All posts by Olivia Wexelstein

Learning Experiences Catalogue now launched

Education Scotland has announced the launch of the Learning Experiences Catalogue which aims to develop a sustainable programme of relevant, engaging and challenging learning experiences for children and young people aged 3–15 within a broad general education.

Learning experiences have been designed to support children and young people to learn to create, collect, code, animate, bake, garden, build, tell stories all set within contexts and many of them are interdisciplinary.

The catalogue provides learners with a brief description of each learning experience which they can read or can be read to them by clicking the audio file beside the LearnCat icon. Graphics have been designed to support learners in understanding where the learning will take place, which curriculum areas they will learn within and who they will learn with. Educators are provided with more information about each learning experience and planning guidance.

Each academic term a new collection of learning experiences will be launched. The autumn collection of learning experiences will be live from September 2013.

Explore the Learning Experiences Catalogue today.

YMFS: Monthly Live Broadcast Discussion – Hit The Road

Wednesday 26 June, 2013 from 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

Google+ Link: http://bit.ly/YMFSjunestream

Join us for the second in a series of monthly live streamed broadcasts, led by Youth Music Forum Scotland using Google+ and Livestream, exploring current topics in youth music from all across the country.

This episode will feature guest Jamie Gilmour of the Scottish Music Centre, joining us live to discuss the exciting youth music project Hit The Road and how young acts can gain experience in the modern music scene and find their footing in live performance in this country.

Take part in the conversation live online where you can ask Jamie your questions on Hit The Road and find out all about what’s happening in youth music in Scotland this month.

The live stream discussion will run from 6.00—7.30pm on Wednesday 26 June.

To join in the debate fully, log in to your Google account. We encourage you to pose questions to Jamie Gilmour in advance of the event by emailing, hello@ymfs.org.uk or on Twitter (Twitter.com/YMFScot) using the hashtag #HitTheRoad or at Facebook.com/YMFScot or you can call the Inner Ear office and ask to speak with Benny or Anny, on 0141 226 8808. If you prefer you can join the Google+ hangout where you can talk directly on camera (using your computer’s in-built microphone and camera) and ask a question as if you were in the room. If you’re new to Google, we recommend you take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with Google+ from 6pm, where we’ll be on hand to help with any technical queries before the broadcast starts from 6:30pm.

If you’re able to join us live on Wednesday 29 June on Google+, please join the event or you can sign up via eventbrite.com.

Teddies, trains and tops

A new exhibition has opened at the Wee Museum of Newhaven at Victoria Primary School.

The exciting new exhibition was curated by the P3 / P4s and explores the toys and games used by children since 1844 when Victoria Primary School first opened.

You can also view the permanent displays on the fishing heritage of Newhaven and history of Victoria Primary School.  The exhibition is open to the public by pre-arranged visit.

Please contact the school for opening times: 0131 476 7306.

Click here for more information.

Offer for Fife Teachers

‘Fife Cultural Trust – ON at Fife’ is running a special offer for any teachers whereby they can get 2 for 1 tickets to see the play Teechers at Adam Smith Theatre next week (Mon 17th Jun).  To qualify all you have to do is phone the Adam Smith Box Office on 01592 583302 or email boxoffice.adamsmith@onfife.com.  Please see the link for the show below:

http://www.onfife.com/events/teechers

Remember to say that you saw this opportunity via Fife’s Creative Learning Network.

Glow – the M-Factor

The M-Factor is an interdisciplinary project aimed at Midlothian pupils in the upper stages of primary school (P6 and P7).  This project uses the context of the pop music industry to combine a range of curricular areas that enable pupils to develop knowledge and skills.

The M-Factor challenges pupils to write and record a pop song and create an associated pop video.
Pupils, teachers and parents throughout Scotland can get involved by voting for their favourites and a daily top 10 chart will be produced.

Click here to find out more (Glow log-in required)

Simple Acts 2013 – Find an Object that Tells a Story of your Heritage

12/06/2013 11:00

This event is suitable for P6 upwards. During the event the students will explore the meaning of heritage and will be shown objects that reflect as aspect of our heritage chosen by refugees. The Scottish Refugee Council representative will tell the students about the objects and the story behind them.

Pupils will be asked to share what they like about the objects and how it makes them feel.

To sign up for this event click here.

National Literacy Network Event – James Robertson Keynote, 12 June, 09.45

Join Scottish author James Roberson as he discusses The Testament of Gideon Mack, one of the Scottish texts at National 5 English.

During this keynote presentation James will give a brief autobiography, will explore significant elements within the text such as plot, setting, characterisation, structure, stylistic devices and theme.

He will also suggest learning and teaching ideas and resources.

To sign up for this event click here.

Ask An Astronaut with NASA

Wednesday 19th June at 10am

Join Glow TV for the fourth year of ‘Ask an Astronaut’ in collaboration with the Scottish Space School. Take part in this exclusive opportunity to talk to two star guests Rick Hieb and Amber Gell.

Rick Heib is a former NASA astronaut and a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He has logged over 750 hours in space, including over 17 hours of EVA (space walk). He was a mission specialist on STS-39 and STS-49, and was a payload commander on STS-65. He is currently the Vice-President of Lockheed Martin.

Find out more about Amber’s experience as a Rocket Scientist and Spacecraft Systems Engineer with NASA/Lockheed Martin. She is a member of the team that is designing the Orion Spacecraft which will replace the Space Shuttle and can be used to return humans to the Moon, rendezvous with asteroids, and explore Mars.

Use this unique opportunity to ask questions of our guests to get a better idea of how the fascinating solar system and their experience of it.

Take part in some space polls to find fabulous facts – do you know what was the first music video from space was?

Watch Amber and Rick taking part in a simulation to move a robotic land rover around the surface of Mars. This will mimic what astronauts have to do when they collect samples from the surface of Mars but they also have the extra task of challenging pupils on this mission!

To sign up for this event click here.

Join the ‘Commonwealth Class’

The BBC, the British Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat have joined forces to bring you Commonwealth Class, an exciting new opportunity for schools.

Commonwealth Class is a special initiative that provides teaching resources, online debates and interactive activities for schools to mark the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It celebrates the values of the Commonwealth and connects schools and young people as they learn about how to be active, responsible global citizens as part of the Commonwealth family.

The Commonwealth Class education pack is an exciting resource designed to teach young people about Commonwealth values such as rights and responsibilities, protection of the environment, respect for others and what people need to lead healthy lives free from poverty.
Produced by the British Council, the resource pack contains cross-curricular activities, short films and discussion guides with learning outcomes that link to key skills, curriculum subjects and Commonwealth values. Activities include what qualities you need to be a successful Commonwealth athlete, and an exploration of the route of the Queen’s Baton Relay which will visit all 71 countries and territories taking part in the 2014 games.

Get set for 2014 and download the British Council Commonwealth Class education pack today.

BBC online debates
Commonwealth Class partner, the BBC, is hosting a series of monthly online debates commencing this summer. The debates are intended to create a platform for schools in the UK and Commonwealth countries to teach and learn together.
The first debate in the series will take place on Thursday 13 June.
Visit Schools Online and sign up to Commonwealth Class for more resources and interactive activities that support lesson planning and teaching across the curriculum
And a week before the first debate you can visit the BBC’s Commonwealth Class website to find out how you can take part!