P5 Weekly Blog

Literacy and English

We are continuing to read War Horse with an emphasis on analysing plot, character and setting. This week we built up a word bank of adjectives that could be used to describe the main character, Joey. We highlighted which 4 best described him before scanning the text for evidence of where he has demonstrated this particular skill or quality. For example, Joey demonstrated empathy when he felt the pain of Topthorn’s illness and nursed his wounds.

Whilst reading chapters 14 and 15, we summarised the main ideas and events by note taking. We discussed the features of good note taking and how we can do so more effectively. This included using bullet points, not writing in full sentences and drawing out the key information.

In writing, we wrote instructions of how to create a volcanic eruption. This style of writing required us to apply various features such as sub-headings, a numbered list and sequencing openers and connectives (e.g. firstly, next, afterwards, finally). Next week we will carry out our volcanic eruption experiments and write a scientific report based on our findings.

Numeracy and Mathematics

We have been continuing to use written methods for multiplication and will shortly be introduced to the inverse operation of division. This week we consolidated our learning of our 6, 7, 8 and 9 times tables before multiplying 4-digit numbers by a single-digit and multiplying 2-digit numbers by smaller 2-digit numbers. Here’s a reminder of the method we’ve been using…

Learning Across the Curriculum

Social Enterprise – This week we will be meeting up with our group’s to prepare a Dragon’s Den style pitch for Mr Logan. In this pitch we will set out who our group are, what cause we want to raise money for, why it’s important to us and how we intend to go about raising the money. There have been lots of exciting suggestions so far. Keep an eye out for information on the Christmas Hampers we will be organising for the residents of St Michael’s Day Care Centre and what we’ll be doing at this year’s Christmas Fayre.

P.E – In P.E we have been introduced to the basic rules and principles of handball. This is going to be our focus in P.E up until January as we prepare for our Linlithgow cluster schools handball festival. We watched this video to introduce us to the rules of the game…

Art and Design – We have been using layers and textures of paper this week to create Remembrance Day artwork and reading the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae. These will be displayed in class, come and have a look at them next week and ask us what the poppy symbolises.

Our News and Achievements

We’ve been super busy over the October break, here’s what we’ve been up to:

Jude has been on his travels to Castle Douglas and brought in various types of stone to show us including rainbow quartz.
Freya shared her news about her trip to Oban over the holidays.
Sofia told us of her trip to LEGO Land and showed us the brick she created.
Eighlin went to visit Eilean Donan castle which is what she was named after.
Nairn had a tour at Manchester United’s stadium and brought some items to show us.
Ava continues to excel in gymnastics and has a number of upcoming national competitions.
Lucy told us about her visit to a lighthouse and seeing her Grandparents.
Finlay B and Jack G attended the Hearts v Rangers match which, luckily for them both, was a draw.
Oliver travelled down south to Northumberland and Manchester over the holidays.
Eva told us all about her sister’s birthday and what they got up to.
Finlay M was also in Northumberland over October for his Gran’s 70th birthday.
Mairi flew to Copenhagen and visited a number of attractions whilst there including the original LEGO shop.
Megan spoke about her segway tour and her trip to watch Scotland beat San Marino 6-0.

Coming Up

10.19 – Rugby taster session (1), sports gear to be worn to school
11.19 – Homework grids for Term 2 to be sent home, due for 13.12.19
11.19 – Rugby taster session (2), sports gear to be worn to school
11.19 – Golf session (1) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
11.19 – Open Morning (Number Talks) at 09.00
11.19 – Remembrance Day Assembly
11.19 – Rugby taster session (3), sports gear to be worn to school
11.19 – Golf session (2) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
11.19 – Rugby taster session (4), sports gear to be worn to school
11.19 – Golf session (3) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
11.19 – Learning Showcase event at 14.00 – 15.00
11.19 – Golf session (4) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
12.19 – Christmas Fayre event at 09.30 – 12.00
12.19 – Christmas Church Service at St Michael’s
12.19 – Christmas Carol singalong event
12.19 – 6.1.20 – Christmas Holidays

Have a great weekend everyone!

P5 and Mr Logan

September 6, 2019

P5 Weekly Blog

Numeracy and Mathematics

In Numeracy and Mathematics this week we have consolidating our learning of place value. This involved being able to explain the link between a digit, its place and its value. We reminded ourselves that a digit is a single numerical symbol whereas a number is a series of digits. When applying our learning, we were asked to find the ‘value’ of a particular digit within a number, e.g. what is the value of 7 in 37,560, to which we would (hopefully) say 7,000.

