ACfE In Action

The children chose to hold a learning festival as a display of their knowledge and what a successful day it was! Other classes, parents and relatives came to visit and learn all about World War 2. By far the most popular stall was Dean’s “throw a sponge at Hitler” stall. This was his way of proving his learning as he had written facts about Hitler. Interestingly when the project was being evaluated Dean said he would always remember Hitler’s “awful actions”. He also remarked on the fact that he would “never have been allowed to do the stall he chose if the teachers had been left to plan the festival and not the children”. Indeed Dean was not alone in his motivation to learn since what they were learning, the way in which they learnt and how they proved their learning was all chosen by the children themselves!
The festival was a huge success and the service which followed was a poignant reminder to us all of the atrocities of the War. Well done yet again to Primary 6 for all their hard work!

We all certainly looked the part on our trip to the Museum of Flight. Thankfully there is no photographic evidence of Jennifer or I dressed as “old time teachers”! The children had made a real effort, dressed as evacuees they left the school as the Management and Office staff sang “we’ll meet again”. We began at the War Memorial in Cockenzie then left for the Museum at East Fortune.

We were taken into a hanger and the children had to get down on the floor when they heard the air raid siren. They had to lay out equipment as if they were soldiers and then saw many different war planes. We ended the day watching Goodnight Mr Tom and a few tears were shed!

A trip has been planned to take the children to the Museum of Flight on the 29^th October. The children will dress as evacuees and Jennifer and I as “old fashioned teachers” (I must look out my twin set and pearls)! We will be given a tour of the aircraft which will support the many groups in the class who chose to study aircraft and weapons. Many other activities will take place (top secret for now) and it will be a great way to round up the topic.

A decision was made by the children that they would like to hold a Learning Festival to showcase their learning and they each chose how they would like to “prove it”. Examples include creating a slide show on the computer, writing a report, making a book and giving a talk. The children have also been working on a “make it, prove it” to answer one of their key questions. This “make it, prove it” was planned to ensure that there were aspects of Art/Technology within their forward plans. The Learning Festival is to take place in the school on the 9^th November to coincide with Remembrance Day. It is sure to be a great event and work will take place during the first two weeks after the holidays to prepare for this. Good luck with this Primary 6 – I will be there on the day to support you.

The project will come to a final end on Monday 12^th November when I visit the class for the last time for an evaluation discussion. Who better to inform us of the positives/negatives of the project than the children themselves!

Thank you to Primary 6, Jennifer Daly and all at Cockenzie Primary for making me feel so welcome during my time in your school. A huge thank you also to Ann McLanachan for her invaluable support as my “mentor” and “sweetie provider” throughout the whole project, you truly know how to motivate your team:) A happy and much deserved October break to you all.