posted by Carol Lyon, Schools & Learning Support Officer (STEM)

A fun day was had by all at the Primary Enterprising Maths Challenge. Teams of three P6/7 pupils from nineteen Angus primary schools participated.

The day began with a Poster Challenge in which teams were required to demonstrate their understanding of Shape. Schools were given the topic in advance and some pre-event planning was permitted. Excitement built as model sunflowers, viaducts, nets, photographs, pictures and diagrams appeared. Posters were judged on both mathematical content and presentation. This challenge was won by Langlands Primary School whose poster was jam packed with interesting facts about angles, symmetry and shape in nature and architecture.

Next came the ‘Team Challenge’. Each team was given 30 minutes to work together to solve as many mathematical puzzles as possible. This was followed by the ‘Head-to-Head Challenge’ where teams faced each other in three rounds of a blockbuster type strategy game. The day ended with the ‘Relay Challenge’. Team members took turns to collect a question for the team to answer, questions became progressively more challenging and sound judgements needed to be made about the length of time to spend on individual questions before moving on.

Special thanks must go to Langlands Primary School for hosting the event, to Dr Helen Martin, Aberdeen University, for setting the challenges and leading the day, and to Dr Chris Pritchard, chair of the Scottish Mathematical Council, for agreeing to fund the purchase of a shield and presenting it to the winning team. As overall winners, Murroes Primary will be the first Angus school to have their name engraved on this shield.

The team from Murroes Primary School with Dr Chris Pritchard

The winning poster designed by Langlands Primary School

posted by Su Spink, PT PCS, Brechin High School

RGU Work Placements – by Sarah Smith, Brechin High School

Following on from a successful week of work placements in May 2015, RGU was delighted to welcome ten more work experience pupils to the university in November. This group consisted of seven S4 pupils from Torry Academy and three pupils from Brechin High. These pupils carried out their placements across a range of the university departments including the Student Union, Communications Department, RGU Sport, DELTA, Academic Affairs and The Research and Enterprise Department.

Due to her interest in teaching, Sarah Smith, a 5th year pupil at Brechin High, chose to carry out her placement with the Wider Access Team. Sarah was involved in a number of projects within the team and carried out a great deal of research for this article. Sarah also supported the team to deliver a one day Engineering workshop to S2 pupils from Northfield Academy.

“I have enjoyed my experience at RGU. I enjoyed working with the team and I feel this placement has let me experience the opportunities that a university can offer.”
As part of her work placement Sarah interviewed pupils carrying out their work placements at RGU and wrote the following article about their experiences.

Javed and Kamilla, from Torry Academy worked together at RGU Sport as both are interested in a career within the field when they leave school. Both, Javed and Kamilla had heard of RGU’s sports facilities and that the university itself has a good reputation.

During their placement, they worked at reception. While doing this they booked classes, welcomed customers and took tickets. They also took part in activities like rock climbing, which was their favourite part of the placement. Kamilla said “I wasn’t sure about being a sports coach but after this placement I’m sure that’s what I want to be.”

Because of Javed’s placement at RGU, he wants to pursue a career in sports coaching. Kamilla would also like to become a student at RGU after she has left school. “The people here are really nice and I enjoyed working with the team.” Kamilla has thoroughly enjoyed her time at RGU because of the support from the staff she was working with.

Nadia, from Brechin High, carried out her work placement at RGU’S Student Union. During her placement, Nadia promoted ‘Go Green’ by posting events on their Facebook page. She also designed badges for the ‘Go Green’ team. Nadia made a Christmas sustainable quiz which she really enjoyed. Nadia said that her placement was useful as she learnt some things about politics which is what she wants to pursue her career in. “I would recommend this placement to others because the staff and students are very welcoming and polite.” Nadia feels that her time here has been enjoyable and other students should try it out too.

posted by Yvonne Ryce, SFL, Webster’s High School

Webster’s High School Pupils donate £210 to Macmillan Nurses

A group of budding entrepreneurs from Webster’s High School’s Support for Learning Department, have just completed an enterprise project as part of their National 2 Business Course. Their objective was to make a substantial profit, and donate this to a worthy cause – Macmillan Nurses.

“Smart Cookies”, the name of business, sold beautifully decorated storage jars (kindly donated by Ikea) filled with ingredients to make delicious Easter cookies. The product was a sell-out and the team made £210 profit which was gratefully received by Kerry Low from the Macmillan Centre, Stracathro Hospital, Brechin.

posted by Brenda Dunn, Senior Lecturer, Programme Director BA Childhood Practice/Childhood Studies, Dundee University

Please click on the link below to view the leaflet

 15179 ESWCE BA Childhood Practice Leaflet (2) 2016

Applications will be accepted up to early June for August 2016 start. The application form is available from the prospectus link:

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/ug/childhoodpracticechildhoodstudies/