Category Archives: ELP Music

Bird is the word in Gardening…

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We have been paying special attention to the needs of the bird life in the local community this winter. With yet another cold and snowy few months the need for looking after our feathered friends is even greater than usual. In November we spent a couple of lessons making and stock piling bird feeders and fat balls to be used through the colder months. Thankfully we managed this just in time for the dreadful cold spell that started in the last week of November and ended in January. We were able to put food out in the garden in a number of locations and help the small birds source energy when they needed it most.

On our return after Christmas we inspected our feeders and discovered that all of the food had gone. We were not surprised and set out to replenish the feeders again – just in case more bad weather happens.

In addition to being very vigilant and conscientious bird feeders we have also been studying other aspects of feathered life…

  • from a science perspective we have researched the kinds of birds that live in British gardens
  • in Art we have designed our own pictures of some of the different species in preparation for a survey of garden birds with the RSPB
  • through music we have studied a recording of bird song using it as means of relaxation and in order that we could consider why some birds sing…

We all live in a Yellow Submarine…

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In CDT this term we have been working with Mr Tough and Ms Armstrong to put together a fabulous 3D structure for display in the front reception hall on Open Day. This is going to take the form of a replica yellow submarine from the Beatles song of the same name.

We have been investigating the works of the Beatles in our ICT and Music lessons and through this work came up with the idea of making a Beatles Museum just like the one in Albert Dock, Liverpool. As the centre piece of this museum we voted to make a large model of the Yellow Submarine and we commenced construction of this during our CDT lessons. We have been taking photographs of our progress as we go along – from papier mache making through to frame design. We hope to display this evidence of our planning and activity for everyone to see when we open the school doors to the community in June.

In Music we have also been learning the words and tune so that we can also perform a rendition of Yellow Submarine in the associated school concert to be performed on the evening of Open Day…

Corny Collins Show comes to Preston Lodge…

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As part of our work for the Whole School Project we have been lucky enough to take a trip to the theatre to see a production of Hairspray. Hairspray has been one of the major themes running through the ELP programme of activities studying the 1960s and we have been fortunate enough to have the help of the school drama teacher, Mrs Thacker, on a Friday morning to assist us.

Thus far we have undertaken the following:

  • studied the many of the main themes explored through Hairspray (prejudice, equality, US Civil Rights Movement)
  • explored the various aspects of each of the main characters in the musical (Tracy, her parents, Seaweed, Amber and Velma) and discussed which theme they may represent most
  • studied key scenes in the production to look for evidence of prejudice, humour and “the message” of the musical
  • undertaken a range of interactive activities that explore our own attitudes, prejudices and feelings
  • undertaken a sub project on Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King
  • undertaken a sub project on 1960s fashion and music
  • watched two film versions of the production
  • went to the live production of Hairspray at the Edinburgh Playhouse

I addition to this however, we intend spending the coming term working towards presenting an abridged performance of Hairspray for Open Day in May. This will involve us spending the next few months auditioning and rehearsing in the Drama Studio. The intention is that we will set up our very own Corny Collins Show Studio in the Drama class for Open Day and welcome people to come in and find out all about the 1960s…

Concert changes for ELP pupils…

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As you will have read elsewhere on the school website, the school concert has been postponed until the final week of term. This has been unavoidable due to the school being closed all week to pupils because of unprecedented falls of snow.

Monday December 20th and Tuesday December 21st are the new proposed dates for our concert however this now coincides with a pre-arranged trip for older ELP pupils to see Hairspray at the Playhouse as part of the mainstream Drama venture. As a consequence, it was decided that we would only expect our ELP pupils to perform on Monday December 20th 2010.

A letter will be sent home to parents with regards to the changes as soon as pupils resume their normal school day again. In the meantime, can this change please be noted in family diaries – parents will now only be able to see our performance of “Butterfly, fly away” on the Monday evening. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

In the meantime, please continue to rehearse your lines – we look forward to welcoming you all back to school soon!

Whilst you are at home…

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Whilst you are on your snow days it would be a really good idea to continue to practise your singing for the school concert next week. Everyone was issued with the lyrics to our Hannah Montana extravaganza and the pupils are familiar with versions of the songs on You Tube.

Please try and spend some time practising “Butterfly, fly away” each day to make up for missed music rehearsals with Mrs Sinclair and Co. – we are only one week from the big event and the more practice, the easier the special occasion will be!