The John Muir Award is a key learning experience in primary 5 every year and evolves from topical issues affecting our local environment. The children work with the John Muir Trust, visiting the museum and learning about the life of John Muir through drama and literacy.
The Law Stories project became the key focus of the award following close liaison with our country ranger Jen Edwards. Long-term conservation was at the core, working towards creating an official trail up North Berwick Law in order to reduce human impact on this historic local site.
In addition to collating social stories from the local community about the Law past and present, prototype interpretation boards were designed by each class depicting key elements of the stories collated. Creative writing by the children based around what they had learned and experienced during their walk up the Law also formed part of these boards.
The project subsequently evolved into a much wider collaboration with the arts service and Ruthanne Baxter, who worked with groups of children on how to interview people and find out their memories and how to broadcast requests with East Coast FM in Haddington. Caroline Henley from the local library ran workshops at lunchtimes developing story-telling skills. Tanwen Llewellyn who speaks the Brithonic language, came into school to tell us about the history of the Law and Brithonic Iron Age people.
Following successful acquisition of a grant from Scottish Heritage we were then able to work with an artist Gemma Coyle producing art work from natural products, and archaeologists Ruth Bordoli and Sarah Cowie (Museums Service) on how to investigate the past using artefacts.
Music evolved as a key element of the project through the work done with Gordon Turnbull (surround sound) and his collaboration with Matt Thomson (BBC radio and local parent), in the production of a CD recording excerpts of the stories, music and sounds of the Law.
On the day of the event a group of High School pupils along with Pauline Hickmann, music specialist, played string instrument pieces throughout the afternoon, creating a very relaxed atmosphere. The children also designed shadow puppets as part of their Science focus on light to recreate their stories, which they brought to life using a variety of percussion instruments.
On the 9th June 2011 the year long project came together in an Extravaganza of learning and sharing of the children’s work, attended and supported by the specialists involved, parents, other pupils and the local community. Marquees, yurts and tepees were set up in the quarry at the foot of the Law, all children and staff dressed accordingly and got into role to recreate an Iron Age Brithonic village atmosphere.
Children worked in groups to perform music, cook bread on sticks, carry out shadow puppet performances, tell stories, got involved in archaeological digs and working with artefacts, willow weaving, performing drama, sharing their hard work and playing traditional games from days gone by. Recordings were also made for a feature on East Coast FM.
It is hoped that East Lothian Council will be able to find funding to produce the formal interpretation storyboards. Next year’s primary 5 will continue the project producing podcasts which can be downloaded by visitors, who can listen to the tales of the Law as they climb the hill.
The audio CD showcasing this wonderful collaboration can be downloaded by clicking on this link.(click on Law primary: username:rocket password:house all lower case)
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked with us this year on this hugely successful project.
Hello p5 (now p6!), I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed coming in and teaching you all of the artistic methods which were then used to express what you had learned about North Berwick and the Law. You all did so well with the wire birds, monoprints and the willow whale. I was extremely proud of you all as it was a very small amount of time for so much work, but you did it. I was so happy to be asked back and be a part of the Law Extravaganza, the group who worked with me were fantastic! There was so much happening but you all concentrated and worked so hard, I think passers by were fascinated with the techniques you were using. I hope I have taught you something and given you a passion for Art. I would like to say a special thank you to those who wrote to me and created the fantastic cards, I was so pleased to receive these. So thank you Beth, Aaron, Joshua, Daisy, Rebecca, Fergus, Harry & Alyssa. I hope to see you all again hopefully teaching you more exciting Art!!!
Thank you!
Gemma
What I enjoyed most about p5 was the law extavaganza and the cooking that jen was doing. The bread was very tasty though it gave me a sore tummy afterwards. I still like it. I also hope you liked my ryme that I made up. I think it’s pretty funny. grace
The thing that i enjoyed most was the law extraveganza because i did drama and it was realy fun,exciting and extreamly funny. P5 has been alot of fun and i just want to say thank yuo to allthe teachers i will realy miss them but we will still have fun in p6.vikki
P5 has been the best year so far for us, you do the most amazing projects, like sea creatures, mosques,science , france , North Berwick and lots of other great things. You get sparkle time instead of golden time but you have to earn 10 stars or more and if you get 11 stars you get a certificate, you don’t just get 20 minutes you sometimes get longer. you do alot of reading challages in p5 and they are really fun and you feel so happy when you finish them. You get to do science in all the 3 classes, also you get to do a science booklet so you can write all the experiments you have done in them.
I will realy miss p5 and the middle area because of all the teachers and every body else who has helped.
it was realy fun doing all of the projects learning new stuff about the law and all the other things.
I will seriously miss everyone and everything.I sort of want to go into p6 but I sort of do’nt.
we both hope that the p4s have as much fun in p5 as we did.
I am moving into p6 but mrs ford is leaving
but my class is going to mrs antonelli 
we are going to solve a mystery murder :0 we have to find out how the person was killed and who did it it could be you 
.We get reading buddies ;D and I.C.T buddies you will be doing this some year 
P5 was really fun because you get to go on lots of trips. You also get to do lots of fun activities. We all get to do the science carousel which is lots of fun. You also work on your john muir award and if complete your john muir award you get a certificate.:D
We loved the extravaganza and everyone looked so good B) !!!! When we were off duty we would explore the place and we got a big fright when the knight came up to us but it was funny
when he walked around clanking!! We really enjoyed it !!!!!!!
Ella
& jessica 
James. my favourite part of p5 was the French Breakfast. It took a lot of hard work but it was worth it in the end.
