Broad General Education
The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is Scotland’s education framework for ALL learners; its main aim is to enable children and young people to develop the four capacities; successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. In Orchard Brae School each learner is enabled to become as independent as possible, developing skills for life, learning, leisure and where appropriate work. Our curriculum offer is personalised to each pupil throughout their learning journey, as we maintain a focus on positive future destinations.
Our learners in P1 – S3 work within Broad General Education (BGE) at a level and pace that is suited to their individualised needs. Personalised targets focus core skill development within Literacy and Communication, Numeracy and Health and Well Being. The ethos and life of the school community is structured to enable pupils to learn and practise life skills as part of their daily routines. Through interdisciplinary approaches and specialist courses, we offer real life learning contexts, deepening and practicing knowledge and skills within Expressive Arts, RME, Science, PE, Technologies and Social Studies. Interdisciplinary learning, through ‘Our world’ contexts over a 5 year cycle, facilitates pupils’ exploration, experience and learning which is practiced within community contexts, ensuring confidence and success is generalised and secure. Family learning is a vital part of our pupils’ success and, along with our termly learning challenges, we offer a range of workshops, activity nights and holiday schemes for families. Achievement and success is recognised and celebrated.
Outdoor Education has been focusing on Force and Motion this week. Kites are super fun so we decided to make our own and decorate our windows!
Room 10 have responded fabulously to lots of change recently and have enthusiastically immersed themselves into a new term. We have started to run “bucket time” sessions in our class, and the response so far has been brilliant, from spontaneous shouts of “bucket” and “go!” to fantastic engaged visual attention. Indeed the spoken, signed and AAC supported communication shared by the class throughout the day has been very impressive!
Our topic this term is “books and stories”, and we’ve been working hard on two projects. We’ve each been starting work on our own sensory story, but we’ve paused that for a moment whilst we video one of our favourite stories. Our favourite part so far has been playing hide and seek like the animals hiding in our story! We’ve also recreated the sea with our parachute and sensory lighting.
We’ve also been working hard on both target work and independence skills.
Room 4 have been having lots of fun making towers with cardboard boxes and different blocks, We have had even more fun knocking them over! This has allowed us to learn about size, shape and space in a fun way.
When the three little pigs set off to build new houses, the first little pig chooses to make a house out of straw. The second little pig makes a wood house, and the third little pig uses bricks. But which house will keep them safe from the big bad wolf?
What have we learned from this story?
Hard work pays off – the primary moral lesson learned from “The Three Little Pigs” is that hard work and dedication pay off. Also, working together is far better than working alone.
Our pupils have been introduced to story plays before and always enjoy them.
The story plays use props and characters to retell a story. If you are looking for a new way to tell a story, this form of storytelling is magical for kids.
Room 8 has had so much fun building houses just like the pigs. These 3 Little pig houses have been used for sequencing and discussing elements of the story.
“I’m a Little Piggy” is set to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot.” The song was sung during our Book study sessions, and it has a related literacy activity. Also, it encouraged the kids to stand and act the song out as they sang.
“I’m a Little Piggy”
I’m a little piggy
Short and pink.
Here is my belly, and here is my snout.
When I get hungry
Hear me oink.
Tip the pail and pour it out.
Room 6 had a great time on Tuesday 25th January. We learned about Robert Burns, listened and played along to Scottish songs, made a haggis from leaves, twigs and netting and made a thistle using bubble wrap, green paint and purple strips of cloth. We also learned a Scottish ceilidh dance, found out what happens in a Burns’ Supper, tasted Scottish food and then had our own Burns’ Supper in class with our very own piper Claire!!
Room 3 has been exploring The Little Mermaid through different multisensory experiences. We have been artists, scientists, expeditionists and treasure seekers to name a few roles!
In class this week we celebrated Burns Night! We made our very own haggis from an old pair of stockings which we stuffed with leaves and twigs we found during our outdoor education session. We played a game of Scottish corners and some Scottish parachute games. This was so much fun and a bit competitive at times!
In the afternoon we had a Scottish drumming session with Keith and a Scottish ceilidh. We dressed up in our finest tartan and had danced our socks off. We finished our day with some shortbread! It was a fantastic day and we all had great fun!
Throughout the day, every day, our pupils in Rm 2 are developing their independence skills – these photos show them developing their skills with very little or no prompting from an adult.
The Orchard Brae children have been reconnecting with each other by leaving muddy footprints on the walls between the classrooms!
A spot of brown paint and tickles on the feet!
Outdoor learning has been lots of fun
Room 4 have been getting into the Christmas spirit. We have been doing lots of activities to explore Christmas. Have a look at our Christmas wreaths and our Christmas tree.
