Please scan the QR codes or follow the links below to access our Learning Across the Curriculum and STEM SWAY for term 1.
Learning across the Curriculum:
https://sway.office.com/1DXjD22RI8pAkILY?ref=Link
STEM:
https://sway.office.com/mhnCmHRFrRWi62QA?ref=Link
In Primary 3, we have been learning all about the incredible creatures that live in our oceans through our IDL, Save Our Seas. Unfortunately, we have also been learning that, sadly, these creature’s lives are under serious threat from pollution, especially plastic pollution. To spread the message and help the staff and children at Mid Calder Primary School to become #oceanheroes, we created an informative video to encourage everyone to play their part in stopping the oceans from drowning in plastic.
We then asked each class to make a Promise to Our Planet: a promise of something that they can do to help to Save Our Seas. These promises were then added to a sculpture of a sea turtle that Primary 3 had made using plastic bottles that we had collected from our lunch hall.
If we don’t stop plastic pollution, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050. Can you help to reduce plastic use in Mid Calder Primary? We would like every child to bring a reusable water bottle to school, avoiding bringing a new plastic bottle each day. We would also like you to be considerate of using recyclable products in packed lunch boxes. These are small and easy steps that we can take towards stopping single-use plastic in Mid Calder. Together, we can Save Our Seas.
The P5s, Mr Renshaw, Miss Brolls and four parent helpers went to the Scottish National Modern Art Galleries (MOD1 and MOD2) off Belford Road in Edinburgh on the 13th of September to take part in an Art Workshop and a tour around our national collections of modern art and enamelled and bejewelled works by the artist Raqib Shaw.
We split into two groups with Art Educators Poppy and Heather
and headed
outdoors to explore the sculptures and question, “What is Art?” We went onto the Charles Jencks’ landform, looked at Reclining Figure by Henry Moore and touched Conversation with Magic Stones by Barbara Hepworth.
The childrens’ responses were fascinating. What interested them was very different and they recorded their focus of interest with our i-pads. They then selected from these and used Pic-collage and Book Creator apps to make photo-journals of the day.
Then we took part in using our imaginations and making sculptures ranging from wind turbines, a fox linked to a carving in the artscape, faces within faces, castles, and other ideas based on conversations, digital images or their imaginations. It was fantastic to see them so immersed in the creative task that some children didn’t want to leave to go for a sneak tour at the Emil Nolde colourful paintings exhibition.
Lunch was outside amongst the artworks and a temporary art playground where you are encouraged to touch the works. The Sun Gods were kind and we enjoyed our picnics on the benches.
Then it was inside to see the Tesco Bank Competition winners to give us inspiration for next year and a look at the incredibly detailed artworks by Raqib Shaw. Utterly mesmerising but don’t just take my word for it. Ask your child what inspired them the most from the day and what was their favourite artwork and why.
Most of the two modern a
rt galleries are free and you are welcome to picnic in the Resource Room there or outside on the picnic benches. They invite you to Walk, Talk, Move and Make. See nationalgalleries.org. or sign up for their newsletter at nationalgalleries.org/ebulletin. They are always looking for volunteers!
Other outdoor family fun ideas at RSPB.org.uk/families.
Perhaps you would have chosen another winner. Can you explain why?
Why do some artworks shine for you? 
Today, Primary 6 and 7 had a great opportunity to hear from some experts working in STEM careers. Michael from Jacobs engineering and Daniel and Rob from GE Power spoke to the pupils all about their jobs and backgrounds in STEM. Also, pupils took part in two activities to put into practice some of the concepts they had been learning about. Daniel and Rob demonstrated how to create circuits using a battery pack, led lights and play doh! Michael led a session in creating bridges using everyday materials such as paper, blu tack and sellotape.
Many thanks to our visitors and well done to P6 and P7 for enthusiastically taking part in the workshops.
Despite a slight Scottish drizzle yesterday morning, P1-3 took to the field and gave it their all in a fantastic Sports Day. There were a range of activities on offer including football shoot out, welly throwing, obstacle races, hurdles, sack races and lots more. A big thank you to Mark, our Enjoyaball specialist, for organising such a successful and enjoyable Sports Day and thank you to all the parents and families who came along to support the event. Thank you to the PSA for providing ice poles as a refreshment, which we enjoyed despite the wet weather.
A big congratulations to Cunigar who were the overall winners!
On Wednesday this week Primary 5A and Primary 5C took advantage of the beautiful weather to go outside get involved in a brand new type of physical activity.
Emme from P5A was the latest pupil from her class to offer a Masterclass in a skill she has been learning. This week it was Kuksool – a traditional Korean martial art. Emme began by organising everyone into groups and teaching us a warm-up game. She then showed us a series of warm-up moves and chants to go along with them. We then practised a variety of techniques to take our partners to the ground (safely!). Everyone participated very well and got involved. Miss Anderson and Mrs Campbell were particularly impressed by Emme’s organisational skills and her ability to hold the attention of more than 40 children on the field – not an easy task! Very well done, Emme
We had a brilliant session and are looking forward to the next time someone is able to come into school and share their skills with us – watch this space…
Enjoy the sunshine this weekend
Mrs Campbell and Miss Anderson
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