The first term of 2018 has seen a few school groups braving the cold weather to get outside and complete their Young Navigator Bronze Awards. P5 & 6 at Tong Primary had some classes with their teacher Mrs Emmott, and then Andrew and Isi went in to finish up with an orienteering challenge around the school grounds. Whilst they were out and about, we asked them to point out where they were on the map, orientate it correctly to North, and show us the route they were planning to take. They also looked at symbols, scale and compasses. They are now well on their way to being able to navigate themselves around the great outdoors, so parents if you’re planning to take them out feel free to get them practicing!
On the 20th February, before the evenings got too long, Mrs Mackinnon and her P1-4 class from Sir E Scott Primary came out for a night walk with Isi. They had been reading The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark as the basis for their project for the term, and wanted to experience the darkness for themselves – away from lights and buildings. We walked from the playground area in the Aline woodlands, down to the shores of Loch Seaforth and back again – a long way for little legs!
It was a very cold but calm evening, and the sun had just set as we left the carpark. We found lots of interesting things to talk about on the way, and the children especially liked seeing the snow on the Cliseam and other hills being lit up by the sunset. We spent a few minutes being very quiet to see what we could hear. We didn’t find any owls, but they were all surprised at just how quiet it was. When we got to the picnic bench by the loch, Isi gave everyone hot chocolate or juice, and a biscuit to keep them going for the return leg.
We looked out across the loch, which was very calm and looked like glass. On the way back, we turned off our torches and spent some time looking at the stars. We managed to find the Plough, Cassiopeia, Orion’s Belt, and some pictures the children made up themselves. Isi also had to remember some of her physics from school on the rest of the walk as the children had lots of questions about everything from the moon to black holes!
There were lots of smiling faces when we got back, although I suspect that they all slept well that night.
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
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.
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.
On the 15th to 17th January Andrew (the Modern Apprentice) was away on a subsidised Winter Skills course in the Cairngorms. The Course was run by Plas y Brenin on behalf of the Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust. The course offered him a great opportunity to develop his skills, to broaden his experience and to see another skilled practitioner working as an instructor.
The Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust
The Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust was formed by the family of young British climber Jonathan Conville after his death on The Matterhorn. The aim of the Trust is to provide quality mountain training for young people aged 18 to 30, so they have the skills and knowledge to be safe when out on the mountains.
The course covered winter mountaineering skills such as avalanche awareness, ice axe arrests, using crampons, basic rope work and walking on the ice and snow.
Coire an t-Sneachda
The instructor was Richard Bentley. Richard is an experienced Mountaineering Instructor (MIC) in the Lochaber area providing training and assessment to eager mountaineers, he also comes out to the Islands and runs training courses for us.
On the first day he started the course with acclimatising to the new equipment and the conditions. The skills covered were how to use your boots as a tool and more than just footwear; kicking steps and making ledges. Progressing on to the basics of using an ice axe when walking; using it as a third point of contact to be more stable.
As the day went on there was discussions about how to pick a route across the snow, being aware of the dangers, behaviour of the snow and how to make a safe and sound decision whether that was the way you wanted to go or not.
After Lunch there was some small ice climbing and practising the skills learned earlier in the day on the ice down in Coire t-Sneachda
Route For Day 1
On the second day due to the conditions, it was too icy and the snow gate was closed, making it impossible to get up to the ski range at Cairngorm, so the day began in the lower car park.
The day started practising the skills already learnt and the group demonstrating this by leading legs for themselves. Leading to ice axe arrests, basic rope skills; building anchors for belaying, abseiling and looking at how to build a shelter in the snow.
Route for Day 2
Walking into Coire Laogh Mor
When Andrew got back and was think about what he learned from the experience there were three main things: The importance of avalanche awareness (Scottish Avalanche Information Service, SAIS), how crucial good decision making is and not to step in a burn at the start of the day.
The outcome of the third was not only did he have a wet foot but also he was affectionately known as “Burnie” for the rest of the day.
Over the weekend an invitation to sign up for this event arrived, this is a great opportunity run by the British Council and the University of Edinburgh. It is a facilitated online learning course which is free and is a GTCS accredited course (General Teaching Council for Scotland).
The course starts on the 19th January so sign up soon.
If you answer YES to any of the following questions, then you should be seriously considering this course:
Are you interested in Learning for Sustainability and implementing it in your school?
Do you need practical help and support?
Would you benefit from sharing your ideas with other professionals?
Are you interested in developing or extending a British Council Professional Partnership with a school overseas?
The Course will help you with think about the following:
Critically consider the nature of teaching and learning within the context of Learning for Sustainability, which includes Sustainable Development Education, Outdoor Learning, and Global Learning.
In the context of the British Council’s ‘core skills’, reflect critically on developing the skills and dispositions required of teachers and learners related to Learning for Sustainability.
Apply in practice, and reflect upon the impact of, principles and practices of and approaches to Learning for Sustainability.
Work together towards the development of a Learning for Sustainability professional network for practitioners to support teacher learning and practice in Learning for Sustainability.
This is a fantastic opportunity and we recommend considering taking part.
Glow Blogs uses cookies to enhance your experience on our service. By using this service or
closing this message you consent to our use of those cookies. Please read our Cookie Policy.
