Category Archives: Primary 1

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

STEM Sharing the Learning Afternoon

March 15, 2017 Miss Burton Leave a comment

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.

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

Dress Down Day Friday 31st March

March 12, 2017 Miss Burton Leave a comment

There will be a PSA Dress Down Day on Friday 31st March, please see details below.

Dress Down Day Mar2017

Events, Maths & Numeracy, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7

West Lothian SumDog Competition

March 7, 2017 Miss Burton 1 Comment

P1-7 have been entered to take part in West Lothian’s latest Sumdog contest. This runs from 10-16th March and can be played at both home and at school using the SumDog website or app. All pupils should have their SumDog log in their homework diary/ book.

The children have to answer 1000 questions and their score is based on accuracy, not speed or winning games. There are also prizes to be won and certificates will be given out at Assembly for those children in the top 50 from across West Lothian.

Good luck everyone!

Primary 1, STEM 2017, Technologies

Building in P1

March 4, 2017 Mrs Smith Leave a comment

We are learning that buildings are created for a variety of purposes

We are learning that different materials are used for different parts of a building

I can name different types of buildings
I can name different parts of a building
I can describe the different materials used in a building and say why each one is effective

We started our new IDL by reading and talking about the story of The 3 Little Pigs. We explored the materials used to build the houses in the story, and decided why the straw and the sticks were not particularly suitable. The bricks were definitely the best choice!

We then watched a video clip about building a house, and considered some of the materials suggested for the different parts of the building – jelly walls? hair roof? newspaper windows? We could give very good reasons why these materials would not be appropriate, and we suggested much better alternatives. There were lots of examples of these building materials all around us in school- eg bricks, concrete, wood and glass.

We decided that these materials would probably be used for other types of buildings too.

We have now set up a Site Office in our classroom, and we are going to keep an eye on the progress that is being made with the Nursery next door. Now, we plan to investigate some of the different types of work carried out when a new building is created, and we would also like to explore the various roles that people have throughout the process.

Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 1, Primary 2, STEM 2017, Technologies

P2/1 – Building Our Nursery

March 3, 2017 Miss Burton 1 Comment

We are learning to understand that different materials are used for different purposes.

We are learning to investigate the properties of different materials.

I can name different materials and explain why they might be used for different parts of a building.
I can find a variety of materials around the school and explain why it has been used for the purpos

This week we have been exploring the different materials we can use to build and design, we had a choice of different rotations:

Using machinery in the sand to build.
Designing plans for the nursery in the architect’s office.
Selecting materials to build a nursery.

Learning Letters, Maths & Numeracy, Primary 1, Primary 2, Sciences, STEM 2017, Technologies

Primary 1 and Primary 2/1: Building Our Nursery

February 21, 2017 Miss Burton Leave a comment

For our STEM context for learning we are going to be helping the builders to build our nursery!

Our learning will focus on:

Science: Materials
Technologies: Design
Maths: Measure

The questions we decided we wanted to explore are:

What materials will we use to build our nursery and why?
What machines will we need and how do they work?
Which tools will we use to build our nursery and why?
Who will help us build our nursery?
How will we design the inside of our nursery and what will we need?
When will we open our new nursery and how will we open it?

House Meetings, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7, Uncategorized

House Meeting

February 17, 2017 Miss Burton Leave a comment

Today we got together for our House Meetings. We started by playing a community builder. Then the house and vice captains set us the challenge of creating an anthem for our house. We look forward to hearing the final anthems!