work really hard when designing, building and selling our baby gyms so we couldn’t wait to share our learning with everyone.

Ignatius: “I was so excited to go on stage and hold up my ‘nose’ picture!”

Lewis C: “When I was doing the Boss Baby Rap I was really nervous but I enjoyed it!”

Carla: “I enjoyed doing the Boss Baby Rap because I got to do some funny dance moves.”

Ben: “At first I didn’t want to be a Boss Baby. But once I had done it I wasn’t so nervous and enjoyed it after all!”

P3 BABY GYM ASSEMBLY

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

Dishing Out Our Digital Knowledge

May 3, 2017 Miss Sherlow Leave a comment

Today, representatives from Eastertoun Primary visited our school to find out some of the ways that we use digital technologies to enhance our learning. Primary 5B showed our guests how we share our achievements on our iAchieve blog, as well as how we have used some of the Glow tools to support and challenge us across the curriculum. We shared how Bring Your Own Device works in Mid Calder, and also gave them a tour of our class Yammer pages, explaining the different ways in which we have used these.

Next, pupils from P6 and P7 who were involved in the process of MCPS becoming a Bring Your Own Device school shared this journey with our visitors. This offered an excellent opportunity for questions to be asked and answered by pupils from both schools. Our guests also popped into Primary 4B who shared their new knowledge of the language of coding with them.

The visit ended with a chat with some of our Technical Troopers who explained some of their roles and responsibilities and how they have helped to support digital learning across the school.

We hope that our guests found their visit valuable and we look forward to hearing how they progress in their own journey using our new collaborative Yammer page.

Learning Letters, Primary 7

P7 Term 4 Learning Letter

April 28, 2017 Miss Burton Leave a comment

Dear Parent/Carer,

Welcome to Term 4 in Primary 7. In this last term the children are looking forward to planning and developing their knowledge and understanding of outdoors within their topic ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’. Exciting and challenging lessons and activities will be completed by the pupils, using the context of our own playground and surrounding areas. If any parents or carers would like to donate their time or materials to help with our topic we would very much appreciate it. We are excited about P7 Leavers’ activities. P7s have also started handing over responsible roles to the P6 pupils.

Dates for up and coming events:

P7 & P6 Topic trip date to be confirmed

9^th May: P7 Parent’s Evening 18^th May: Reading Curriculum Evening

11^th May: Parent’s Sex Education Evening at 5pm. Transition dates for WCHS and JYHS

26^th June: P7 Leavers Assembly 29^th June: P7 Leavers’ Party

Learning Letter P7 Term 4 (3)