What’s New on the Website
This month we have added links to the following pages:
General Support & Resources: Education Scotland Technologies Planning
Planning: Computer Science Overview – Mr Milliken, Busby Primary; Skills Development Within the Sciences – Stranraer Cluster; Technologies Planning – Education Scotland
Biodiversity & Interdependence: Science & Plants for Schools
Maths: Mathsticks
Help with STEM Planning and Assessment
We know many schools are revisiting their STEM, and particularly Technologies, programmes and planning in light of the introduction of benchmarks and updated Es&Os, so we have added a new page within the General Support & Resources section where we will share examples of planning, programmes and progression from teachers, schools and authorities across Scotland. Developing planning can be a major task, but there is no need to ‘re-invent the wheel’ … you might want to change the tyres and up date the hub-caps however to suit your school’s particular context.
If you would like to share anything that you have developed, or you know of a particularly good piece of planning and/or assessment work, please share it with us.
D & G Science Festival
The RAiSE team had a stand at the D&G Science Festival and it was non-stop from start to finish with about 100 families visiting our stand. They tried out a number of STEM related activities: Kapla blocks, pushing a skewer through a balloon (without bursting it!), investigating UV light, and being transported to a tropical paradise thanks to the ‘magic’ of green screen. Carol and Karen couldn’t have managed it without the help of 7 fantastic S5 pupils from St Joseph’s College, who kindly volunteered to give up a Saturday afternoon (and just before their exams too!). Will add some photos once we’ve got them uploaded!
It was a great opportunity to chat to parents about STEM as well, and we are keen to meet more parents. If you would like a member of the RAiSE Team to join you at a parents’ evening or summer fayre to run an interactive stand, then we’d love to hear from you.
Showcase Your Talents!
Miss Douglas and her P1 class at Heathhall PS decided to try something a little different for assessing their weather topic. Miss Douglas says: ‘Turns out Green Screen really isn’t that difficult, even with P1, and the kids absolutely love it.’
Congratulations to Ben, P3/4 pupil from St Ninian’s PS, who has been crowned Scotland’s Power Wise Champion by electricity firm SP Energy Neworks. Ben entered the PowerWise drawing competition with his interpretation of what he would miss most if he had no access to electricity – the lights, being able to charge his tablet and of course, his tablet.
The boys and girls in Gretna Nursery were really excited to dismantle and explore the parts of the old nursery computer after it broke! Maybe inspire a future Bill Gates or Steve Jobs in the audience?
Running an afterschool club, entered a competition or just have some excellent STEM curricular work? Have it showcased in the monthly Full STEM Ahead Round Up.
We know that celebrating success across the region is key in raising attainment and showcasing good STEM practice. If you have a piece of work or activity you would like us to share with fellow learners and practitioners across Dumfries and Galloway, then send a photograph and short description (no more than 150 words) to gw08moyescarol@ea.dumgal.sch.uk and look out for yourself in next month’s issue!
If you do just one thing this month …
- The Lighthouse Keeper Challenge -everything you need to run a STEM activity day for 7-11 year olds
- Graphing Stories – which develops graphing skills for secondary pupils using videos
- Host an Alien Invasion – E is definitely for Excitement in this great idea for a STEM day for 7-14 year olds
- Assessment for Learning in STEM Teaching – an 18 hour online course for primary and secondary teachers
There is so much more to discover, so we encourage you to have a look.
Coming Soon
14-18 May – National Digital Learning Week
17 May – Outdoor Learning Day
Twilights – book through CPD Directory
That’s well cool!
Carrutherstown Primary P4-7 Pupil
on using Lego WeDo for the first time
