Category Archives: People

Get Ready for Commonwealth Science Class

posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer Schools and Learning

Commonwealth Class

News from the Commonwealth

Commonwealth Pic1Get ready for Commonwealth Science Class

We have teamed up with The Royal Society to launch an exciting new series of science resources and activities.

Enthuse your students’ interest in science and excite their curiosity about the world around them. Our new learning materials are designed to encourage young people to take part in experimental science experiments and share and compare their results with others around the globe.

Get started by taking a look at the first resource in the series – Renewable Energy: How can we keep the lights on? Each resource comes with a video featuring an eminent expert on the subject.

There will also be opportunities for you to join in with debates on the subjects and continue the discussion on our forum pages.

Prepare for the next Commonwealth debate

Commonwealth Pic2What if there are no rules?  Ask your class to consider what would happen if they came to school one day and there were no longer any rules. Join us in discussing this in our next Commonwealth Class debate on Thursday 21 April. The debate starts at 9:30am GMT and will be facilitated live until 11:00am GMT, but you can post your comments up until 28 April.

Commonwealth Pic3In focus: rule of law:  The Commonwealth believe the rule of law provides protection for all its citizens. Prepare for the next debate by sharing and discussing your thoughts on the legal system, why rules and laws exist, and access to justice. Get the conversation going – start thinking about different justice systems all over the world and consider whether they are fair.

Commonwealth Pic4Justice, rules and Shakespeare: Our Shakespeare Lives resource contains fun ideas and ways for you to explore the theme of justice and rules in more depth right across the curriculum.  The activities are designed to help students think critically and creatively, and are also ideal for collaborating with a partner school.

More Activities

Commonwealth Pic5Win a trip to London!   Take part in The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition and win a trip to London! This year’s theme is ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’. It is a chance for students to express themselves through creative writing and think about citizenship, tolerance and respect. Open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under. Deadline 1 May 2016.

Commonwealth Pic6Tell us what you think:  We would love to hear your feedback on our Commonwealth Class resource packs. This will help us to develop future resources that are most relevant to your needs. Help us by filling in our short survey – it should take no more than a few minutes.

BC - Commonwealth

Free 30 day access to Digimap for Schools

posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer – Schools and Learning

Digimap for Schools

An exciting competition for primary schools

All primary schools across Great Britain are eligible to enter a competition to have Steve Backshall visit their school and tell them about wildlife in their area.  All they need to do is sign up for 30 days free access to Digimap for Schools and create a map of their local area annotated with three photographs showing wildlife they’ve seen near the school.  It’s that simple!  For more information go to digimapwildlife.ed.ac.uk  The competition is a great reason for teachers to get outside and even incorporate a mile walk as they hunt for wildlife!

Your help to assist spreading the word of the 30 days free access would be very much appreciated.  Please share with your primary schools and colleagues working with primary schools.

Steve Backshall

Contact us:  EDINA Helpdesk edina@ed.ac.uk or 0131 6503302 (Mon-Fri, 9am – 5pm)

Build it Scotland

posted by Pauline Stephen, Head of Schools and Learning

 Built It1

We want children to build models of local and national landmarks in a virtual world to mark Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

Gol to bbc.co.uk/builditscotland for tips on getting started and support in using games and software like Minecraft and Tinkercad, plus information on how to 3D print your building.

Create It

Build It

Print It

Built it Ending

 

Eco -Schools is Changing – Your Next Steps

posted by Alita Spink|Schools and Learning Support Officer – Schools and Learning

Green Flag applications for some schools are now invited – find out what is next for your school. Update on the refreshed Eco-Schools programme.

Eco Schools

Eco Schools1

Eco-Schools Scotland is Changing Find Out What Happens Next for Your School

We are refreshing and enhancing the Eco-Schools Scotland programme to provide a framework for action towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to promote broader participation and engagement in developing a whole school and community approach to Learning for Sustainability.

To celebrate the work you’ve been doing up until you join the new process, we have created an interim Green flag application process which is now open. We’re ready to hear about the great work you’ve been doing and our interim Green Flag application will act as a bridge between the old and new process.

How your school will join the new application process will depend on when your Green Flag was last awarded. Please visit our updated website to find out the next steps for your school and download resources if your school has been invited to make an application.

All Scottish schools registered with Eco-Schools will receive a copy of our latest support brochure in the post containing further information about our new online assessment and application process and invitations for interim applications.   Read the brochure online, download updated application resources and look up whether your school is invited to make an application on our updated website: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/interimapplications

Our mailing address is:
Keep Scotland Beautiful
Glendevon House
Castle Business Park
Stirling,
Stg FK9 4TZ
United Kingdom