Category Archives: curriculum

Athletes’ thank-you to young artists from Wick

This is a moving story which we have picked up from the John O’Groats Journal and Caithness Courier stands synonymous for all those inspirational memories that the Commonwealth Games have created and will live on in the hearts, minds and diaries of young people across Scotland.
You must read to the end!

“A NUMBER of pupils from Hillhead Primary in Wick have returned to school after the summer break to receive postcards from athletes and coaches who participated in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The school participated in the Game On Scotland athletes’ village art competition where pupil artwork was produced to decorate the bedrooms of the athletes and team members who attended the games.

Each piece of work was accompanied by a stamped, addressed postcard and the school had produced special postcards which showed the pupil with their work.

From the 12 pupils who submitted pictures, the school received seven replies. Beverley Jones, a para long jump medallist, and Carys Parry, a Welsh hammer thrower, wrote back to Primary 7 pupil James Thain and Primary 3 pupil Milissa Keenan.

The English gymnastic team responded well to the initiative. Primary 7 pupils Tyler Orbell, Kevin Plowman and Emma Hamilton received cards back from the team manager, Mike Weinstock, and coach Liz Kincaid who said: “Hi Emma, thank you for your gymnastics picture. I am afraid you didn’t get a famous gymnast but the team England coach… I love the picture.”

England’s double gold gymnastic medallist Becky Downie wrote back to Primary 7 pupil Joshua Frain saying: “Thank you so much for the lovely picture and making me smile when I first entered my room.”

The English gymnastic star Kristian Thomas, who won a gold and two silver medals, sent a postcard to Primary 3 pupil Eilidh Forbes which said: “Thanks for the great drawing. It looked brilliant on my wall above my bed.” He also e-mailed a photograph of himself holding Eilidh’s picture to the school.

In the accompanying note he wrote, “Just want to say a big thank you to Eilidh Forbes for the fantastic drawing. It was displayed in my room at the Commonwealth Games and definitely encouraged me to go win my medals!”

This has special relevance for Eilidh as along with her mum, dad, brother Calum and sister Lena she was a spectator at the gymnastics events in Glasgow when Thomas won his two silver medals. At the time she was completely unaware that her picture hung in the athlete’s bedroom.”

Films: Striving for Better!

This series of films captures the thoughts, journeys and emotions of the athletes Libby Clegg, Michael Jamieson, Jessica Ennis, Lizzie Armistead and others as a testimony of their endeavour, determination, discipline and persistence often against all the odds.

The films allow the audience to look behind the scenes to discover what drives these athletes to be the very best they can be.

Small testimonies of the greatness that lies dormant within every human being!

Free Games venues map for schools

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) have created a venues map showing information about engineering challenges associated with preparing for the Commonwealth Games and also tells the stories of the engineers involved.

This map  explores the engineering and design challenges faced in creating some of the venues including the Hydro, Emirates Arena, the Velodrome and the Athletes’ Village.

The map explains how engineers have tried to ensure the 2014 Games are the most sustainable and green games ever, organised safe, secure, reliable and accessible transport and the measures taken to protect wildlife and plant species during the engineering and building work.

It also contains links to relevant websites, ‘Did you know?’ facts and activity ideas for all age ranges and can be used as a teaching resource for numerous curricular areas including Social Studies, Numeracy, ICT, Science and Technologies.

To order printed copies of the map for your class, please complete the form on SurveyMonkey website.

Athletes’ Village Art Competition

Inspired by Athletes’ Village Accommodation Manager, Caroline rogers, Game On Scotland launched the Athletes’ Village Art Competition.  Never in our wildest dreams did we expect the range and quality of entries from schools across Scotland.