Kyle.My favourite part of P.5 was the law extravaganza because we got time off school and it was a fun thing.
Me and Hamish loved P5 but we are also very exited for going into P6.Our best bit in P5 was the law EXTRAVIGANZA and all the carosels.
P.S hope you have a great summer holidays
XD
We really enjoied P5.
I cant wait until P6.
We are also very very very very sad mrs. ford is leaving.
P4″s you would love to come to P5…. So fun
Good luck Mrs. Starks baby.
From Hattie and Thea
HI p5 is awesome you do lots of games and ready stedy bike. Mrs Ford retired this year and mrs stark is having a baby. You get sparkle time p6 looks so fun I hope p4s have a gggggggggggggggggggggggggggoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooddddddddddddddddddddddddd time in p5.
p5 was brillant and so was the teacher we had
Thanks to everyone for your hard work and creativity, both those who helped me during the Extravaganza, and those who were at the Surround Sound workshops at the school. You threw yourselves into it and that showed in the results.
Thank you too for your lovely cards, which were thoughtful and beautiful — a lot of work must have gone into them.
I hope you have a great summer!
i liked the extravaganza so much. i “did my bit” by performing a shadow puppet show. i thought the archolegy was good!!
Thanks to everyone who helped us!!! 8)
8)
I loved the Extravaganza and i think everyone who helped us was very kind because they gave up their time to help us.
At the extravanganza we did lots of activities but my favourite one was the archeology. I liked grinding seeds to make flour.
I did the shadow pupets and it was lots of fun. I would like to do it again. It was a really fun day – my dog, Alfie was there, but he was a bit afraid of the man in armour and barked at him.
I think all the P4′s will look forward to doing it.
I really enjoyed the law extravaganza. The Archaeology I did it with Frazer G. and Heather F. was especially good.
Every 10 minutes the bell rang and I went to the bread making area, it was very nice I gave some to my Mum she loved it. I put lots of honey on mine. I saw some plays they were very good .
Well done to all the P5 students and teachers who put together this wonderful Extravaganza! Everyone there thoroughly enjoyed it – keep up the good work!
Ailis and I had a lovely afternoon, thank you all so much for all your very hard work. As someone born and bred in North Berwick it’s great to know there’s still things I can learn about it!
I thought the Law Extravaganza was really well done. A lot of work had obviously gone into it & it was good to see the kids enjoying themselves & dressed in character.
I really enjoyed the exravaganza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and i am glad i was doing the music work shop. I thought the shadow puppet plays were great !!!!!!!!!!!! the bread that Jen mad with Gemma it tasted great!!
It was much funer than i thught it would be!!!!!
At the Law Extravaganza, I learned something I didn’t know about the Law! Apparently, early criminal trials were heard on top of hills and mountains, as the people felt that they were closer to God and to judgement. Hence the name “Law” is widely used for a hill/mountain. I particularly liked that all the children were in character and told me how they spent their day on the Law with their animals etc.
At the Law Extravaganza, I learned something I didn’t know about the Law! Apparently, early criminal trials were heard on top of hills and mountains, as the people felt that they were closer to God and to judgement. Hence the name “Law” is widely used for a hill/mountain. I particularly liked that all the children were in character and told me how they spent their day on the Law with their animals etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Law Extravaganza. The children (and teachers!) put in so much work and put on such an amazing show. I really did feel I had stepped back in time and really enjoyed learning more about the history of North Berwick.
The P5 Extravaganza was fantastic! The atmosphere was great and everyone clearly enjoyed the whole event .A day for the school to be really proud of! Thank you to everyone who made it happen.
I thought it was an amazing display of work and loved the archaeology dig, the flour making and story telling in the tent. well done P5 fab
I had a great time at the Law Extravaganza. I really enjoyed doing the podcasting and the Brithonic games.
Evie and I loved coming up to the extravaganza!! It was so much bigger than I had expected. All the pupils looked like they were having a brilliant time and all had huge smiles. Great work everyone…:D
Sorry I couldn’t make it. It sounded like everyone had a great time. The pictures look fantastic. All the children and teachers must have worked really hard.
The big extravaganza was absolutely brilliant. The pupils put so much effort into the whole thing. I liked how the teachers dressed up as well. I particularly enjoyed the puppet show! Keep up the good work!!
The extravaganza was much bigger than I expected. I particularly enjoyed going in and out of the tents! The John Muir drama was great, of course. It was good that all the pupils had important roles to play.
I really enjoyed the extravaganza and i think that all the teachers and children have put lots of work in to.thank you all for giving me a great day!!!
8)
I really enjoyed my visit to the Law extravaganza. After a very informative welcome, I toured around the many activities. My favourite was probably the shadow puppets. Well done!
I enjoyed the law extravaganza I liked the cd and the people from the radio.
I loved the Law Extravaganza! It was Education at it’s best, freedom to learn outwith the confines of four walls, all the teacher’s and helper’s made the world your classroom…. and so it should be.
Great to see everyone take their roles seriously and I think this will be a great day for our memories, it will be easy to remember the history of the Law and the importance of John Muir in all our lives.
Well done everyone.
The law extravaganza was Amazing because of all the drama and art and music it was great. I enjoyed dressing up and seeing all the other outfits.
The Law Extravaganza was fabulous! The children and staff had worked very hard to produce such an informative show. Well done !
The extravaganza was really fun. My favourite bit was the drama. I was in the play about John Muir and his dog. People kept stopping to look at us because we were right at the front. I enjoyed the whole thing, and the bread was really good, and I thought the costumes were fun.
i thought it was great and every body made an effort in the costumes i liked the bread on the sticks i was fabby!!!!!