Play script Writing

Watch out Shakespeare, because there are some budding play script writers in Primary 4!!

This week we have been learning all about play scripts. Although we had seen them before (in Panto Pandemonium and at class assemblies) we had a really close look at what information is given and how. For example, every stage direction needs to be in brackets so the actor knows not to say it out loud!

We then started planning plays of our own; we came up with an overall theme, then split this into a beginning, a middle and an end to give our play 3 scenes.

Today has been a busy day of practising and writing; it's really hard to remember to write down every action that needs to be done!

We should be able to give our plays their premier soon!

The Friction Test

We have been looking at the effects of friction on speed. We spoke about how friction can be a good thing and a bad thing. 

With our model cars we tested different road surfaces to see how far they went with more and less friction. We tested using the lino flooring in the classroom, with a carpet, with the underside of a carpet and with laminate flooring boards. Each time, we used the laminate flooring as a ramp to make sure the cars were going the same speed when they reached the surfaces.

The less friction - the further our cars went. We could guess which surfaces were going to be good by feeling how smooth they were. There was excellent team work, measuring skills, recording skills and explaining going on. Well done P4!

Model vehicles

As our topic this term is transport we have been looking at what makes a car move.

We explored how the wheels work; not just stuck to the side of the car but on an axle which is attached to the chassis, or bottom of the car. We tried just sticking the axle straight onto our chassis but this didn't work, the axle couldn't turn so the car didn't move at all. Instead we threaded the axle through a straw which ensured that the axle was free to turn.

Our models look great, we have turned them into everything from a fire-engine to a rubbish lorry!

We even managed to give our vehicles a test drive outside today!

Term 4 Excitement

That's us already into week 3, where does the time go?

On Mondays we have been learning how to playing tag rugby with our coaches Mark and Tom. 

Last week we had beautiful sunny weather and got out on the 3G pitch at the Academy. However this week was a different story with some snowy blizzards, so we played inside in the hall. Nevertheless, we had a great session and started using the 'pass back' move which made the game a bit trickier. Here is some pictures of us practising our rugby skills.

We also had a Russian workshop today which introduced us to some famous Russian people, famous Russian buildings and the Russian language. Our teacher Jenny made special name tags with 'My name is...' and then our names written using Russian letters. Some of the letters look very strange to us, but as Matylda told us, some of the words are similar to those used in Poland. 

Привет means 'Hi' and is pronounced Pre-VYET

 The Russian Flag

My name is Eilidh

My name is James

A Russian tea boiler 

                                                                             - or Samovar.

Happy Holidays!

Have a great Easter holiday everyone. See you in 2 whole weeks!!

World Book Day 2015

Last week was a busy one in Stromness Primary School. Primary 7's ran a very successful Book Fair  raising well over their expected total! We visited it twice and had a good look at all the exciting books!

On Thursday it was World Book Day! A super effort by Primary 4, can you guess who our famous book characters were?

Fair Trade Fortnight

From the 24th February to the 6th March Primary 4 took part in Fair Trade Fortnight. During these 2 weeks we found out lots about what Fair Trade is and how it can help the lives of the farmers who produce the items we like to eat and buy.

Gill Smee, from Fair Trade Orkney, came in to visit us and took in loads of products which were Fair Trade; there was olive oil, chocolate, nuts, honey, coffee, tea and sugar. We found where each of these items are made, the majority were from south of the equator in really hot countries.

We then led the assembly to the rest of the school and shared with them how important it is to support Fair Trade by buying products which have the Fair Trade symbol on them. 

On Monday of last week we had another visitor - Basilio Almonte de los Santos. Basilio was from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. He told us all about the difference Fair Trade has made to his life and his family. He could only speak Spanish so he took a translator with him so we could understand each other. He took some cocoa beans with him and told us that all the beans in his tub would be needed to make just 1 bar of chocolate! We really enjoyed Basilio's visit!!