Author: Ms Burns

#Falkirk Reading Teachers’ Book Group

Our teacher book group is continuing to read, discuss and review a range of new books for children and we want to share this as widely as possible. Here we review ‘When the sky falls’ by Phil Earle and ‘The small things’ by Lisa Thompson

#FalkirkReadingTeachers′ Book Group

Flood Risk in Falkirk: STEM Box

Welcome to the Flood Risk in Falkirk STEM Activity Box

Inside the Teacher’s Guide below you will find all the information you need to deliver a jam-packed STEM lesson with a hands-on activity, local heritage links and future career inspiration for your pupils! The learning materials included are best suited to pupils aged 8-14 years.

You can use the resources any way you please! In addition to the core lesson and activity there are plenty of optional extras, extension ideas and links to external resources to use at your disposal

1) Teacher’s Guide_ Flood Risk in Falkirk

 

2) Whiteboard friendly version Flood Risk in Falkirk

 

3) Worksheets Planning & Predictions

 

4) Worksheets Results

 

Click on the following video from the Institute of Civil Engineers: Kevin – Roads Engineer (ICE)

 

 

Click on the following video from the Institute of Civil Engineers: Scott – Floods Engineer (ICE)

 

Click on the following video from the Institute of Civil Engineers: Gillian – Geotechnical Engineer (ICE)

 

Additional information on STEM box contents:

Flood Risk STEM Box Contents

 

Click on this link to download in Word format Flood STEM Box Risk Assessment Dec 2021

 

SDS Focus Repotting Mixes

 

Newplast Clay DATA SHEET

 

FULL Image credits_Flood Risk

Wind Power in Falkirk: STEM Box

Welcome to the Wind Power in Falkirk STEM Activity Box

Inside the Teacher’s Guide below you will find all the information you need to deliver a jam-packed STEM lesson with a hands-on activity, local heritage links and future career inspiration for your pupils! The learning materials included are best suited to pupils aged 8-14 years.

You can use the resources any way you please! In addition to the core lesson and activity there are plenty of optional extras, extension ideas and links to external resources to use at your disposal

01 Teachers Guide_Wind Power in Falkirk

Click here for a video of Charlotte Strang-Moran – Electrical Engineer – Charlotte Strang-Moran answers questions in relation to her career pathway to becoming an Electrical Engineer at ORE Catapult.
This video interview was created by ORE Catapult in partnership with Great Place and Falkirk Science Festival, and presented as part of a digital learning STEM Activity Box resource: ‘Wind Power in Falkirk’.

Click here for video of Tony Fong – Engineering Manager – Tony Fong answers questions in relation to his career pathway to becoming an Engineering Manager at ORE Catapult. This video interview was created by ORE Catapult in partnership with Great Place and Falkirk Science Festival, and presented as part of a digital learning STEM Activity Box resource: ‘Wind Power in Falkirk’.

 

Explore Further

Below you will find additional helpful links and resources from our partners at ORE Catapult

Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation: Pres1_ORE_ STEM – FunFactsWind Power_2021

Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation: Pres2_ORE_wind Turbine Blades_presentation (note that this file is 40MB)

ORE Wind Turbine Lesson Plans

YouTube videos by ORE Catapult

Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine in Fife

Robotics in offshore wind

Sustainable decommissioning of offshore wind (circular economy) Great opportunities for future careers and environmental discussions.

Our test facilities in the north east of England

Explaining the forces and loads on a turbine

Additional information on Wind Power in Falkirk STEM box contents:

Wind Power STEM Box Contents

 

Click on this link to download in Word format the Wind Power Risk Assessment Dec 2021

Blue Carbon in Falkirk: STEM Box

Welcome to the Blue Carbon in Falkirk STEM Activity Box

Inside the Teacher’s Guide below you will find all the information you need to deliver a jam-packed STEM lesson with a hands-on activity, local heritage links and future career inspiration for your pupils! The learning materials included are best suited to pupils aged 8-14 years.

