Mural is history in the making

A stunning mural depicting the role of Polish troops in the Second World War has been unveiled at Biggar High School.  The work of art was completed by lower school students at Biggar High School in conjunction with street artist Frank Carty.  The students’ inspiration came from their history lessons where they learned that Polish troops had been billeted in their school in October 1940. And the hunt for more information led them to seek the help of local historian Charlie Rigg and his daughter Suzanne who is the curator of the local Moat and Gladstone Museums.

http://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/press/article/590/mural_is_history_in_the_making

Autism-friendly screenings at Glasgow Film Theatre

Autism-Friendly Screenings

Access Take 2: September – December 2012

Dear friends of GFT,

We’ve just announced our next programme of Access Take 2 films, our monthly autism-friendly screenings.

Forthcoming films include:

Each film and the cinema environment are suitable for children with autism spectrum disorders and/or sensory hypersensitivity.  Our selection of films have no subtitles, are played with the volume reduced and the house lights on low, while children are free to make noise and move around. Children, family members and adults with other disabilities are welcome to attend the screenings too.

All of our autism-friendly screenings take place in GFT’s Cinema 2 on the first Saturday of each month at 12.30pm.

Glasgow Young Scot or Kidz Card holders and an accompanying adult get in FREE to these shows.

We also have an exclusive autism-friendly screening of The Lorax for ASL schools this November as part of National Schools Film Week 2012. Click here for more details on how to reserve free places.

Glasgow Film: GFT and Glasgow Film Festival / 12 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB / Box office: 0141 332 6535

Going Viral at Glasgow Science Centre – innovative art and science exhibition

GOING VIRAL – A SYNOPSIS
The British Society of Immunology is putting on an art-science collaborative exhibition entitled Going Viral in Glasgow this September.  Going Viral is an innovative art-science project.  It is the culmination of a collaborative programme of work undertaken by 6 artists and 4 immunologists. Through their joint exploration of key functions of our immune system – and the daily battles it fights – Going Viral artists have produced artworks that consider, question, interpret and present the immunology they have researched.
Going Viral begins as an exhibition comprising stories, film, sculpture, images and music. The experiences and encounters of those who visit it will spread, virus-like, across real and virtual networks and will continue to grow beyond the life of the exhibition.
Some examples of the art are:
Artist Trevor Cromie is focussing on a representation of the patient’s progression through a life-threatening severe immune response (e.g. anaphylaxis), recovery and its aftermath – and how immunology has made survival possible.  His focus is on the ‘emotional’ impact caused by anaphylaxis.
Jo Hodges is working with a participant group of organ donor recipients to identify an object that they associate with their transplant and take fragments from these objects and image them using scientific techniques and then represent them as artworks. Further to this she will also be exploring the patient’s relationship to immunosuppressant drugs.
Jacqueline Donachie is working with a long term MS patient to explore the prevalence of MS in Scotland, evidence of the impact of sunlight deprivation and family history on the individual’s condition.
Hugh Watt is focussing on the instruments of science, and has developed film and sculpture to explore the unity between science, creativity and the everyday.
Pete Baynes has created a dialogue between the artists and scientists, and has written several songs about things immunological, written to inform, entertain, and open up the world of the immune system.
Architect Ewan Imrie has created a ‘host body’ within which to stage the exhibition.
Going Viral will be at the Glasgow Science Centre from 6th September – 21st October 2012. It is funded by the British Society for Immunology <http://www.immunology.org/> (www.immunology.org <http://www.immunology.org> ), who commissioned Sound Strategies <http://www.sound-strategies.co.uk/> (www.soundstrategies.com <http://www.soundstrategies.com> ) to develop and implement the project.
Please see www.bsigoingviral.org <http://www.bsigoingviral.org> for more information or follow us on twitter @bsigoingviral.

Titus – 4 star theatre production for the classroom or hall

macrobert Arts Centre are touring ‘Titus’ this autumn and have limited days available for schools and community performances.

Titus was part of the Imaginate Festival in May 2012 and received fantastic feedback and reviews: “a completely compelling piece of theatre” – 4 Stars, The Scotsman “a beautifully structured, evocatively phrased monologue…fingers crossed this tours post-Imaginate” – 4 Stars, The Herald

The production can be performed for an individual class, in the classroom with the performer standing on a desk, making for an intimate and exciting experience. Alternatively, it can be performed in a school hall or theatre for a maximum audience of 100.

