Category Archives: Learning Stories

Curriculum Areas, English & Literacy, Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 1, Primary 2, Reading IDL 2016

P2/1 Plan their New Topic

November 4, 2016 User deactivated Leave a comment

LI: We are learning to share our ideas to plan our learning

SC: I can share what I already know and what I would like to learn about a subject or stimulus.

SC: I can contribute ideas and suggestions about the types of resources and learning experiences I would like.

This week P2/1 have been planning their new topic, based on the fiction book Cops and Robbers by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. They took turns to choose an object or image from the ‘talking tub’, and discussed what they already knew about each object. For example, Rose told us that her dad is a police officer and even brought in his handcuffs and an old fashioned truncheon. She explained how and when these might be used by police officers. Sharing their prior learning helped them to sort and link each object on a 3D mind map. The children recorded some of their thoughts on strips of paper, and placed these where they thought was appropriate on the 3D mind map. We discovered some very interesting things from and about each other!

The children then discussed and decided lots of different things they would like to learn more about, and how they would like to learn them. They added black pen drawings of their ideas to the 3D mind map too. As well as exploring the story and its characters and plot in more detail, they decided that they would like to learn more about the work of police officers and how they help to look after us. They agreed how they would like their small world and role play areas to be set up, and also decided some other resources they would like to find or make. For example, they would like the role play area to be set up as a police station, with a desk, telephone, maps and wanted posters, police hats and uniforms and handcuffs.

Everyone is excited to get started!

Maths & Numeracy, Primary 5, Supporting homework

Tabletastic in P5B

November 4, 2016 Miss Sherlow Leave a comment

We are learning to recall our times tables quickly and accurately.

I can recite and recall the multiples and table facts of all tables
I can use a range of strategies to help me work out a fact if I cannot instantly remember it

This term, Primary 5B have been recapping our times tables facts. We have explored a variety of key vocabulary linked to multiplication including groups of, lots of, times and multiplied by. We have used our bodies to create human arrays and groups to represent a range of multiplication facts.

We also create arrays using materials we found outside, as well as using chalk to create different pictorial and numerical representations of our table facts. We have been practicing our times tables through our Maths Facts of the Day.

Stations:

Teaching station- We have been learning about the links between different tables e.g. the 4 times table is just double the 2 times table, and that 6 x 4 is the same as 4 x 6. We have also been exploring the link between multiplication and division.

ICT station- Sumdog Multiplication Challenge

Game group- playing Multiplication Bingo and a variety of games to develop our quick recall.

Supporting at home:

Security in the recall of multiplication and division facts is vital for future learning in maths. Here are a few ways you can support your child’s recall of the table facts at home:

Tables puzzle– Ask your child to write out one of the times-tables in order, without the answers, and then cut out each question to create a puzzle. On the back of each question, e.g. 4 × 8, they write the answer, e.g. 32. You can then use the puzzle cards to test their knowledge of the answers to table facts or of the question that produces a particular answer.

Quick Fire Questions- At any spare moment throughout the day, ask your child a mixture of times tables questions with a focus on the times tables that they do not feel confident with.

Sumdog– an additional challenge named ‘TIMES TABLES CHALLENGE’ has been added that specifically focuses on table facts. 15 minutes on Sumdog every day would be an excellent and fun way to learn times tables.

Health & Wellbeing, Nursery

Hallowe’en fun in the nursery

November 4, 2016 Mrs Diamond Leave a comment

The nursery children had lots of fun for Hallowe’en. They were dressed up and took part in some spooky activities including dooking for apples, floating and sinking pumpkins in the water tray and some pumpkin art. Snack was chocolate spider cakes with crunchy legs and satsumas with pumpkin faces

Events, Health & Wellbeing, House Meetings, House Meetings, House Points, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7

Linhouse PJ Party!

November 2, 2016 Miss Burton Leave a comment

Congratulations to Linhouse who won the House Cup in Term 1.

The pupils and staff of Linhouse joined together for a PJ party today organised by Jamie and Freya. The party included corners, games, dancing and lots of yummy food. A big well done to the house captain, vice captain and all the Primary 7s who helped to organise and run the party.

Well done Linhouse!

Events, Nursery

Spooky Visitors!

October 31, 2016 Miss Burton Leave a comment

Today we had some spooky visitors from the Nursery visit the school office and P5-7.

