Category: Sciences

The Falkirk Canals Classroom

Welcome to the Falkirk Canals Classroom, an activity pack for primary school students that celebrates the fascinating history of the Union and Forth & Clyde canals in the Falkirk area.

Below, you will find everything you need to deliver lessons on the canals, with hands-on activities to do on the banks and in the classroom, canal heritage landmarks and links, and multimedia exploration of Falkirk’s historic waterways. The learning materials included connect to every curriculum area, and you can use the resources any way you please!

Stack them together to build a lesson, use them to enhance a bigger topic, or work through the whole booklet!

In addition to the activities there are plenty of optional extras, extension ideas and links to further resources – so it’s up to you!

Find individual subject area packs, or the full version of the information below:

Falkirk Canals Classroom – full pack

Falkirk Canals Classroom – in full – click here to download pdf or view below


Subject area packs

1) History and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

History and the Canals

2) Geography and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

Geography and the Canals

3) Art and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

Art and the Canals

 

4) Health & Wellbeing and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

Health and Wellbeing on the Canals

 

5) Science and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

Science and the Canals

 

6) Maths and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

Maths and the Canals

 

7) Modern Studies and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

Modern Studies and the Canals

 

8) Literacy and the Canalsclick here to download pdf or view below

Literacy and the Canals

 

9) Falkirk Canal Classroom Activitiesclick here to download pdf or view below

Kapla – Available to Borrow

We have two amazing 1000 piece Kapla sets available to borrow. They come with four

idea books but are perfect for letting your pupils’ imagination and creativity shine.

 

The feedback received so far has been fantastic and some teachers are trying them out to see if they are worth buying as a school (they are!).

How big a tower can you build? Let’s measure it!

Remember we have loads of ‘hands-on’ STEM resources as well as books.

#Falkirk Reading Teachers’ Early Years Book Group: STEM Focus

Our Early Years Book Group has been looking at new picture books that can be used for STEM. Picture books are fantastic for stimulating learning and many are wonderful for a STEM Through Stories focus. The Falkirk STEM Officers support us by providing story planners for each book to give teachers and practitioners a starting point but our members always find creative ways to use the books and bring the learning to life.

King of the Swamp by Catherine Emmett and Ben Mantle

King of the Swamp Plan

McDarkly lives all on his own, growing orchids in his dank swamp, until one day his peace is disturbed by an arrogant king who wants to turn the swamp into a roller-skate park. This story is brilliant for looking at nature, minibeasts and environmental issues.

Practitioners took the book with them on a visit to the local woods and it stimulated lots of role-play and den building. One child commented that they didn’t want them to ‘take away our green stuff’ when they saw building work happening nearby.

 

Tad: a big story about a brave minibeast by Benji Davies

Tad Plan

Tad is the smallest tadpole in the pond and she is scared of ‘Big Blub’. When the other tadpoles start to disappear she worries ‘Big Blub’ has got them. This story is brilliant for looking at life cycles and feelings.

The children loved this story and found it very engaging. They walked to a local pond to see some real tadpoles and practitioners felt it would be best to use this at spring time.

 

Tiny Little Rocket by David Fickling and Richard Collingridge

Tiny Little Rocket Plan

A little rocket takes you on an adventure to space. This book is great for looking at space, rockets and technology.

This was a strong favourite of the children who loved to pour over the pages together with friends. The black background makes the pictures bold and attention-grabbing and encourages the children to learn about space. The children took their interest outside to see the moon and this lead to lots of discussion about what’s in the sky.

 

Izzy Gismo by Pip Jones and Sarah Ogilvie

Izzy loves to invent but her inventions don’t always go to plan. This story is good for looking at inventions, technology, block play and developing a growth mindset. Izzy is also a strong, diverse role-model for getting girls into STEM.

A planner wasn’t created for Izzy as the STEM Officers felt it was the perfect book to inspire free and creative play in children. Practitioners felt it is a good book to leave in the building area to inspire children. They loved the rhyming text and the pictures have a lot of detail for children to pour over.

 

Learning for Sustainability Resource Boxes

We have been working with the Falkirk STEM Officers, Laura McCafferty and Barbara Hanning, to extend our range of STEM resources and develop new resources to support STEM Through Stories. This year’s COP26 in Glasgow has meant many schools are covering Learning for Sustainability and we have produced new resource boxes to support this at early, 1st and 2nd levels.

Each box has a story book with a planner developed by the STEM Officers:

Early Level

Somebody Swallowed Stanley by Sarah Roberts

Somebody Swallowed Stanley Plan

 

 

 

 

1st Level

Eco-wolf and the three pigs by Laurence Anholt

Eco Wolf and the Three Pigs

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Level

Song of the dolphin boy by Elizabeth Laird

The Song of the Dolphin Boy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class sets of the books and the resource boxes are available to borrow from us.

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

RSE School Talks Programme

RSE Schools

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) have announced a free School Talks programme where a number of their Fellows will be delivering free online talks to schools throughout Scotland.

All talks are presented by inspirational experts, keen to enthuse and excite young people in P6 – S6 covering Sciences; Technologies; Social Studies; Health and Wellbeing; Expressive Arts; Mathematics; and Languages. They look AMAZING! Many of the speakers are also willing to work with teachers to tailor their talks to fit with class curriculums.

For more information about the talks and how to book please visit https://www.rse.org.uk/schools/school-talks/