We can offer 2 performances a day for £500+VAT. Workshops are also available for an additional fee.

Available dates are: Monday 1st – Thursday 4th October; Wednesday 10th – Saturday 13th October; Monday 15th – Wednesday 17th October

Contact Sarah Gray <sarah.gray1@macrobert.org> for more information and to book.

Doenload the flyer here: Final Titus promoters info

Please see information below and attached.

Titus

By Jan Sobrie

In a new English version by Oliver Emanuel Directed by Lu Kemp, produced by macrobert For ages 11+

Do you want to know why I’m called Titus?

It’s a funny story.

My dad thinks I’m always making stuff up.

Just tell the truth, Titus.

Just tell the truth.

The truth is much easier to remember than a lie.

But Dad the truth is so boring.

A drama about telling big lies and small truths.

About pigs that fall in love.

About crows that talk.

About running away and finding yourself.

The play tells the story of a 10 year-old boy on the edge – literally on the roof of his school – confronted by a situation that seems hopeless. He can either give up or fight.

Titus, originally written by Belgian writer Jan Sobrie, was awarded the Dutch-German Author Prize in 2007 and is considered one of Europe’s most successful plays for young people.  This new English version, written by Oliver Emanuel, premiered at the Imaginate Festival, Edinburgh in May 2012.

Live Literature funding

Did you know Scottish Book Trust provides funding to help you bring a writer or illustrator in to help with your projects? Whether you’re a school, book group, community learning group, writers’ circle or something else entirely, you’ll find lots of information in Scottish Book Trust’s newly revamped Live Literature Funding section!

http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning-and-inclusion/sbt-learning-and-inclusion-projects/live-literature

If you could be an engineer… what would you do?

https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/eslb/2012/08/20/if-you-could-be-an-engineer-what-would-you-do/

Engineers touch every aspect of our lives but frequently we do not recognise who they are or what they do. To inspire young people to become engineers we must first help them to understand what it is that engineers do, what inspires them and what it takes to become one. Engineering as a rich, stimulating and challenging context for learning in sciences, technologies and maths is the basis of Education Scotland’s STEM Central  <http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/stemcentral/about/index.asp> resource.

Scottish Engineering and The Leaders Award <https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/eslb/2012/08/20/if-you-could-be-an-engineer-what-would-you-do/www.leadersaward.com>  for STEM are challenging learners to become Leaders for STEM in their schools by considering what they would do if they were an engineer.

Scotland’s first floating classroom on our canals: The Wooden Spoon Seagull

Scotland’s first floating classroom on our canals, The Wooden Spoon Seagull, was launched by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in July.

Fully equipped, heated and with modern facilities that can support people with special needs, the classroom boat provides a unique educational opportunity for teachers. With space for up to 36 passengers, skippered and crewed by a qualified team, classes can pull back the full length sunroof to enjoy open-air education in comfort. The Seagull Trust aims to allow schools to use the facility no cost.


http://seagulltrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/STC%20education%20WSpoon%20A5.pdf

http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/media-centre/press-releases/hrh-the-princess-royal-launches-scotlands-first-floating-classroom

Advice and guidance published for Dance, Art and Design, Computing Science and History

New advice and guidance for National Qualifications now available

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nationalqualifications/subjects/latest.asp?dm_t=0,0,0,0,0

Education Scotland has published further advice and guidance to assist practitioners in preparing to deliver courses within the new National Qualifications (NQ) framework.

The materials that are now online include:

  • Dance technique – contemporary and jazz (National 5)
  • Art and Design: Design Activity (Nat 4/4/Higher)
    • Computing Science – Starting from Scratch
    • Skills development in the study of history.

    Creativity’s place in Building the Curriculum 4: new online resource

    Education Scotland has recently published a practical guide to support the development of the key messages surrounding Building the Curriculum 4: Skills for Learning, Life and Work. It will provide teachers and other practitioners with support to help them ensure that skills development is an integral part of learning throughout the broad general education stage of Curriculum for Excellence.

    http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/s/skillsinpractice/introduction.asp?strReferringChannel=educationscotland&strReferringPageID=tcm:4-615801-64

    Creativity as a Thinking Skill –

    http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/s/skillsinpracticethinkingskills/creativity.asp