P6A have been experimenting with podcasts and have used their `Notable Christians’ research as the basis for their creations. Click here to come and have a listen…
6A Podcast Debut
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Monthly Archives: November 2007
P6 Update
At the end of October, P6 completed their Woodland topic with a their Woodland trail presentations. Each of the groups in P6 worked hard to create a proposal for a possible Woodland Trail, which included educational and leisure facilities. Each class chose a 2 groups to represent them in the final presentations; which were made to the local Country Ranger, Mr Anderson. He was very impressed with the variety of ideas suggested but reminded us that we would need a lot of money for such large scale projects.
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Our current topic of Health and Growth is allowing us to learn all about the inside of our bodies and how we can take care of ourselves.
P6 took part in Give it some Welly! with their own fundraising events. Each class voted for their own fundraising event – P6A had a Welly-themed Halloween party, P6B had a Lucky Dip and P6C held a `Dress in your Pyjamas’ day. All were successful and enjoyable and we made a good contribution to the school’s final charity donation.
P7 Xmas Fair – Friday 30th November
An important event is approaching as primary 7 pupils prepare for their forthcoming Christmas Fair. There will be the usual favourites – nail bar, games, toys and home baking but look out for some new activities this year. So bring along your pocket money and prepare to get in the Christmas spirit and have lots of fun! See you all soon.
P7 Go Back In Time
All four primary 7 classes took a trip into “Auld Reekie” this week. They visited Holyrood Palace and learned all about the life of Mary Queen of Scots then braved the security checks at the new Scottish Parliament to have a good look in the debating chamber which everyone had lots of opinions on.
This was followed by a historic Royal Mile Trail with stops at the Canongate Kirk to find the graves of Riccio stabbed 56 times, Robert Ferguson, hero of Rabbie Burns and Clarinda, Rabbie Burns` great love. They also stopped to see where the old wall used to surround the city at World`s End Pub. Continuing on past the house of John Knox, the Tron Kirk, Mercat Cross and investigating where the old Tollbooth used to house all the prisoners. Breezing past Deacon Brodie`s Tavern who inspired the novel “Jekyll and Hyde”, Gladestone`s land and the close behind gave them a glimpse of life in the 1700s. On up past the Tollbooth Kirk with it`s 75m spire and stopping to look at the Witches Well commemorating the 3oo witches who were strangled and burnt there before ffinally ending up at the castle…Phew! An exhausting and fascinating insight into the historic past of Edinburgh.
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Are you a Science Sleuth?
Next week Miss Nicolson from the High school Physics department will be coming in to work with primary 7. She will be doing two experiments using the following equipment:
Empty juice bottle, copper coin, smoothie juice, diet coke and ordinary coke, yeast and balloons.
We will be looking at how healthy these drinks are. Can you predict and make suggestions about what exactly we will be doing with this equipment and why?
Miss Nicolson came in and worked with the first class. Prizes were handed out to those who had predicted correctly…watch this space.
P7 get in on the Transport Debate with MSP Visitors
Primary 7 have been working in focus groups researching information on the Edinburgh Transport Debate. They looked particularly at Trams, Buses, Greenways and Park and Ride, as well as proposals for a new Forth Road Bridge and the Congestion Charge.
They then fedback to their classes on these issues and put together a presentation of their findings, their own views and opinions and a list of questions they would like to discuss.
All P7 pupils also wrote a letter inviting their MSP into school to discuss current issues and to engage in a question time on his life as an MSP.
Today 19.11.07 they were visited by Iain gray MSP and Alaisdair Morgan MSP, who spent the whole morning visiting with all classes and engaging in discussion with them. It was a very informative visit indeed.
Pupils will now use the information and the outcome of the discussions to compile a Transport Report to Edinburgh City Council as part of the focus on writing for a real life and relevant purpose.
P7B Song Writing Debut!
Recently we have had an Anti Bullying focus in school. P7B did a fabulous assembly to get this message across. They also wanted to write a song so Mrs Lima worked with a group of children playing their own instruments e.g guitars and the clarinet. The class then worked together to come up with a tune and song lyrics and here is the result. What a team! All P7`s sang together to produce this recording. They are very proud of it. What do you think?
Here are the song words p7b-anti-bullying-song-p7b.doc
Edinburgh String Quartet Extravaganza!
Last week began with quite a bang, clang and ching on the 5th of November as all P7 classes spent a whole day in the company of Kenneth Dempster the composer and the very distinguished Edinburgh String Quartet.
Gerorge Mackay Brown`s poem “The Reel of the Seven Fisherman” was used as a stimulus and the children used a multitude of instruments to create an original piece of music which was then performed to other classes in the school at the end of each day. 9here are the words of the poem – a-reel-of-seven-fisherman.docThe music “The Cold dancer” was used as a starting point for the pupils` own creative musical exploration of sounds.
The String Quartet worked alongside each class in the planning and exploration stage which was facilitated and conducted by Kenneth. The children had to really focus, watch and listen in order to contribute effectively to the “orchestra”. Sound effects using clapping and stamping were also used to bring the story of the poem alive.
Quite literally the experience of a lifetime. A fabulous time was had by all and the pupils` of P7 would like to send out a huge big thanks to Kenneth and the wonderfully talented members of the quartet! Great memories to cherish…..
Are you sitting comfortably? Listen to our podcast, have a look at the slideshow and check out the movie…….
Listen to our podcast 7bs-string-quartet-performance-final-version.mp3
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Welly Antics Continue!
On Tuesday we had a whole school assembly over at the sports centre. All the pupils councillors had to feedback on what all classes had been up to in the name of fundraising.
Primary 7 wore their wellies and we had a fashion parade. Those who had really tried to customise their wellies received certificates. Here they are:
P7D Haunted House Stories
In P7 we have been developing our skills in continuing in the style of a writer. As it has been hallowe`en, we concentrated on a spooky theme. 
First we listened to really successful examples of stories written last year. Then we all contributed lots of creepy vocabulary for the Word Wall which we used in our stories.
We then really thought about what the Success Criteria would be. Here is what we decided:
1. It does not have an ending , it is not a complete story.
2. Stick to the genre and style of the writer.
3. Use a wide variety of sentences. (use your toolkit)
4. Use descriptions and feelings.
5. Use a variety of vocabulary. (word wall)
6. Keep it interesting for the reader.
We have chosen our best paragraphs to share with you, please tell us what you think. Constructive comments are very helpful to us.