Today sees the start of the 42nd annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which sees birdwatchers across the country join in the UK’s largest garden wildlife citizen science project and we would love for pupils and staff at Orchard Brae to get involved.
Taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch is really easy. Simply watch the birds for one hour at some point over the three days. This can be done in your garden, your local park or even sitting looking out your window!
Last year, over 500,000 birds were counted by Big Garden Birdwatchers in Scotland giving real insight into how our birds are doing.
Have a look at the RSPB website where you will find lots of fun activities and resources to help you participate in the Big Gard Birdwatch but here are a few to get you started.
Here are some simple tally sheets that you can use to keep track of the birds you see.
Don’t forget to let us know how you got on with the Big Garden Birdwatch survey and activities so please feel free to share any photos or videos via your child’s teacher, through Google Classroom, or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk.
We were overwhelmed by the response we had to our sensory garden appeal. The donations of resources, time and money have helped to make a unique and already well loved area for our pupils to enjoy and explore.
A huge extra special Orchard Brae thanks to:
The Little City Garden – design and landscaping
Gerbera Designs – landscaping
James Gettka – landscaping
Morrison Construction – access path
Mike Bruce – path
James Millerby – boulders
Jenna Killoh – pallets
Dobbies Aberdeen – compost
Trees Are Us – logs
GI Cladding and Joinery – posts
Clan Miller Construction – slabs and posts
Bissett and Ross – tarpaulin
Alpha Fencing – new gate and fence
MB Landscapes – boulders
Karen Underwood – fruit tree
Karen Robertson – fairy house
James Polson Garden Creations – woodwork sculptures
BFLABDN – art work
Round Table Aberdeen – sponsorship for artwork
Linda Lovie – tactile sensory display
Dulex Paint Aberdeen – paint
Khyber Pass Association – donation
Unison Union – donation
Mrs Ann Thain – donation
Betty Craig – donation
Evelyn Drennan – donation
And last but not least our amazing fundraising families, the Simons and the Cruikshanks.
Here are some fun activities for you to try at home this week.
If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Story Of The Week: ‘Hamish The Highland Cow’ By Natalie Russell
This week’s story is all about Hamish the very hairy Highland Cow who hates having baths and doesn’t like getting his hair cut!
Click below to watch and listen to the story on YouTube:
This week we are going to continue looking at animals known as minibeasts, which you can find in your garden or local area. Here is some interesting information about minibeasts. The download links can be found below each activity.
Education Scotland, in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council, produced a Resilience Alphabet full of fun think, say, do activities designed to promote resilience and develop coping strategies. There are a series of activities for each letter of the alphabet, so pick a letter and give it a go!
Here is a learning grid for Life Skills. It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help develop and promote your child’s independence in a range of household and life skills tasks.
These activities are only suggestions and we would recommend that, where appropriate, you adapt these activities to meet your child’s ability level.
Learning Grid: Get Active!
Here is a learning grid for Getting Active! It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help promote physical activity both in and out of the home on a daily basis.
These activity are only suggestions and we would recommend completing one activity each day. However, we would love to see what other creative ways you and your family are using to Get Active daily!
Links to YouTube Channels and websites can be found below.
Here are some fun activities for you to try at home this week.
If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Story Of The Week: ‘Hole At The Bottom Of The Sea’ By Jessica Law
This week’s story is one of our favourite Barefoot Books stories. Sing along and see what you can find at the bottom of the sea.
Click below to watch and listen to the story:
The book study below has some great activities for you to try at home based on the story.
Links and additional documents to support the activities can be found below.
Activity 1: Sea Creature Characters
These characters can also be downloaded using the link below:
This week we are going to continue looking at animals known as minibeasts, which you can find in your garden or local area. Here is some interesting information about minibeasts. The download links can be found below each activity.
Education Scotland, in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council, produced a Resilience Alphabet full of fun think, say, do activities designed to promote resilience and develop coping strategies. There are a series of activities for each letter of the alphabet, so pick a letter and give it a go!
Here is a learning grid for Life Skills. It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help develop and promote your child’s independence in a range of household and life skills tasks.
These activities are only suggestions and we would recommend that, where appropriate, you adapt these activities to meet your child’s ability level.
Learning Grid: Get Active!
Here is a learning grid for Getting Active! It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help promote physical activity both in and out of the home on a daily basis.
These activity are only suggestions and we would recommend completing one activity each day. However, we would love to see what other creative ways you and your family are using to Get Active daily!
Links to YouTube Channels and websites can be found below.
Here are some fun activities for you to try at home this week.
If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Story Of The Week: ‘Shark In The Park’ By Nick Sharratt
This week’s story is about a young boy, Timothy Pope, who goes to the park to try out his new telescope. What will he find?
Last week, we looked at slugs and snails. In keeping with our Story Of The Week, ‘Shark In The Park’, we are going to look at animals known as minibeasts, which you can find in your garden or local park. Here is some interesting information about minibeasts. The download links can be found below each activity.
Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week. Education Scotland, in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council, produced a Resilience Alphabet full of fun think, say, do activities designed to promote resilience and develop coping strategies. There are a series of activities for each letter of the alphabet, so pick a letter and give it a go!
Here is a learning grid for Life Skills. It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help develop and promote your child’s independence in a range of household and life skills tasks.
These activities are only suggestions and we would recommend that, where appropriate, you adapt these activities to meet your child’s ability level.
Learning Grid: Get Active!
Here is a learning grid for Getting Active! It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help promote physical activity both in and out of the home on a daily basis.
These activity are only suggestions and we would recommend completing one activity each day. However, we would love to see what other creative ways you and your family are using to Get Active daily!
Links to YouTube Channels and websites can be found below.
Here are some fun activities for you to try at home this week.
If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Story Of The Week: ‘The Snail And The Whale’ By Julia Donaldson
This week’s story is about an adventurous snail who longs to see the the world and his unlikely friendship with a whale.
In keeping with our Story Of The Week, ‘The Snail And The Whale’, here is some interesting information about slugs and snails. The download links can be found below each activity.
Here is a learning grid for Life Skills. It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help develop and promote your child’s independence in a range of household and life skills tasks.
These activities are only suggestions and we would recommend that, where appropriate, you adapt these activities to meet your child’s ability level.
Learning Grid: Get Active!
Here is a learning grid for Getting Active! It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help promote physical activity both in and out of the home on a daily basis.
These activity are only suggestions and we would recommend completing one activity each day. However, we would love to see what other creative ways you and your family are using to Get Active daily!
Links to YouTube Channels and websites can be found below.
Pupils in school have been busy working with Diane, our art teacher, on an alternative Valentine’s project. The project is part of the Climate Coalition’s ‘Show The Love’ campaign where people are encouraged to create green hearts to promote awareness of climate change and other environmental issues. The artwork was made using recyclable materials and is now on display in the school foyer.
Room 4 have been reading ‘The New Friend’ by Alex Scheffler for their book study this term.
In the book, the main characters Pip and Posy make a new friend at the beach and they work together to build a sandcastle.
We enjoyed the book so much that we thought we would have a go at making our own sandcastles! We visited the beach and worked together to build our own sandcastles. We thought we did a good job. What do you think? We even made our own new friend when we went looking in the rock pools!
As a reward raising our first £1000 through ragbag for the school fund, the class had a day trip. We went bowling then for lunch, followed by a short walk along the prom. As we ate one pupil signed “It’s nice here!” A great day out for all. Well done Room 16!
Remember if you have clothes or bedding to be recycled, there is a Ragbag container in school reception. Many thanks for your continued support in our textile recycling fundraiser.