We asked schools to hold their own internal Art Competitions and send use their 10 winning entries. We could not have imagined that this would result in our post bag overflowing with fantastic pieces of work from youngsters across the country. In fact, we received an eye watering 9,000 pieces or art work! We are absolutely overjoyed at the range of pieces, depicting many different Commonwealth sports and Glasgow landmarks. Not only that, the attention to detail and innovative way talented youngsters across the country have employed in their work ensures without doubt that the Village will be a vibrant and uplifting place for athletes and officials heading to Glasgow in just a few short weeks.

It was a very exciting day earlier this week when talented artists from St Bernadette’s Primary and Rutherglen High joined the Game On Scotland Team to formally hand over the art work to Caroline and her team who now have the task of displaying it throughout the Athletes’ Village. For a peek behind the closed doors of the Athletes’ Village you can watch Caroline’s brief film here.

During the games athletes will be encouraged to respond to schools through email/postcard. Also, keep your eyes peeled for tweets as we are expecting athletic selfies with art work to appear #VillageArt

Healthier Scotland Cooking Bus at the Commonwealth Games

FREE SESSIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS

The Healthier Scotland Cooking Bus is offering FREE practical cooking sessions throughout the Commonwealth
Games to community groups and organisations.

SESSION INFORMATION
When are the sessions?
24 July – 3 August 2014.

Where are the sessions taking place?
The Healthier Scotland Cooking Bus will be located at Glasgow Green.

Access to the site will be free and non-ticketed, so in addition to your session on the Cooking Bus, you could access the other activities and events at Glasgow Green.
How many people can visit the Cooking Bus?
Each session accommodates up to 16 participants and will be tailored to your group or organisation’s needs.
How long do the sessions last?
Sessions are 1 hour and 30 minutes and take place at 10.45am each day.
Who can take part?
Sessions can be for any type and age range of local community group or organisation e.g. a group for the disabled, senior citizens or family group. There is an opportunity to involve parents andcarers also.
Do we need to provide any food?
No. We provide all the food and the aprons needed for your session, all we ask is that you arrive  promptly and ready to cook with us.
How do I book a session?
Contact Joanne Johnstone by email joanne@focusonfood.org or telephone 01422 383191 to book your session.

For more information please download the flyer:  CWG 2014 – Free Community Sessions Flyer

Meet the athletes….

On 15 May, school pupils from across Scotland will be inspired to ‘be their personal best’ by meeting and learning from dozens of Scotland’s top athletes, including Olympic and Commonwealth medallists.

Two world-famous Scottish sporting heroes will also be revealed and will take part on the day!

Through a series of workshops, the event aims to inspire young people to be successful in life and show them that everyone has it in them to succeed. The athletes will help the pupils understand how to learn through failure and how success comes from sustained effort.

No matter who you are, where you’re from or what you’re good at, everyone has it in them to be their personal best.

The session will include the following components:

9.30 – 10.00:  Meet the Athletes – Introduction

10.35 – 11.10: “Success through effort” – an active workshop session

11.20 – 11.50:  “Athlete Lounge” – Q&A session with an exclusive slot for Glow participants

Register for or join this unique Glow Meet here.

Inchlair youngsters lead the way

Isobel Edmond, Head Teacher of Inchlair Nursery School shares how youngsters have embraced the context of the Commonwealth Games and how this has had a tangible impact on learning.

The Game On Challenge has given our pupils the skills to try out new Sports. We are purchasing new equipment to ensure that the children can continue to develop their new skills in our wonderful outdoor play space. When the coaches are not available children can very ably organise equipment and ensure that their peers wait and take their turn. They could be the Sports coaches of the future.

There is a real noticeable increase in the confidence of children to apply learning to new situations. The Story of the birth of CLYDE, “Captain Bristle’s Thistles” really caught their imagination. From this they have had countless role play experiences using uniforms, telescopes, globes, flags, flower pots, thistles, climbing frames. We have noticed their play is more focussed and shared experiences give children more opportunity to talk and learn together during exciting, imaginative play activities. There can be no doubt that using the Commonwealth Games as a context for learning has added an exciting layer of experience which has enriched learning for all.