You can use the resources any way you please! In addition to the core lesson and activity there are plenty of optional extras, extension ideas and links to external resources to use at your disposal.

1) Teacher’s Guide – Blue Carbon STEM box

2) Digital Board Friendly Version to use alongside your Teacher’s Guide

 

Click here to watch an overview and introduction to ‘Blue Carbon’, video made and narrated by Marcelina Lekawska, detailing the ‘Blue Carbon’ and how to protect it. Originally produced for a Falkirk Science Festival workshop in 2021:

https://vimeo.com/636076877

Click here to watch a guided video of a local Blue Carbon heritage site, conducted and presented by Professor William Austin, when exploring the Saltmarshes and the work of researchers RSPB Skinflats. Film Originally Produced by Schedule D Productions:

https://vimeo.com/635377136

Click here to watch a detailed introduction to the importance of Saltmarshes by the RESIST Project. Produced by Cambridge Filmworks and Voice over by Julia Lee

Click here to watch an instructional video made and narrated by Marcelina Lekawska, detailing the ‘Teabag Experiment’ used by scientists and the wider community to compare decomposition between a saltmarsh and regular soil environment. Originally produced for a Falkirk Science Festival workshop in 2021:

https://vimeo.com/636071628

Click here to watch an interview of Professor William Austin, conducted by Marcelina Lekawska, detailing the career path and work of a scientist, researcher and academic within the world of Blue Carbon. Originally produced for a Falkirk Science Festival workshop in 2021:

https://vimeo.com/636077203

Additional links:

Click below to learn more about Blue Carbon projects around the world:

https://www.blueforestsolutions.org/projects

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/our-work/our-projects/living-seas/blue-carbon/

https://www.innerforthlandscape.co.uk/projects/conserving-restoring/skinflats-saline-lagoons

https://www.abpmer.co.uk/services/habitat-creation-and-restoration/

https://www.teatime4schools.at/en/

https://www.thebluecarboninitiative.org

Additional information on STEM box contents:

Blue Carbon STEM Box Contents

 

Click on this link to download in Word format the Blue Carbon STEM Box Risk Assessment

 

Westland Soil Data Sheet

 

Weighing Scale DATA SHEET

Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Picture Books

You Can Be Campaign – Book Audit | Zero Tolerance

The You Can Be Book Audit is a chance for ELCs and nurseries to win £100 worth of books by taking part in an audit of their book collections. The idea is to bring greater gender balance and challenge old-fashioned gender stereotypes that can be harmful to children and stop them achieving their full potential.

Check out the link above for more information and book ideas.

We have also put together book recommendations that challenge the gender stereotypes:

Go to this Sway

 

Early Years Picture Book Group

Inclusive Stories

Our last round of books focused on LGBT+ families and inclusive stories. All children deserve to see their own lives represented in the stories we share and books are a fantastic way to build empathy and understanding of others.

The discussion was very positive and one of the most interesting points raised  was that the LGBT+ family books were just accepted by the children as books about families in general and that we, as adults, can put our own preconceptions onto books. The children didn’t see a label, they just saw families and children like them.

My Friends and Me by Stephanie Stansbie is wonderful as it shows a whole range of different families: LGBT+, single parents, foster parents, step families and many more.

Ketchup on your Reindeer by Nick Sharratt

Another absolute winner from the brilliant Nick Sharratt. With split pages so the children can make up their own crazy story combinations. The children adored sharing this book with each other—a real Christmas cracker!

 

 

Too Much Stuff by Emily Gravett

Children loved this gentle story about consumerism, advertising and the desire we have to accumulate ‘stuff’.  When the magpies lay eggs they feel they need to get lots of things to make their family perfect when all they really need is each other. Heart-warming and sweet with beautiful illustrations.

Up Next

We are very excited as our next focus is STEM through stories and the group are working with RAISE Falkirk to develop resources around the books.

Maggie Burns, Librarian

Learning Resource Service

lrs@falkirk.gov.uk