Tag Archives: special library lesson

Glasgow 850: celebrating our city in our school library

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This year, Glasgow is celebrating an incredible milestone: its 850th anniversary! Across the city, people are reflecting on Glasgow’s long and fascinating history, and we wanted to make sure our students had the chance to take part in the celebrations too. At our school libraries, my colleague Markie Deleavey and I put together some special activities to help pupils learn more about the city they live in: its culture, landmarks, and stories.

Markie created a brilliant activity booklet that students have really enjoyed. It’s full of puzzles, including crosswords, famous Glaswegians and landmarks, and even a section on Glasgow slang. The booklet was designed to make learning about our city fun and interactive and it’s certainly worked!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To go alongside the booklet, I added an activity based on the comic Beats of War by Etienne Kubwabo. The story follows a superhero who arrives on Earth in search of a way to save his home planet from robot invaders and while here, he discovers the power of music. The comic is set right here in Glasgow, and it features several recognisable city landmarks. Students were encouraged to read the story and see if they could spot places they knew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At St Mungo’s, pupils also created a colourful display showing all of Glasgow’s subway stations, with the nearest libraries and bookshops marked at each stop. They helped choose books set in or about Glasgow, adding them to Markie’s fantastic visual booklist for everyone to explore. Creating this display wasn’t just creative, it also helped pupils build their research and literacy skills while learning more about their own city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the last couple of weeks, our S1 and S2 classes have been coming into the library to take part in a quiz and challenges that test their knowledge of Glasgow. It’s been wonderful to see how engaged and enthusiastic they’ve been asking questions, sharing what they know, and having fun in the process.

 

 

 

 

 

These activities have been a great way to celebrate Glasgow’s 850th birthday and remind us all how school libraries can bring learning to life. We’re proud to help our students connect with their local heritage, build new skills, and find joy in reading and discovery.

Holocaust commemoration week @St Mungo’s

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Holocaust Memorial Day 2026

The 27th of January marks the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. To honour this solemn occasion, students from the Rights Respecting Group have created a powerful commemorative display. The display showcases a collection of books that explore the tragedy of the Holocaust, reminding us of the importance of remembrance and the responsibility we all share to learn from history and ensure that its mistakes are never repeated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout the week, 13 classes visited the library for a special lesson centered on White Bird by R.J. Palacio. This powerful graphic novel beautifully illustrates the importance of standing against cruelty and recognising our collective responsibility to challenge injustice. While White Bird tells a poignant story set during the Holocaust, it also serves as a lens to explore broader themes such as bullying, kindness, empathy, and resilience.

Designed for S1 and S2 students, the lesson takes place over two or three library periods, blending discussion, analysis, reading, and creative activities to deepen students’ understanding and engagement with these important themes.

White Bird - A Wonder Story (A Graphic | Extra

 

For additional context and engagement, students also watched the trailer of the book adaptation. This multimedia element provides a visual and emotional perspective on the story, helping to bring it to life and inspiring students to explore the novel or graphic novel further.

To bring the lesson to life and encourage participation, the final activity involves creating origami birds. These birds will be added to our Holocaust memorial display, transforming it into a vibrant, participatory tribute. This hands-on task allows students to connect their creative expression to the themes of hope and remembrance, reinforcing the importance of learning from history and standing up against injustice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This lesson is not only an opportunity to educate students about the Holocaust but also a chance to instill values of kindness, compassion, and courage while emphasising the importance of standing against discrimination in all its forms. By combining literature, film, art, and hands-on activities, we hope to create a meaningful and lasting learning experience for our students.