Category Archives: Educational resources

Active, Educational resources, Games Legacy, Glasgow 2014, International Education, Queen's Baton Relay

New projects: Xtrayard and Get Scotland Dancing

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Game On Scotland is delighted to announce that we have just added two more projects to the Other educational projects section of the site. From the outset we’ve been keen to create a one-stop-shop for teachers and educators interested in learning using the Games, and the curation of other projects is an important part of this process.

XtrayardXtrayard is an online platform that encourages young people to take part in physical activity and track it on a virtual route. To celebrate the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games they’ve re-created the Queen’s Baton Relay route, which will allow your learners to journey around the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth by taking part in physical activity and eating healthily.

Get Scotland DancingGet Scotland Dancing is a celebration of dance and an invitation for every person in Scotland to join in. As a Commonwealth Games Legacy programme, Get Scotland Dancing aims to get more people dancing in Scotland in 2014 than ever before. There’ll be a lot of different parts to the initiative as it develops, but broadly speaking they’ll be increasing opportunities to dance, promoting mass participation and developing young talent.

These are just the latest projects to be added to an already full programme, but Game On Scotland is a live programme and more materials will be added all the time – sign up to the network to make sure you’re the first to know about new opportunities.

Educational resources, The Commonwealth Class

The Commonwealth Class – Education Pack

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The Commonwealth Class education pack is a flexible resource that can be used to support individual projects or joint curriculum work with a partner school. 

For more information about opportunities and resources around the Commonwealth Class programme visit  British Council Schools Online.

If you do not yet have a British Council Schools Online account we recommend that you register with them to gain access to other opportunities to develop the global dimension at your school including Connecting Classrooms, International School Award and Language Assistants.

The next BBC online debate will be held on Thursday 14 November to coincide with the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013. The debate is a fantastic opportunity for your students to engage with their peers around the globe on the most vital challenges and opportunities facing young people today. You can contribute to the debate on the day by emailing comments to the BBC team at commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk.

And finally, British Council are offering grants of £250 for schools to hold mini launch events on their site for other schools in their area. Events do not have to take any predetermined format but should be 2 hours long and schools should involve at least 10 teachers representing different schools in their area. The launch should be based on the script provided in the Commonwealth Class Education Pack. If you would like to hold a launch event please download and complete the Commonwealth_Class_Launch_Grant_Application  and return to ryan.dunn@britishcouncil.org.

Educational resources, Glasgow 2014, Sport

Go Scotland!

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17 Sports, 1 Team (copyright Commonwealth Games Scotland)

Earlier this month, marking the 300 days to go milestone, Commonwealth Games Scotland announced the first 27 athletes selected to represent Team Scotland. These will be the first of many sporting Scots who will carry the hopes of a nation when the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games kicks off on 23rd July 2014.

In all 17 sports, athletes have been aiming to meet qualification targets and claim their spot on the team. It’s been a busy and successful summer and next year will be even better!

You can find out more information about the athletes who make up Team Scotland on the Go Scotland! website, where they have a special ‘Meet the Team’ section. The section will be updated with athletes as they are selected.

Game On Scotland will shortly be developing a Team Scotland section within the site, but you can already access lots of information about Scottish athletes at the Go Scotland! site, including a range of downloadable posters of athletes across the 17 sports.

Active, Educational resources, Sport

What is talent?

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Understanding Talent

In any discussion about sporting events, the word talent comes up, but what does it really mean? Often the concept of talent is not particularly well understood, particularly when evidence doesn’t seem to support it being a natural process.

The Talent Team at the sportscotland institute of sport have developed a film (screenshot pictured) which hopes to help people to understand the concept of ‘sporting talent’. It is aimed primarily at young athletes (11 – 17) but is also very relevant to those who influence them –from their coaches and teachers to parents, peers, neighbours and role models. The film is available at http://youtu.be/LfUvchfrcS0.

The hope is that young athletes can gain a new perspective on what ‘talent’ really means and ultimately encourage them to work hard at their sports. The message is simple – hard work and determination can lead to sporting success.

If you would like to find out more about talent and the work of the Talent Team at sportscotland, visit www.sisport.com/talent. Along with the film, the site contains a range of materials on talent, which could make for interesting discussions in classes or sports clubs.

Active, Educational resources, event, Games Legacy, Glasgow 2014, Inspire>Aspire, International Education, partnership

Game On Scotland Inverness Event: New date – 18 November 2013

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When? Monday, 18 November 2013,  9.30 – 15.00

Where? Drumossie Hotel, Inverness

With around 250 days before the biggest multi-sport and cultural event ever to come to Scotland, we invite practitioners to join us and find out more on how the Commonwealth Games may provide help you to create stimulating learning opportunities across the curriculum and beyond.

The event will showcase inspirational initiatives from schools across the board and highlight programmes available to teachers to ensuring that, together, we deliver a lasting legacy for learning. The keynote address will come from Paralymic champion David Smith MBE.  A variety of engaging workshops delivered by practitioners and organisations experienced in Games Legacy work will provide practical, hands-on exemplification on the impact of using the Games as a context for learning. Workshop sessions will include:

  • exemplification from primary and secondary schools,
  • inspirational address by people directly engaged with the Games and its legacy ,
  • international education and partnerships
  • Food for Thought Education Fund around the Commonwealth Games
  • cluster and local authority initiatives.

