Month: March 2018

The John Muir Award

In the outdoor team we are passionate about encouraging everyone to  appreciate what is around us. We believe the John Muir Award is one very effective way of becoming connected with the place we live and making the learning place based. There is not a set syllabus, it is up to you how you meet the criteria, and it is open to all (families can get involved, and individuals generally from an upper primary level). If you would like to talk about the John Muir Award and how you can take part in it or use it Contact the Team

There are four challenges at the heart of the Award:

Discover a wild place:

This can be the school grounds, an area near your school or something further afield?

Explore it:

Do things which will help you understand and become more aware of your wild place. Experience it.

Conserve it:

Do something practical and take personal responsibility for making it better

Share your Experiences:

Let others know about your wild place, what you have done and what you have learnt.

The Levels

There are three levels of award – Discovery, Explorer and Conserver. There is a time commitment to each and it should be seen as a minimum and the majority of the time should be spent outdoors. There is no upper limit but time can’t be carried forwards to the next award.

Discovery Award – 4 days (or equivalent) minimum time commitment

Explorer Award – 8 days (or equivalent) minimum time commitment

Conserver Award – 20 days (or equivalent) time commitment, over at least 6 months

The Thinking

The Award uses the Head-Heart-Hand Model from Patrick Geddes:

 

There is a downloadable John Muir Award Information Handbook

 

Free Learning for Sustainability Training for Teachers

Edinburgh University and The British Council are offering free places to teachers on a professional on-line learning course. The course starts on the 20th April 2018 and it will take about two to three hours of your time each week to take part in discussions and activities.  To book a place Click Here

This is a fantastic opportunity as it is a GTCS accredited course and by The Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL).

The Benefits of the course

Scotland is unique internationally in having a requirement for all teachers and education professionals to address Learning for Sustainability (LfS) in their practice. This fully funded professional learning has been developed by experts in online learning and is based on the most up-to-date methodologies.

It will:

  • support you to create an enabling environment for pupils’ Learning for Sustainability, with a focus on critical thinking and problem solving and citizenship;
  • help you to meet the GTCS Professional Standards, contributing to Professional Review and Development and Professional Update and contributing to a whole school approach to learning for sustainability;
  • offer the opportunity to meet and share ideas with other like minded professionals across Scotland
  • offer flexibility for you to participate at a time that is convenient to you
  • give access to an international network of like-minded teachers
  • provide support for British Council Professional Partnerships with schools overseas.

 

There Be Dragons

Tim and Andrew were asked to come into Stornoway Playgroup with the fire pan to do a session with the young people on fire. In their project they have been talking about the enchanted forest, dragons and how they breath fire.

Tim and Andrew set up the fire pan down the side of the Scout Hall, where the playgroup happens and lit the fire. The young people were put into groups of about seven and they came out with coats and hats on.

When each group came out Tim asked them what the knew about fire, all the groups told him ‘it was hot’, ‘it would keep you warm’ and you ‘can use it to cook’. Tim then introduced the idea of the three things which a fire needs; fuel, spark and oxygen. They pointed out the wood is fuel and Tim explained about air is full of oxygen and because it was cold they were able to puff out vapour, like a dragon breathing smoke. Tim then showed them a flint and steel and the spark it produces. Each young person was then able to have a go striking and creating sparks.

The fire was then used to ‘cook’ grapes on the end of a skewer which the young people had chance to eat.

Tim and Andrew always love the opportunity to hear small dragons roar round the fire.

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