A year ago our pupils would mostly say they lived in Stenhousemuir not Scotland. A focus on the Commonwealth Games has made them very aware that they are Scottish. They recognise the saltire and call it the “X” factor flag. The baton relay has given them the opportunity to study Commonwealth countries, flags of the world, maps, and wild animals. Relations have sent them postcards from across the globe. Access to the internet and in particular the BBC coverage of the Queen’s Baton Relay has enabled children to see places for themselves which has made them much more aware of life beyond our own town. We have complied a short video which allows the children to share their learning.

As a school, we sponsor a child in Malawi. Our support means she can go to school. We sell Nursery Cookbooks to raise funds for this as part of our Enterprise project. As Malawi is part of the Commonwealth children have been interested in finding the country on the world map, recognising the flag and studying pictures of Rachael over the years. They see her home, a hut in a dry dusty garden. The fact that fascinates them most is that she never has any shoes. This has helped our pupils understand how fortunate they are to live in a country which recognises and values the importance of learning. They have been genuinely touched by the difference in lifestyle between Scotland and Malawi and are beginning to understand how fortunate they are.

We were thrilled to be part of the “Going for Glasgow” challenge. Our children have had the opportunity to take part in 12 sports activities. To develop the Legacy, children take our CLYDE toy to their after school activity classes. They take photos and display them in the Nursery along with posters from their sports classes. Hopefully this will encourage other children to join a new club. The children love to talk about CLYDE’S visits and Parents are fully engaged with this idea.

As an active nursery, we are committed to daily outdoor play and developing physical sports activities. Being part of the Game on Challenge this year has brought a real buzz and sense of excitement to the Nursery. There is a competitive spirit as older brothers and sisters tell us about what they are doing at school to complete their challenge. Our youngsters go home at night and share their learning with family and friends. A number of parents have been inspired by their enthusiasm and depth of knowledge.
The high spot of our year is receiving the award of a Game On Scotland Plaque by Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners’ Rights. This award has given staff, pupils and parents a great sense of achievement and pride in the excellent work being done.

We would really advise anyone who has not already registered their Game On Challenge to do so. It has been great fun here at Inchlair, and we look forward to reading what you have been up to!

BBC School Radio programmes around the Commonwealth Games

BBC Scotland Leanring  has produce a number of school radio programmes which will focus on the Commonwealth Games over the coming weeks.
For First Level learners, Movement First takes in a tour of 5 Commonwealth countries through music, movement and imagination.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03g6hc9

 For second level learners, Making the Commonwealth looks at the preparations for the Games and looks at the maths behind the tournament?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01yb2sg

 Three more programmes in each series with new programme going out weekly on Thursday evening.

 Programmes can be streamed from the site or downloaded for up to 1 year after they’ve been broadcast.   We have a huge array of content for primary learners including features and radio dramas about Scottish History and Archaeology, the Referendum, Science, Myths and Legends, Bullying, as well as linkups with big stars like Nina and the Neurons and Dick and Dom!  It’s a great way to bring active listening to the classroom and there are lots of opportunities for everyone in the class to get involved.

 You can explore here:

(Early/1st Level) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03g64r6/episodes/player

(2nd Level) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03g64r7/episodes/player

Games Charity song released at St Anne’s Primary School (Glasgow)

East 40, children forms schools in the East End of Glasgow today released “Let the Games Begin“, a single in aid of UNICEF, to celebrate the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Young stars form nursery, primary and secondary schools across the East End of Glasgow performed the song live for the first time with Freddie Cowan, lead guitarist from the Vaccines.

In an extraordinary partnership collaboration between St Mungo’s Learning Community, some of Scotland’s finest musicians including Scott Hutchison (Frightened Rabbits), Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand), local writer Jonathan Carr and the artist Gerard M Burns learners across all ages and abilities created an inspirational piece of music which will be at the heart of the Games Charity UNICEF’s fundraising efforts.

The song is available for download from iTunes https://itun.es/i66Q6jG