View the Game On Scotland Event draft programme – 18 Nov, Inverness

Who should attend?

Teachers, lead staff and those with a whole school responsibility for Games Legacy, including cluster initiatives and wider curriculum remits related to the Games (e.g. active schools coorindator, health and wellbeing).

How to register:

We invite you to join us for an inspirational day of sharing and collaborative thinking around a variety of exciting opportunities by registering for the event on line  or directly with Diane Carson: Diane.Carson@educationscotland.gov.uk

Educational resources, International Education, Literacy, Queen's Baton Relay

Take Part in “Authors Live: Storytelling Relay”

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Lari, Mara and Peter

When: Thursday 31 October at 11am (50 minutes)
Age: Primary 4-7 or 8-12 years
Where: your classroom, library, hall or computer at home!

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To celebrate the Queen’s Baton Relay setting off on its journey around the Commonwealth, Authors Live has brought together storytellers, Peter Chand, Lari Don and Mara Menzies (India, Scotland & Kenya) to share traditional tales from their homeland in this storytelling relay.

You can apply to be part of the audience, use the learning resources and even win prizes in a special draw. To find out more about the event, and to register, visit http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/node/111293.

The Sorytelling Relay will be streamed live on  www.bbc.co.uk/commonwealthclass and schools can email  commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk for more information.

Authors Live is a collaboration between Scottish Book Trust and BBC Scotland Learning, funded by Creative Scotland.

Educational resources, Glasgow 2014

New monthly BBC show: “Inspire: The Olympic Journey”

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A new monthly magazine series has begun on BBC One, seeking to celebrate the biggest names, the rising stars and the unsung heroes of sport. The first episode of “Inspire: The Olympic Journey” was broadcast on Saturday 27th July, with presenter Gabby Logan in Glasgow to mark the one year milestone to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The show sees the presenter receive a guided tour of the city by Glasgow 2014 Ambassador Sir Chris Hoy and visit the velodrome named after the star which will host the track cycling at the Games.

It also features well-known athletes, as presenters and interviewees, looking at the legacy of London 2012 and taking a look ahead at some of the young athletes who may be the stars of future Games.

The first episode is currently available on BBC iPlayer and the show returns each month, with a new selection of stars and hopefuls.

Educational resources, International Education, International partnerships, partnership

Join the “Commonwealth Class”

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The BBC, the British Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat have joined forces to bring you Commonwealth Class, an exciting new opportunity for schools.

Commonwealth Class is a special initiative that provides teaching resources, online debates and interactive activities for schools to mark the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It celebrates the values of the Commonwealth and connects schools and young people as they learn about how to be active, responsible global citizens as part of the Commonwealth family.

The Commonwealth Class education pack is an exciting resource designed to teach young people about Commonwealth values such as rights and responsibilities, protection of the environment, respect for others and what people need to lead healthy lives free from poverty.
Produced by the British Council, the resource pack contains cross-curricular activities, short films and discussion guides with learning outcomes that link to key skills, curriculum subjects and Commonwealth values. Activities include what qualities you need to be a successful Commonwealth athlete, and an exploration of the route of the Queen’s Baton Relay which will visit all 71 countries and territories taking part in the 2014 games.

Get set for 2014 and download the British Council Commonwealth Class education pack today.

BBC online debates
Commonwealth Class partner, the BBC, is hosting a series of monthly online debates commencing this summer. The debates are intended to create a platform for schools in the UK and Commonwealth countries to teach and learn together.
The first debate in the series will take place on Thursday 13 June.
Visit Schools Online and sign up to Commonwealth Class for more resources and interactive activities that support lesson planning and teaching across the curriculum
And a week before the first debate you can visit the BBC’s Commonwealth Class website to find out how you can take part!

Educational resources, Games Legacy

Game On Scotland goes live!

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We are delighted to inform you that Game On Scotland has been launched today to help practitioners use the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as an inspiring, motivating and fun context for learning.

Game on Scotland is the education programme for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and has been developed as a partnership between Education Scotland, Glasgow 2014 Ltd, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government.

Using Games as a context for learning has been inspirational for many educational establishments in the past and provides schools with opportunities to develop learning across the curriculum, often in partnership with their communities and relevant organisations (see case studies).

The new Game On Scotland website provides:

  • key information about the Games, the 71 nations and territories in the Commonwealth
  • resources, including a variety of themed learning journeys to engage learners at all stages, including suggested tasks and reflective components directly linked to Curriculum for Excellence, film/image gallery
  • opportunities for schools to be part of the Games, with competitions and special events which will put learners at the heart of the Games.

Some great opportunities to get involved already

Take the Game On Challenge

Many schools and organisations are already thinking ahead towards the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Tell us about your goals and initiatives and we will literally put your schools/organisations on the interactive map.

Take part in the Game On Challenge before 24 May and your school might win a visit from Clyde, the mascot.

 Athletes’ Village Art Competition

Through this competition your school can be part of the Games.

Game On Scotland is asking every school in Scotland to get their pupils to design posters, which will decorate the rooms of the Athletes’ Village. You are encouraged to hold your own competition in your school and then submit the winning pieces of artwork for inclusion in the village.

Register for the competition on the Game On Scotland website. Competition packs will be issued in August with winning entries announced in early 2014.

For your diary:  Game On Scotland strategic leads event, 17 June, Commonwealth House, Glasgow.  You can pre-register your interest online now