In mental maths this week we have been doing some Number Talks. This is when we are posed with a calculation and have to play with the number to increase our ‘number sense’, i.e. visualising problems, performing varied calculations quickly and being more flexible in our mathematical strategy. We were asked how many ways we could solve 357 + 444 before verbalising and demonstrating our strategies to the rest of the class. This will be a included in our Numeracy and Mathematics everyday throughout the year as a 10/15 minute warm-up. We’re hoping to become better ‘mathletes’ by the end of P5!

Literacy and English

In reading this week, we have been assigned our group novels for the term and used ‘prediction’ and ‘prior knowledge’ within group discussions. We discussed what would happen in the story and how the plot may unfold, and shared our prior knowledge of themes explored on the cover and within the blurb.

We also worked on some Japan reading comprehension after accessing an informative text about the country. We were posed with a range of literal and inferential questions and had to ensure we used the wording of the question to form our answers and full sentences at all times. The final set of questions were evaluative where we offered our own opinion and viewpoint.

Learning Across the Curriculum

Basketball continues to be our focus within P.E and we have been working on both our dribbling and passing skills during our two sessions this week. Whilst dribbling, we focused on:

Using one hand at a time to avoid ‘double dribbling’
Pushing the ball rather than slapping it
Using both our right and left hand
Making effective use of space and being aware of those around us
Not bouncing the ball too high to prevent interceptions

We also used a range of passing types; chest, bounce and overhead, discussing scenarios when these would be most effective.

Our knowledge of Japan has been built upon this week as were introduced to key information about the country before using our notes to create fact files. We used headings, sub-headings and an appropriate layout to display this information is a clear way. Next week, we’ll be digging further into life in Japan and how this differs from life here in Scotland.

Achievements

A huge well done to Finlay M who shared his Canal Fun Day successes with us! He showed resilience when telling us of how his boat sank after 1 minute but it didn’t spoil the fun!
Lily was lucky enough to meet the Scotland Rugby team after their squad was announced for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan, and brought in her signed flag to show us. What a lucky girl!
Mairi D, Jude and Cori took part in a Clarion cycling event on Wednesday and managed to complete the hill climb! Great effort guys, maybe there’s still time to make Team GB’s Tokyo 2020 squad…

Coming Up

13.9.19 – ‘Responsible’ Assembly
16.9.19 – Holiday
17.9.19 – Holiday
18.9.19 – ‘Liaise with Leadership’ from 4-5pm
27.9.19 – European Day of Languages
30.9.19 – 8 week block of Futsal sessions from WLYFF commence
2.10.19 – Parents Evening from 5-8pm
3.10.19 – Parents Evening from 3.45-6.45pm
8.10.19 – West Lothian Ranger Service orienteering session (pm)
11.10.19 – Harvest Assembly
11.10.19 – All break for October holiday

Have a great weekend everyone!

P5 and Mr Logan

April 21, 2017

P7b Blog

It was lovely to see all of P7b back safely from their Easter break. The children were surprised to hear on Tuesday that we would be delivering a whole school assembly on ‘Developing a Growth Mindset’ today (see link to Powerpoint – Growth Mindset Assembly). However, it’s safe to say that each and every member of P7b rose to the challenge and delivered a brilliant assembly. After some microphone issues during the lower school assembly, we demonstrated a growth mindset ourselves by presenting clearly and confidently for the upper school. Having a growth mindset is a really simple idea that can make a huge difference, and it is great to see P7b embracing this idea and challenging themselves to take a positive more attitude towards themselves and their learning. Well done P7b for your efforts and hard work this week. As always, I am incredibly proud of you and it was a pleasure to see you setting such a wonderful example to our younger children.

Only 10 weeks to go. Let’s make this final term a fun one and end our time at Springfield Primary School on a high!

Next week
– Family Learning event for Numeracy on Monday @ 2.15 – 3.15pm
– After school football training, Monday 3.30 – 4.30pm
– Golf sessions for children who chose to do so, Tuesday 1-2 & 2-3pm @ Kingsfield
– Rugby taster sessions on Tuesday for those not at golf, Tuesday 2.30 – 3.15pm
– Buggy Judging for STEM, Thursday 1.30 – 3.15pm
– Burgh Beautiful assembly, Friday 10am

Have a great weekend.

P7b & Mr. Logan