Amended Social Distancing Guidance For ASN

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Information from both the National and Scottish Government regarding Covid-19 is constantly being updated but we felt that it was important to share the latest update about social distancing from the Scottish Government with our school community.

We are aware that the restrictions put in place about social distancing and exercise outwith the home have proved challenging for many within our school community.  However, recent amendments to the social distancing guidance issued from the Scottish Government makes it clear that, if you’re autistic or have a learning disability, you can leave your home more than once a day and travel beyond your local area if this is important to your health.

“You can leave your home for medical need. If you (or a person in your care) have a specific health condition that requires you to leave the home to maintain your health – including if that involves travel beyond your local area – then you can do so. This could, for example, include where individuals with learning disabilities or autism require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day.”
(Scottish Government, 16th April 2020)

If you need carers with you, they don’t have to stay the two metres apart from you that is usually required by social distancing. However, it is still important to be careful and only go out when you really need to, to reduce the chance of getting ill or infecting other people.

“Even in such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those exercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your local area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from anyone who is not a member of your household or a carer at all times.”
(Scottish Government, 16th April 2020)

More information about this can be found on the Scottish Government website.

 

 

 

 

Music With Emmeline – Friday 17th April

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Here are today’s musical activities with Emmeline.

Musical Story: The Musical Life of Gustav Mole by Kathryn Meyrick

This is a lovely story of a mole born into a musical family. If you would like to listen to a part of the opera Carmen which is mentioned in the story there is a link to the most well-known part of the opera below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2snTkaD64U

How many instruments can you count in the story?

How many different types of music?

Flower of Scotland: Part 5 – Violin Accompaniment

Because we completed the whole song yesterday, today I am going to provide a violin accompaniment for ‘Oh Flower of Scotland’ that you can listen to and practise your singing/signing along with. I hope you enjoy it!

Music With Emmeline – Thursday 16th April

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Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

The Wheels on the Bus 

Today’s musical activity is ‘The Wheels on the bus’. Can you find anything at home to make the different sounds on the bus? Emmeline will show you what she has found in the video.

Flower of Scotland: Part 4 – The Whole Song

Let’s see if we can remember all three verses of ‘Oh Flower of Scotland’ and put them all together today. Good luck!

Music With Emmeline – Wednesday 15th April

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Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Musical Soundscape: Garden

Today we are going to be playing a garden soundscape. We have provided this picture as a visual stimulus for a Spring garden as there are many colourful flowers beginning to grow outside.

Please relax, listen to the music, look at the picture, imagine different things you might find in your garden and take deep breaths. Perhaps you have some things at home that make you think of being outside or the different sounds you might hear in your garden.

Flower of Scotland: Part 3 – Verse 3

It is now time to learn the third and final verse of ‘Oh Flower of Scotland before we put the whole song together tomorrow!

Those days are past now,
And in the past
They must remain,
But we can still rise now,
And be the nation again,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent him homeward,
To think again.

Music With Emmeline – Tuesday 14th April

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Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Musical Activity: Shaky Shaky Shake 

Today’s musical activity is brilliant for getting your body moving. You will need something shaky to join in. Lots of you will be familiar with this song – shaking up high and down low.

Flower of Scotland: Part 2 – Verse 2

Today we will learn the second verse of ‘Flower of Scotland’:

The Hills are bare now,
And Autumn leaves
Lie thick and still,
O’er land that is lost now,
Which those so dearly held,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent him homeward,
To think again.

Autism Outreach Service – Coronavirus, A book for children

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A free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input: Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine acted as a consultant, and the company also had advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist.

You can download a copy of the book by clicking on the cover page above.

The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:

• What is the coronavirus?
• How do you catch the coronavirus?
• What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
• Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
• Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
• Why are some places we normally go to closed?
• What can I do to help?
• What’s going to happen next?

Nosy Crow want to make sure that this book is accessible to every child and family and so the book is offered totally free of charge to anyone who wants to read it. However, they have suggested, at the back of the book, that families might make a donation to help our health service if they find the book useful: https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/.

Autism Outreach Service – Explaining Coronavirus, Webinar Slides & Resources

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The Scottish Charity,  Children in Scotland recently held a free webinar session …

Explaining coronavirus and managing health anxieties

with children with additional support needs

The webinar was presented by Corrie McLean. Corrie is an Autism Improvement Officer with Autism Network Scotland and has been working with autistic children in some form for nearly 12 years. She has a background in primary school teaching and a focus on additional support needs. Corrie also has a sibling with autism.

You can access the webinar’s presentation slides below,  as well as some additional resources.

Children in Scotland are also hoping to share the webinar on their website shortly so keep an eye out for it!

 

Orchard Brae – Sing A Rainbow

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Keith, our drumming instructor, and Emmeline, our music therapist, have come up with a small project for our Orchard Brae pupils at school and at home. We are going to make a video of us singing and signing “I can sing a rainbow”. Below is a video of Emmeline signing the song; please send in any clips of you and your family doing any of the signs from the song, you singing the song or perhaps a picture of the rainbow you have stuck in your window.

So many of our pupils have receive incredible care from key workers and we would like to put this song together to celebrate all of them and say thank you.

Please send your videos and pictures to info@therhythmbox.co.uk by 24th April.

Thank you!
Keith and Emmeline

Video: Sing A Rainbow

Colouring In Sheets

If you would like to colour in a rainbow to show your thanks for our amazing NHS, and care workers, you can print off one of the colouring in sheets below or alternatively download them from:

https://covid19.nhsgrampian.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Colour-in.pdf

Expressive Arts – Week Beginning 13th April

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Our Expressive Arts team have been busy creating more videos for you to enjoy at home throughout the week.
They include an art activity from Diane for you to copy, drumming and relaxation from Keith and for you to join along with, some cool dance moves from Sam for you to try at home.

Once again, if you would like to share your photos and videos with our school community, please email:
Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary)
adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Art:Painting With Objects

Drumming: Session 3 – Scottish Tunes

Relaxation With Keith

Dance: Crocodile Rock

Music With Emmeline – Monday 13th April

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Vocal Warm-Up: New Song – Flying Purple People Eater

This week’s vocal warm up is going to be learning a completely new song that is also a bit of a tongue twister. It is very catchy and fun!

Here are the lyrics for the song:

There was a 1 eyed, 1 horned, flying purple people eater,
1 eyed, 1 horned, flying purple people eater,
1 eyed, 1 horned, flying purple people eater,
Sure looks good to me!

Once you feel you have mastered the song you can try it faster and faster and see if you can keep pronouncing all of the words or keep the beat!

Flower of Scotland: Part 1 – Verse 1 

This week’s Makaton song is going to be ‘Oh Flower of Scotland’. Today we are going to learn the first verse. Here are the lyrics:

O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent him homeward,
To think again.