Category Archives: Science

Art, Art and Design, Assessment, Building the Curriculum 4, Curriculum for Excellence, Dance, Drama, Education Scotland, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Literacy and English, Music, Numeracy and Maths, Primary schools, Science, Social Studies, Technologies

Primary curriculum conversation day – Friday 7 March

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Education Scotland is holding a conversation day focused on the primary curriculum on Friday 7 March in Duloch Primary School, Dunfermline. This event is aimed at school leaders.  We are keen to take stock of how the curriculum is developing in primary schools and hear school leaders’ views and experiences.

The purpose of the day is to:
•    consider how the curriculum is developing in the primary sector, particularly in relation to the raised expectations; and
•    identify areas that require further support and what that support needs to look like.

There will be opportunities to hear from a variety of colleagues as to how they are taking forward curriculum development at a strategic level in their schools as well as time for discussion.

If you would be interested in attending please contact margaret.mcguinness@educationscotland.gov.uk. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note travel expenses are not paid for conversation days.

Education Scotland, glow, Primary schools, resources, Science

Free Science resource for Primary Schools – TigTag

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Education Scotland is delighted to announce that schools can now access Tigtag – an award-winning, online science resource for primary schools, free of charge through Glow.

They have agreed 12 month national education licence with Twig World which allows Scottish schools to have unlimited access to this great resource.

Schools across the country are currently using Twig on Glow to access almost 1500 top quality short films. Tigtag provides a superb addition to this resource, and provides valuable support to primary practitioners to assist in the effective teaching of the Sciences Experiences and Outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence.

It provides access to:

• background information, relating to the key concepts identified in the science organisers, and quality films to support and enhance teaching and learning in the sciences.

• planning resources, investigation sheets, practical challenges and succinct clear lesson plans, providing a range of contexts for learning which draw on important aspects of everyday life and work.

• interactive lesson packages to help stimulate the interest and motivation of all learners and support staff in planning challenging, engaging and enjoyable learning and teaching activities.

• a “What Happens Next?” and “Scientific Enquiry” section to encourage learners to engage in dialogue, developing their investigative and inquiry skills.

Log on via Glow (Glow password required) and explore the world of Tigtag on Glow with your learners.

CPD, Creative practitioners, Curriculum for Excellence, Education Scotland, Health and Wellbeing, Outdoor learning, Science, Secondary schools

Supporting Outdoor Learning in Secondary Schools (event)

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Saturday 1 March 2014, 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

St Joseph’s Academy, Kilmarnock

In the revised GTCS Standards for Career Long Professional Learning teachers are required to ‘understand and develop the most appropriate contexts for learning including outdoor learningand be able to apply appropriate pedagogies for these environments’. This event aims to support this and build confidence and capacity in the delivery of outdoor learning in secondary schools in particular within Broad General Education (S1-S3).

This is a free event open to secondary teachers in Scotland – in particular those who are starting out on their outdoor learning journey and wish to develop their confidence in taking the curriculum outdoors. There is an expectation that those who attend this event will be willing to share their learning with colleagues in their establishment.

Registering for this event: If you wish to attend this event please register online byWednesday 19 February @ https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VSCB9NP

Early registration is advised as this event is likely to be very popular. Workshop choices will be sent out mid-February.

If you would like further information about this event please contact: Fiona Cruickshanks, Development Officer, Outdoor Learning Fiona.Cruickshanks@educationscotland.gov.uk

Creative Partners, Creative practitioners, Curriculum for Excellence, Funding, Opportunities, Primary schools, Science, Secondary schools, Social Studies

