February 2023
Thankfully the days are getting longer and this seems to have given Primary 5 a boost in energy.
Literacy
Primary 5 has been exploring different question types. They were learning about inferential questions and took on the role of detective to help Sherlock Holmes use the clues from the text to find the answer. Literal questions have been easier for the pupils to answer as they only have to look directly at the text to find the answer.
We have also been learning how to effectively write instructions for someone else to follow. The pupils started with writing instructions for an alien about how to make a jam sandwich and very quickly learned that they have to be very specific, making sure that they are including everything they need and telling the reader exactly what to do and when.
"I liked writing the instructions about how to make a jam sandwich because the first time we wrote it I wasn't as specific until Miss Mercer helped me understand the way to write clear instructions." Finlay McE
"I liked the instructional writing because I like cooking and when I make instructions about how to make something out of food I quite enjoy it." Maimoonah
"I really enjoyed the murder mystery because we got to work with a partner and we got to use the clues from the text to be able to solve it." Lewis
Numeracy
One of our groups has been learning how to solve simple algebra. They have been learning how to find an unknown value and how to create their own problems for a friend. The group was given a problem that did not show a single number and they had to use their problem solving skills to be able to discover what the numbers would be, it took some attempts but they pushed through and were able to solve it!
Another one of our groups has been exploring direction, compass points and angles. They have been practising directing their peers around the space, writing directions, following directions and exploring the link between angles and compass points.
One of our groups has been exploring lines of symmetry within 2D shapes. They have been working hard to identify the lines of symmetry; using different strategies to check if they have correctly identified it. They are now moving on to look at data handling and will even be carrying out their very own survey.
"I liked doing to directions and using the beebots because it was really fun." Noor
"I liked learning about directions because we were able to tell the beebots where to go and using the compass points to direct them." Janvi
"I liked learning about algebra because there were loads of challenges and we solved emoji cards and we had to work out what emoji was which number and we also solved a shape challenge it was quite hard but we got to work together to solve it." Charlotte
"I like algebra because it is something new that I hadn't learnt before because it is different having the numbers replaced by letters or pictures and I really like when we had to multiply or divide to find out what the letter was." Murray
"I liked learning about the directions because we got to use the beebots and in my old school we used beebots a lot so I am glad I have been able to use them here as well." Maimoonah
"I liked when we were using the beebots because it was really fun." Fatima
"I liked learning about symmetry because we got to see how the shape would fold and the mirror image. It was fun doing it." Ethan
Morgan Stanley
The very kind people from Morgan Stanley volunteered their time again to come and teach the upper school about computer security. The pupils were able to learn about what happens when you delete documents and how people can recover them using computer programmes. They now understand that documents on the computer don't get easily deleted and they have to be careful to make sure they permanently delete their work.
"I liked that we got to see how to protect our private information and the example we got to choose who we were going to pretend to rob." Lewis
"I liked learning about cyber security and it was funny pretending like we were going to steal David Beckham dolphin." Zander
"I found it amusing how the guy was able to still find the content after we had deleted it and now I know you need to delete your document, fill the space with a document or picture and then delete that as well." Alba
Art
Primary 5 have been learning how to create model drawings using the skills of drawing perspective with Mr Keir and have been able to transfer these skills over to their art where we were using one-point perspective to draw a street with trees.
We have also started an artist study where we will be able to learn about different artists and create our very own art inspired by them. The grownups who attended our learn with us afternoon were able to join in with creating art inspired by Bruce Gray and I have to say the pupils thoroughly enjoyed this.
"I liked learning about drawing perspective because we were able to learn the skills so now we can create our own." Cameron
"I liked learning about the art from Bruce Gray because our parents were able to come in and we could teach them about it and create our own with them using circles and lines. It was fun!" Ethan
"I like Bruce Grays art because there were lots of patterns and we got to create our own style of it but it wasn't a specific type, we could create our very own art piece and they all looked unique." Finlay McE
"I like the one point perspective art because at the start it was very hard to draw the large trees at the front but when we were drawing the smaller ones at the back we got to draw tiny branches and leafs. The lines we used really helped me to keep the sizes accurate." Murray
Well-being
Primary 5 has been exploring the importance of mental well-being and finding different strategies that can help us when we are finding things challenging. We have been exploring the benefits of yoga, different breathing techniques and tense and relax strategies to help focus our mind and our body.
"I like learning about different strategies to help us calm down and control our body as it will help us to stop reacting too bad and can help us to calm ourselves and solve problems." Murray
"It is good for you when you are needing to calm down and it can help you to focus on the things you need to do." Ethan
"I really liked the dragon breath because when I feel sad I can use the dragon breath technique to help me feel better and it will help me to hold my breath underwater as well." Lewis
"I really liked doing yoga as I think it helped me to calm down and I think I should do it more as I think it is a good way to stay mindful and calm." Finlay McE