Health & Wellbeing, Primary 7

Young Talk Telegraph

October 31, 2016 Miss Burton Leave a comment

Below you will find a copy of the Young Talk Telegraph which features our P7 Magical Mediators.

Young Talk Telegraph

Events, Fundraising, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7, PSA

Halloween Discos

October 31, 2016 Miss Burton Leave a comment

In Thursday evening the PSA organised our annual Halloween Discos. A big thank you to everyone who supported this event and to the parents and staff who helped out on the night.

English & Literacy, Events, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3

Authors Live

October 28, 2016 Miss Burton Leave a comment

Primary 1 – 3 logged in the BBC and Scottish Book Trust Authors Live event today with the author Tracey Corderoy and illustrator Steven Lenton from the Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam books. We even had the opportunity to draw our very own Slippery Sam’s and we got very excited when they mentioned Mid Calder Primary live at the event.

This is part of our whole school focus on reading.

You can watch the event again by clicking here.

Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 1, Primary 2

P2/1 Almondell and Calderwood Country Park Trip

October 26, 2016 User deactivated 5 Comments

Yesterday Primary 2/1 went to Almondell and Calderwood Country Park to discover if it would make a suitable home for Buddy Bear. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to apply and extend our learning about living things.

In the morning, we worked in groups to build shelters out of natural materials collected in the woodlands. On the way we looked for lots of things which Buddy Bear could use to survive, including examples of food and water. Some Primary 2 pupils also spotted parts of woodland food chains, like a caterpillar munching on a leaf. After lunch, the children also had the opportunity to play together the play park. The Rangers then led us on a nature trail, where we collected and compared different shapes of leaves, spotted a bat box and mole hills, and learned all about squirrels.

Here’s what some of the children had to say about what they learned:

“I learned to build shelters. You have to have a tree that’s got branches on it. You put sticks on the branch and make it into a triangle and then you put leaves on it. Then you have to test it out.” Grace

“My favourie part was when we were trying to catch leaves falling out of the tree.” Emily

“We learned about squirrels. They look behind them when they are digging to bury their nuts to see if there are any other squirrels. Sometimes they just pretend to dig the hole and put the nuts in.” Amber

“My favourite part was hiding the squirrel food and then finding them.” Cayla

“My favourite part was playing in the play park.” Finlay

And here are lots of pictures of our day:

Thank you very much to all the Rangers and Parent Helpers for making the trip so valuable!

Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 1, Uncategorized

Woodland Adventure

October 26, 2016 Mrs Smith 2 Comments

On Tuesday, Primary 1 visited the Almondell and Calderwood Country Park.

We went there because we had previously spotted this area on a map of our local area, and we wondered if it would be a suitable place for Bobby Bear to live.

We were very excited to be travelling altogether on a big coach. Our behaviour on the coach was very good indeed, so it was an excellent start to our day out. We soon arrived and met the Rangers who were going to be working with us for the rest of the day.

First of all, we thought about the things that a bear would need in order to survive, and because we have been learning about Living Things in the classroom, we decided that he would definitely need food and water, air to breathe and shelter. We walked on the path alongside the river, and as we walked, we could see that food and water would certainly be available for animals living in the wood. Air was all around us too- it was blowing the leaves off the trees!

Next, we walked deeper into the wood looking for somewhere that would provide materials to build a shelter. Soon we found a great place, and in small groups we set off to find the things we would need. There was some fantastic teamwork, as everyone worked together to gather enough sticks to begin building. Here are some photographs of us hard at work –

After lunch we set off to look for evidence of more Living Things in the woods. We discovered lots!

First, with the help of some little toy clues that were hiding all around us, the Ranger introduced us to different kinds of animals and birds and she told us a little bit about each one. The boys and girls listened carefully and asked some very good questions.

Then we explored some of the trees and plants round about. We discovered seeds, and we even acted out growing from a tiny seed into a great big, tall tree. We especially enjoyed hearing about the helicopter seeds and the conkers, and were very keen to find some of our own.

Finally, we created a little reminder of our day.

We had a few minutes to look at all the beautiful colours of Autumn. Then we took a piece of sticky card and tried to find as many different colours as we could to stick to it. We gathered lots of little things, and soon we had made lovely patterns and pictures using the nature that was all around us.

We had a fantastic day, and we think that a wood would be a very good place for Bobby Bear to live!

We would like to say a special Thank You to all the Parent Helpers who came along to support our learning, and who did such a great job throughout the day. We hope you come and join us again soon!