P2/1 Castles Home Learning
Category Archives: Primary 1
P1 Visit Stirling Castle
Today, as part of our Castles IDL, Primary 1 visited Stirling Castle.
First of all we went to a Puppet Workshop where we met King James V and his wife, Mary of Guise. We learnt how to introduce ourselves to the King, and even used some of  our French speaking skills, since Mary of Guise came from France. We listened to the story of the King’s Tailor, and joined in with the words and actions. Then we were introduced to more puppets who helped us to understand the roles of all the different people who lived in the castle a long time ago. We used instruments to help us create the sounds of a busy castle too. It was certainly a noisy place! Finally we were allowed to handle the puppets ourselves, and we had a lot of fun working together to create little scenarios.
After lunch, we visited The Great Hall. We also went into the Queen’s Chambers , and we learnt how we would be introduced to the Queen. There was a lot of bowing and curtsying! We had to stand around the edge of the carpet too, unless the Queen herself invited us forward.
Finally, we went to the tailor’s workshop, and had a look at the lovely materials which were used to make outfits for the King and Queen. We also tried on some costumes, and enjoyed pretending to be different characters.
We had a fantastic day, and it really helped us to understand what life in a castle was really like. We would like to say a special Thank You to the Parent Helpers who came along too. Now we are looking forward to next week when we will hold our own ‘Ball In The Hall’.
P2/1 Visit Stirling Castle
As part of learning about castles P2/1 visited Stirling Castle today. They had a puppet workshop, explored the castle and even got to try on some costumes. Thank you to the parent helpers who supported this excursion.
Profiling Tool
The documents below show what your child will be learning when they are working withing a specific level. This should help you support their learning at home. Our pupils use these profiling tool when they are setting individual and group targets.
P1 Counting
We are learning to skip count.
SCÂ I can count forwards and backwards in twos
After reading the story of The King’s Socks, we each designed a pair of socks as a birthday gift for the King. We used stripes and spots to create patterns. We also learnt that a pair means there are two of something, and they are the same.
   
Next, we sorted a big pile of real socks into pairs. Then we used them to help us count in twos. We counted all the way to 10 and then to 20. Counting back was quite tricky, but we will keep practising!
P2/1 Internet Safety Day
As part of Internet Safety Day P2/1 explored 5 different questions:
- How do we get on to the internet?
- What can we do on the internet?
- What passwords do we use?
- Why is a password important?
- How can we keep our passwords safe?
We explored the questions in group, and then made a poster. we presented our ideas to the rest of our class.
Question Writing in P2/1
We are learning to write a letter asking questions about Stirling Castle.
- I can use a letter opening and ending.
- I can use an address.
- I can use questions with question marks.
- I can use different question openers.
This week in writing we were learning about questions. We thought ahead to our trip to Stirling Castle and created some questions we would like to ask. We had to use different question openers, for example, who, what, where, when, why and did. We had to remember to use a question mark at the end o our questions. We then wrote a letter to Stirling Castle asking them our questions. Primary 2 had to write an introduction telling them about ourselves. We finished it by self assessing our work against the success criteria.
Someone even received the Living Our Values Award for creating interesting questions.
P2/1 Dress up for Dress Up Day
P1 Number Talks
We are learning to use different strategies to help us add
SC I can look at the pattern and say how many there are altogether
I can talk about the strategy I used
In Primary 1, during our recent Number Talks, we have been focusing our attention on  Addition. We have been using dot patterns and ten frame patterns to help us. We look carefully as the pattern is flashed onto the SmartBoard, and we quickly work out how many dots or counters we see altogether. It’s very interesting to listen to each other’s ideas, and talk about the different  strategies that have been used. For instance, we often  talk about using Doubles, counting in twos, knowing number bonds and counting on to help us.
We practise our Addition in other ways too. Sometimes we play games together or use ICT.
 
Here are a couple of games that we enjoy playing in class.
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button   (addition within 10)
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=PostSortingcalculationsv2 Â (total less than 10)
Mid Calder celebrates Robert Burns in style!
On Friday 20th January, pupils from across each class demonstrated their Scots skills by participating in our annual Robert Burns assembly.
Two pupils from each class recited their poem in front of the audience, led by our House Captains. Â We learned a little information about Rabbie Burns himself and we were treated to a real celebration of Scots culture, when girls from P6 and P7 performed some Highland dancing.
Niamh Sher, Cailin McKenna and Zach Paris will now go forward to represent Mid Calder Primary at the West Lothian Burns Recital competition later on this term.
ALL boys and girls who took part were a real credit to themselves – their use of Scots language was outstanding and dedication to learning their poems off by heart was fantastic.
Thankyou to our judging panel, Mr MacFarlane, Mrs Bokhari and Mrs Mackenzie had a tough job choosing a representative from Primary Five to Seven.
