Falkirk Children’s Services colleagues can now access a collection of resources which support the progression and assessment of group discussion for primary 4, primary 7 and S2 pupils (or pupils requiring the support or challenge these represent). These resources are stored here in our Literacy and English Glow group (log in required). They take the form of a task sheet, an assessor guide(teaching guidance) and any prompt cards or activity resources required. Click here to see the task sheet for S 2 New Law which asks pupils to discuss how laws affect them and to invent a new law which would benefit young people. Click here to see the prompt images for the same context at second level (primary 7) which help pupils relate laws to their own actions everyday. Lastly click here to see the assessor guidance for the primary 7 version.
The task cards offer a simple reminder for pupils of some of the key skills involved in group discussion.
The group discussion task resources use an interesting and stimulating range of contexts which link to various subject areas across the curriculum. For example, primary 4 can discuss which invention has made the most impact on society, which aspect of the design of their trainers is most important, or whether children today have the right amount of freedom. Primary 7 could discuss transition issues regarding their imminent move to secondary school, what games/things to pack in case of wet weather during a caravanning holiday, or which well-known person is most likely to inspire and motivate people their age. S 2 contexts include who should be protected in an asteroid shelter in the event of a catastrophic asteroid collision with Earth, what do we really need to be happy and healthy, or the effects of computer games on young people.
These contexts lend themselves to observing the application of group discussion skills within an unfamiliar context, but could also provide discussion foci which offer breadth or challenge within Talking and Listening – Literacy. The activities combine skills and knowledge from a range of Experiences and Outcomes within Listening and Talking in a holistic way.
We are very grateful to Bernadette Kelly, principal teacher at St Margaret’s PS for sharing these resources. Bernadette was an assessor during the last Scottish Survey for Literacy and Numeracy, and Education Scotland gave the assessors permission to share these materials. Yvonne McBlain has stored 5 sets of resources for primary 4, primary 7 and secondary 2 within in Glow. Find the resources in the SSLN Resources Folder – scroll down until visible on the left hand side of the page. Any schools or teachers with queries about additional materials of this nature should contact yvonne.mcblain@falkirk.gov.uk .