St Andrews Botanic Garden Free Transport for School Visits‏

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St Andrews Botanic Gardens have been fortunate in being awarded a grant from Fife Culture and Heritage Fund to cover the TOTAL cost of  your transport for educational visits to  Garden between now and the Easter Holidays.
They have lots of indoor and outdoor activities  which meet Curriculum for Excellence outcomes for all levels  in science, social studies,  maths, language and art. Their most popular activities are  Rainforest / Plant Lifecycles/ Seasons / Weather / Climates / Plant Growth / Grow your Own /Animal Homes / Wildlife Gardening / Conservation /Senses / Enterprise /  Dig for Victory / Egyptians / Tree-mendous Maths / Gruffalo Trail/ Pond Dipping and Minibeasts  and they are happy to devise activities to suit your requirements. See the attached programme for full details.
Charges for tutor-led visits are £3 for a half day (two activities, 10 am to 12 pm) or £4.50 for a full day (three activities, 10 am to 2 pm, including lunchbreak). They have an indoor Glass Class which takes up to 60 pupils, indoor facilities for lunch and refreshments are provided for accompanying staff and helpers.  You can also come for a free self-guided visit to the Glasshouses and Garden as a taster until the end of March 2014. There are tree trails and guide books and they can provide support materials to accompany your self-guided visit.
CPD, Creative Partners, Early Years, Health and Wellbeing, Primary schools, Science, Secondary schools

The RHS and Growing Schools Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Courses for Spring 2014

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Available to teachers, support staff, school governors and others who are involved in teaching and inspiring children about plants gardening and keeping animals in school. A wide range of topics is available, encompassing the use and development of school grounds, thus providing practical experience, activities and ideas for utilising horticulture in all areas of the curriculum.

The aims of this Programme are:

  • To enthuse and support adults in developing and using gardens in school.
  • To support progression through the RHS Campaign for School Gardening benchmarking scheme, levels 1 to 5.
  • To encourage and advise teaching of the curriculum both inside and outside the classroom using, plants, gardens, animals, school grounds and environmental areas.
  • To improve knowledge and understanding of plants, gardening and raising animals in school.

For further details about the courses and to register your school for the RHS ‘Campaign for school gardening’ visit: rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening

CPD, Science, Secondary schools

Astrobiology Summer Academy 13-16 July 2014

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The Astrobiology Summer Academy is a four day CPD programme (Sunday to Wednesday) for Biology AND Physics teachers to learn about the science of Astrobiology and work with researchers and lecturers to develop CfE lesson plans for topics such as ‘extremophiles’ (CfE Higher Biology) and ‘life in the Universe’ (SCN-3-06a, SCN 4-06a). There are 20 places available for teachers and you can register your interest at www.astrobiologyacademy.org

Art, Art and Design, Creativity, Dance, Drama, Education Scotland, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Literacy and English, Music, Numeracy and Maths, Science, Social Studies, Studying Scotland, Technologies

Resource Calendar (January 2014)

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The events in this calendar are celebrations, awareness days and action weeks all covering topical issues relevant to schools. Each of the events includes details of websites and support materials to help plan activities for learners.
The January events include:
· World Religion Day (19 January)
· Martin Luther King Day (20 January)
· RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch (20 January – 14 February)
· Burns Night (25 January).
Click here for the calendar.
Competition, Primary schools, Science, Secondary schools, Technologies

inGenious competition brings STEM classes to life

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A new competition has been launched to inspire the most creative teaching minds to translate their passion for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects into exciting classroom experiences.
The inGenious competition – co-ordinated in the UK by Futurelab at NFER – calls for all teachers in Europe to help their pupils better see the link between their passions, the set of skills which make them possible, and the education paths leading to those skills.
The inGenious competition is open to all teachers at primary and secondary school level. Applications are open until 28 February 2014, and 30 finalists will be invited to attend the inGenious European Award Ceremony in Brussels later in the year.
Art, Art and Design, Competition, Creative Learning, Creative practitioners, Creativity, Curriculum for Excellence, Health and Wellbeing, Science, Social Studies

23rd International Children’s Painting Competition

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The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment is an international contest, with regional and overall winners, for young people aged 6 to 14 organised by one of the United Nations agencies. It invites children to produce a painting on the theme of ‘Food Waste’ and saving the planet. The Think.Eat.Save website is designed to help inform their thinking around supply, waste and food security issues

For more information click here.

Competition, Creative Partners, Curriculum for Excellence, Opportunities, Science, Secondary schools

Scottish Power Foundation Challenge Days

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National Museums Scotland and The Scottish Power Foundation have joined together to offer 3rd and 4th Year students studying for National Physics Qualifications a unique opportunity to apply their classroom studies to challenges in real life.

Five Challenge Days will take place during National Science and Engineering Week, 14 – 25th March 2014, bringing students together with experts from science and industry to design, build and test their ideas for meeting Scotland’s future electricity demand through renewable energy sources.

For more information click here.