Today p4/5 made cookie cutter bird feeders using lard and bird seed. It was a very messy activity but we managed to work together. The mix is now setting overnight in the fridge and we are looking forward to putting them outside tomorrow.

Today p4/5 visited the forest as part of their John Muir Award. We had a great afternoon exploring and discovering the natural materials around us. Our first activity was making creatures using the salt-free dough we made yesterday and materials we found around the forest. Although the dough was sticky to start with we had a great time creating our characters! We then worked in pairs to make wind chimes using sticks, string and natural materials. Thank you so much to our helpers who came with us!

Our Nature Creatures:

Making Wind Chimes:

Today we enjoyed creating some trees in art using our bark rubbings we made at the park last week and our leaves we collected from outside.

Collecting extra leaves (in the rain!):

Creating our artwork:

Our finished trees:

Today we carried out a litter pick around Carnwath to conserve the village. We were supported by Keeping Scotland Beautiful who sent us stickers to say well done and vests to wear during it. South Lanarkshire Council also sent us the litter pickers and the bags. We managed to collect loads of rubbish and we were upset to see how much litter people had dropped. We were especially shocked by the litter that was dropped only metres from the bins! The children enjoyed a much needed break at the bottom park and loved playing together before heading back up to school. Well done to everyone involved in the clean-up and thank you to our parent helpers too!

Working hard:

Enjoying a break at the park:

Today we visited John Mann Park to continue our outdoor learning. First of all we worked in groups to carry out a tree survey. The survey was created by OPAL to survey tree health and we will be sending our data to them to add to their findings. We had to measure the circumference of the tree trunk and estimate the height of the tree. We looked at the colour and size of the leaves,  any insects that were on it and noted if there was any fungi or damage to it. The children then worked in pairs to practise our compass points that we have been learning about in maths. They used North, South, East and West and other commands to help guide their partners from one cone to another. After that the children completed some bark rubbings on the tree using crayons and collected some leaves for using in art next week. To end the trip the boys and girls were then given a chance to play at the park and some even chose to carry out litter picking during their free time!

Tree Surveys:

Giving Directions Using Compass Points:

Bark Rubbings