Prestonpans Infant and Nursery School

Visit to Prestongrange Mining Museum

On Tuesday we visited Prestongrange Mining Museum.  Before we left to walk along we all had to put on our hi-vis waistcoats.  It was pouring with rain.  It was quite a long walk.  Mrs Stewart’s daughter-in-law Julie came with us.  When we got there we all went into the visitor centre.  Each class had a different activity to start with but we all did everything.  Craig

The first thing our class did was have a look at the things in the visitor centre.  We saw some pottery, some tools, miners hats and a picture of a broken boot.  Just outside was a fossilised tree trunk.  It felt kind of bumpy but smooth.  Sarah, from the museum, then held up some things that had been found on the site like bricks and bits of pottery and glass.  Luc

Our next activity was to go into the archaelogical hut and there were lots of bits of broken pots.  Some bits were being held together with sticky tape.  We got to dig in the sand box with a little shovel to see if we could find anything.  Me and Ellis found a bit of pottery.  Once we had brushed the sand off it we had to put it in our tray and then draw it.  Then we got to look at the pictures on the displays and at some of the big tools.  One man had dug up a broken boot and the bottom of the sole was filled with earth.  I enjoyed the digging.  Alex

David took us over to see the Beam Engine.  The building was built in 1874 and the Beam Engine itself came all the way from Cornwall in a boat to Morrison’s Haven harbour.  When we went in we got to climb to each level and there were 37 steps altogether.  They were quite steep and Mrs Stewart and Julie had to watch that they didn’t bump their heads.  The bolts on the engine were huge and there was a giant spanner to tighten them.  The engine was used to pump water out of the mine shafts.  The beam engine was my favourite bit of the visit.  Ellis

Last of all we went back to the visitor centre and Claire had paper and pencils, pens and crayons for us so that we could draw something we had seen on our trip.  Then it was time to walk back to school.  It was still raining!  Rebecca

New Serial Story

We have started a new serial story called Nicobobinus,       written by Terry Jones and Illustrated by Michael Foreman.  Mrs Stewart has had this book for a long time.  It is about a little boy called Nicobobinus and his friend Rosie and their adventures trying to get to the Land of the Dragons.    Nicobobinus has two golden feet, a golden hand and a golden neck and the only thing that will cure him is Dragons’ Blood.  We have got to the bit where the Black Ship is taking them to the Land of the Dragons.  On the Black Ship food appears, candles light and blow out by themselves, and the ship seems to be looking after the children.  I like this story a lot and Mrs Stewart always stops reading at a really exciting bit.  Garry 

Prestonpans Pottery

I went home and told my gran I had been where the potteries were long ago.  She had a piece of pottery that came from Pypers Wynd Potteries and she said I could bring it into school to show everyone.       Mrs Stewart found a plant pot that had also come from the same place.  The pottery is not there anymore.  Cerys

Mining Museum Visit Reflections

I thought the visit was good and I enjoyed everything we did except for walking in the rain.  Alex

We liked….

going inside the beam engine building but I didn’t like the rain.  Cerys

when we did the dig for things in the sand box but it was very wet and soggy outside.  Niamh

 inside the beam engine building and looking at the pottery.  Natalie

 looking at the pottery.  Rebecca

 going inside the Beam Engine but I didn’t like the weather.  Jay

 digging in the sand box.  We found a bone and a piece of tile.  I didn’t like the rain.  Ryan

 seeing all the parts of the beam engine especially the big spanner, but the weather was bad.  Alistair

 the Beam Engine best and the pottery.  Garry

 seeing the Beam Engine and digging in the sand box.  Jennifer

 the people that showed us round the museum and when we were digging in the sand box.  Rebbeca

 when we were drawing things that we had seen on our trip but I didn’t like the digging up bit.  Amy

 the pottery and going in the Beam Engine building.  I didn’t like the rain.  Brodie

 inside the Beam Engine but it was raining the whole time we were out.  Thomas

 going inside the Beam Engine and then drawing the pictures.  The rain got heavier and heavier.  Abby

I didn’t like the rain which got heavier and heavier but we did get to go inside the Beam Engine building and go up all the stairs.  I counted them and there were 37 stairs.  Eirinn

Country Dancing

We started to learn a new dance today.  It is called The Flying Scotsman      which was a very famous train.  It is a dance with eight people in a set, four boys and four girls.   We practised each part but didn’t have time to do it with the music yet.  We will try and put a video bit in next week when we do it on Tuesday.  I liked when we got to make the train noises.  Niamh

Show and Tell

Sadly our two show and tellers forgot today but have promised to remember for Monday.

CLASS NEWS

Today will be my first time at After-School Club.  I am very excited.  Brodie

Next week I am getting my grading as my Mum asked the Karate teacher and he said yes.  I am going to get my green belt.  Niamh

I am going to Newcastle next Friday for the holidays.  I am going with my granny and my grandad and I will be back on the Sunday.  Cerys

I was back at the hospital on Tuesday and I still have the same cast on my arm but the doctor said I do not need an operation.  I have to go back next week and maybe get a different kind of plaster.  Shannon

On Thursday I am going to the opticians and I am going to get new glasses.  Elle

My mum is going to come into class and play the bagpipes for us.  Mrs Stewart is going to arrange a time when she sees her at Parents Evenings.  Ellis