Creativity at work films are now available on the Creativity Portal. So far these include eight interviews with scientists, designers, a space exploration engineer, an architect, a ballet dancer, a cameraman and a baker on how creativity is vital to their work and what that process feels like. The films demonstrate how professionals generate ideas, formulate questions, improvise, make connections and allow ideas to evolve. This is a useful cross-curricular resource, with a focus on careers and skills for life. It is perfect support for any design challenge, poster competition, or creative problem that you may be offering your learners, as well as supporting careers and pathways across all subjects.
Creativity in the Classroom films – now on the Creativity Portal
Visit the Creativity Portal to view 13 examples of how teachers and community learning staff have used creative teaching in the classroom and community setting to deliver Curriculum for Excellence. From games design to storytelling, whole school strategy to pizza boxes these are small moments of creative inspiration that can be used to inform practitioners’ own work. They provide CPD in how to take the challenges that Curriculum for Excellence poses and run with them. The Creativity in the Classroom films are available now on the Creativity Portal.
http://creativityportal.org.uk/?q=creativity+in+the+classroom&c=%2Cvideos
Spotlight on Theatre – careers event via Glow
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Festival Theatre Edinburgh, The Lyceum Theatre and The Traverse Theatre are holding a unique interactive careers event on Tuesday 11th September. Places to attend have already been booked up, but if you are interested in finding out more, and watching the sessions you can now join in on Glow TV.
The event is aimed at 5th and 6th year pupils interested in pursuing a career in the theatre, and will also act as a CPD session for Drama, Guidance/Support Teachers and Career’s Advisors. In addition pupils in upper primary and lower primary may be interested in many aspects of the day.
It is a busy day with lots to join in with:
Directing and Writing for Theatre live from The Traverse Theatre – 10 – 11.30am
As Scotland’s New Writing Theatre the Traverse prides itself on the close relationships they have with our writers. Join our Associate Director for a practical workshop that explores the relationship and journey of a playwright and director. Sign up and join us for this event in Glow TV.
Acting live from The Lyceum Theatre – 12 – 1.30pm
Take part in an acting skills workshop with our Drama Artist and learn all about careers in Acting and the routes and courses which can lead to them. There will also be a Q and A session with a professional actor – so have your questions ready! Sign up and join us for this event in Glow TV.
Marketing, Press, PR and Programming live from the Festival Theatre Edinburgh – 2.30 – 4pm
An introduction to careers in arts administration, focusing on marketing, press, PR and programming. Our experienced staff share their tips for the top in promoting and selling theatre to diverse audiences across the central belt of Scotland, but beware – it’s not all paparazzi and showbiz glamour! Sign up and join us for this event in Glow TV.
Creativity in Early Years
What creative activity for early years happens in your community? Would you like more access to the arts and creativity for early years?
Would an Early Years Creative Network help? Starcatchers is carrying out some research into the potential of an Early Years Creative Network for Scotland.
They want to hear the views of people across Scotland as part of this process – from parents, childcare professionals, artists, arts organisations, local authorities, and other local and national organisations working across different sectors with Early Years in Scotland.
They are holding consultation events at various venues throughout Scotland. For more information please contact info@starcatchers.org.uk.
Increase in adults attending cultural events
A rise in the percentage of adults in Scotland participating in cultural activities and attending cultural events has been welcomed by the Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/08/culture-statistics29082012
Edinburgh’s Green Pencil Award in search for young creative writers
A creative writing competition for Edinburgh children has been launched at the Hermitage of Braid with pupils from Pentland Primary School (Wednesday 29 August).
The theme of this year’s ‘Green Pencil Award’, which is run by The City of Edinburgh Council for children in the P4 – P7 age range, is ‘Birds & Beasties’, encouraging entrants to write about wildlife they encounter in their garden, local park etc. The competition, run by Edinburgh City Libraries and Eco-Schools in Edinburgh seeks to: promote literacy and creative writing; demonstrate care and understanding of environmental issues; encourage learning; link to Curriculum for Excellence aspirations and strengthen partnership working between libraries, schools and other partners.
Participation is invited through local libraries, schools and the Council website with a closing date of Friday 12 October.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/982/green_pencil_award_branches_out_in_search_for_writers
Young bright sparks get into engineering
In a move to spark youngsters’ interest in engineering, East Ayrshire Council has teamed up with a trailblazing national organisation to bring a new educational programme into schools.
Pupils will work on design and make projects, supported by professional engineers from local industry who will offer a ‘real-world’ context for the learning, while acting as role models for the budding young scientists.
Primary Engineer, founded in 2005, already supports schools throughout the UK and will now be working with local pupils and teachers. They will help girls and boys from a very early age to aspire to become Scottish engineers of the future
Executive Director of Educational and Social Services Graham Short said: “The idea is to stimulate in children an interest in engineering, which will also lead to a new understanding of science subjects and mathematics”.
Councillor Stephanie Primrose, Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said: “This exciting development brings a new dimension to linking schools and industry.
“The programme will be of long-term benefit to young people, as they approach an increasingly competitive jobs market in the future.”
Susan Scurlock, Primary Engineer Chief Executive, said: “We believe that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are key subjects in securing positive opportunities and career paths for future generations – and that this begins in primary school.
“We look to provide a rich learning experience for pupils. Our Leaders Award scheme helps to bring professionals into the classroom to provide a link to the wider world and to encourage young people to take part in STEM activities”.
Creativity Toybox – now live on the Creativity Portal
Log on to the Creativity Portal to find 21 very short creative thinking exercises for use with whole groups of young people in the classroom or community setting. These are great warm up/warm down/filler activities that develop creative thinking skills and can be used as a one off exercise or one a day for several weeks. Get your pupils and young people developing their creative skills right now!
The Creativity Toybox films are available now on the Creativity Portal: http://creativityportal.org.uk/?q=&t=,creativity-toybox
Robots and CPD
Teacher open evening event, Thursday 30 August, 4 pm – 6.30 pm http://www.sensation.org.uk/ <http://www.sensation.org.uk/>
Dundee Science Centre is hosting an open evening for all teachers and educators, showcasing the work of the Science Learning Team and the opportunities available to schools throughout the coming academic year. The centre will be open from 4 pm and there will be the chance to see the Robot exhibition and see the range of science resource boxes available for loan. This is a free event.
Complete the survey about playing and free time
Playday is asking anyone aged 5 to 18 years old to tell them about play and free time in the Playday online survey. Encourage children and young people to take part and help to build a picture of what play and free time is like for children and young people across the UK. Playday is the national day for play, a celebration of children’s right to play and a campaign that raises awareness about the importance of play in children’s lives. The survey is also available as a document to print off and Playday has also created slips to give out to publicise the survey at an event or in your setting.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/newsandevents/educationnews/2012/educational/august/news_tcm4729824.asp
http://www.playday.org.uk/playday_campaigns/playday_2012_get_out_and_play/playday_2012_survey.aspx
