Well guys, they say that there is a first time for everything and this is the first time I’ve blogged…ever…so bear with me…

So, what have the children who have been out with me been up to this week? The larger groups have been looking at the history of the compass and how they work. We found out that the compass was actually invented in China, for those people who did the China project last half term, they might be able to tell you that it was in the year 1088 AD that the first records of the magnetic compass can be found in China.

Before the magnetic compass was invented, people would navigate, using the stars. We watched the first few minutes of this video about early navigation and I’ve added the link, because some children wanted to watch it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DlNhbkPiYY

If there is a clear night this week, see if you can find the North star. Speaking of stars, the following children were stars this week: Wojciech and Joseph (from the Gold and Diamond Group); Tegan (Rainbow and Moonbeam Group) and Sonny and George (Silver and Bronze Group).

Last week, the children enjoyed developing their mapping skills, playing the following game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/sysm/landscapes/highlands_islands/flash/index.shtml?flash=land_ms_compass Why don’t you have a go?

In other groups, Jessica L did some great writing and worked super hard in developing her reading.