They have enjoyed writing stories and poems using interesting nouns, amazing adjectives and vibrant verbs. There is a lot to learn and their posters featuring Nodrog remind them of the different ways that words are used.

We have been introduced to new sports this term. Danny came to play squash with us and then we learned a few moves in judo from members of the Aberdeen Judo team.

Amy has written about a very special event for P7 last term:

A reconstruction of a triptych was created by our P7 class. A triptych usually has three sections but we made full use of the back of the triptych too and so we created scenes of the nativity, St Peter, St Machar, King James IV and Bishop Elphinstone. It took a long time to gather all the materials and we had to work patiently and as a team to fit all the pieces together.

When we took the triptych to Kings College, we felt very special. There was triumphant organ music to mark this historical and memorable occasion. The original triptych had been placed in Kings College four hundred years ago. One P7 pupil exclaimed, “We’re making history!”

Mrs Wischik, the class teacher, said, “The children worked hard and they have learned a lot about Old Aberdeen in the Middle Ages.”

Now read Megan’s account of key aspects of our project:

We are studying the history of our local area which is known as Old Aberdeen. We found out about King James VI of Scotland and who was also King James I of England. His mother was Mary, Queen of Scots and he became King when he was just 13 months old!!! We watched a series of videos about him in class. They were really funny!!!! He became King of England because Queen Elizabeth was his closest relative. She had no children so it meant that James (or Jamie as we have been calling him!!) was first in line for the throne.

We learnt a lot about St Machar Cathedral, which is just down the road from our school!! We went on two trips there and did two mindmaps and an assessment on it. We had to write the Legend of St Machar.

The Legend of St Machar

St Machar was an Irish prince. He lived on the island of Iona and was one of St Columba’s followers. The other followers became jealous of him so St Columba sent him to go and teach the Picts (the Scots) Christianity. The night before he left, St Machar had a dream. It told him to build a church where the river curves like a shepherd’s crook. This was the River Don in Aberdeen. He built his church out of wood so it rotted away. The cathedral you see today was started in about 1150 AD by the three Builder Bishops, Bishop Kinninmund, Bishop Elphinstone (who also founded Kings College) and Bishop Leighton.

We also studied Kings College which is the original part of Aberdeen University. It is also very close to our school!! It was founded in 1495 by Bishop Elphinstone but building work didn’t actually start until 1500.  It is Scotland’s 3rd oldest University!!! There is also a chapel at Kings. We have been there three times and our triptych is now on display there. Kings College is decorated beautifully, especially the choir stalls!!!

They have identified interesting leaves, seeds and fruit and displayed them on their nature table.

We enjoyed writing kennings.