Tag Archives: bbc

Culture 2014, Expressive Arts, International Education, Maths

BBC School Radio programmes around the Commonwealth Games

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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

Culture 2014, International Education, International partnerships

Letter from (North) America

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This is the first in a brief blog series highlighting how partners across the Commonwealth, and indeed the globe are using Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as a context for learning.

Coinciding with the award of our first Game On Scotland plaque on foreign soil, we couldn’t resist the temptation to shine a spotlight on one of our Canadian school partners.

For Major Ballachey Elementary School in Brantford Ontario, participation in projects like Game On Challenge and Commonwealth Class provides a fantastically rich opportunity to foster a greater depth global awareness for students. Staff see it as a key component in their drive to cultivate a collective sense of pride and accomplishment for all students.

There is a real passion to share meaningfully with peers across the globe. Major Ballachey students decided the best way to do this was to create a series of short videos documenting life in and around the school. These provided the gateway to further collaboration with other Commonwealth schools.

Commonwealth Class has provided an unprecedented opportunity for students to interact directly with their peers across the globe. Participation in debates across international borders is invaluable as students strive to understand that the richness of our multiple identities are fundamental to the Commonwealth’s principles and approaches.

The Commonwealth is close to the heart for students at Major Ballachey. Located in Brantford, which itself is close to Hamilton, recognised as the birthplace of the British Empire Games, now the Commonwealth Games. This ensures students have a keen eye on the forthcoming games, the athletes and of course the VIP Baton event at which they were awarded their Game On Scotland plaque by Cabinet Secretary, Ms Shona Robison.

International Education, partnership, The Commonwealth Class

The BBC Commonwealth Class Finale, 24 July, Glasgow!

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BBC at the Quay is a 16-day festival running alongside the Commonwealth Games. A number of radio and TV programmes will be broadcasting from tents outside BBC Scotland headquarters at Pacific Quay, Glasgow. Commonwealth Class will also be part of this festival. We’ll be bringing together our Commonwealth Class students to talk about some of the issues that the youth of the Commonwealth face. We’re looking for children and young people aged between 10 – 17 years old – from as many of the Commonwealth nations and territories as possible – to be part of the audience to discuss issues with each other and our panel of guests. Please email commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk to let us know if your school plans to visit Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games and you’d be interested in taking part in the audience at our live event.

Competition, International Education, International partnerships, The Commonwealth Class

UK Schools needed for Commonwealth Class Competition

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Commonwealth Class are searching for fifteen UK schools to take part in a special element of the programme which will see them placed into teams with nine other schools from across the Commonwealth.

Teams will work on a series of monthly collaborative projects between January and May 2014 with prizes given for the best work each month. The project can be carried out within your school as a single class or organised across subjects or year groups. Schools must be able to commit to spending at least one lesson per week on the project. Monthly project activities will lead up to a celebration of the work at the end of May 2014. This could be an online gallery, a film, a book or a blog that will be judged and an overall winning team will be selected. Each school from the winning team will be invited to send one teacher and one student (aged 10 or above) to visit Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games in July/August 2014!

During the project each team will follow the progress of a Commonwealth athlete as they prepare to compete at Glasgow 2014. Athletes that have signed up include Olympic Triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee, Team Scotland athlete Eilidh Child, the fastest man in the world Usain Bolt and the British Council’s own Susie Rodgers. Depending on the athletes’ schedule, schools will have the chance to communicate with them as they train for The Games.

Organisers are looking for the most committed and enthusiastic schools for this unique and exciting project. To apply for a place in a Commonwealth Class team you should complete the application form and return to the address noted within, by Friday 20 December. Places will be given to the schools that in 200 words best say why they want to take part in Commonwealth Class and how joining the project will benefit their school community.

If you are not selected for a team there’s still plenty of opportunities for your school to take part in Commonwealth Class. The education pack is an excellent resource to introduce your class to the Commonwealth and its values, and you can download a PDF copy by visiting British Council Schools Online. The weekly BBC debates are a great opportunity for your students to converse with their peers in real time. The debates so far have been lively discussions on themes including importance of learning languages and island living. At the next debate on Thursday 12 December they’ll be discussing the effects of sport on self-esteem and confidence. Your class can contribute to the discussion on Thursday by emailing comments to the BBC debate moderators at commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk.

Commonwealth Class is a project of the BBC, British Council and Commonwealth Secretariat.

Glow Meet, International Education, partnership, The Commonwealth Class

Debating the Games

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Young Scots and Sri Lankans virtually met at the new building of the British Council in Colombo to engage in discussions about the Commonwealth Games and values.

14 -17 year old pupils at St Joseph’s Academy in Kilmarnock and Stonelaw High in Rutherglen linked up with Holy Trinity College in Kandy, and Colombo schools, Vishaka Vidyalaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa College, to discuss their educational and cultural links with HRH Prince Tunku Imran, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Education Scotland, with the support from the British Council, made the live exchange possible via the unique education tool Glow. The session supported the British Council’s Commonwealth Class programme that provides resources, online BBC debates and interactive activities for schools to mark the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Watch gain:  If you have missed this session you can catch up on it here

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.

Competition, The Commonwealth Class

Commonwealth Class – Debates and Competition!

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Make the most of the 2014 Commonwealth Games by connecting your school to Commonwealth Class.

The BBC, the British Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat are working together to bring Commonwealth Class to schools across the world. The project is aimed at 7 – 14 year olds and provides online teaching resources and interactive activities for schools to mark the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Focusing on Commonwealth values and topical issues from a global perspective, Commonwealth Class will help connect young people around the world to learn together about how to be effective, responsible global citizens. Connect your classroom – sign up at www.bbc.co.uk/commonwealthclass

COMPETITION: SCHOOL STORIES

 We have launched a competition for schools to win the chance to work with a BBC crew to make a film in their community. We are searching for the best stories from around the Commonwealth which share what it means to be a global citizen and which best reflect the Commonwealth values. Further details and how to enter: www.bbc.co.uk/worldclass/24574326

ONLINE DEBATES

We also hold monthly online debates to provide an opportunity for young people to share their views on topics such as tolerance and respect, democracy, exam stress, making a living and gender equality. We would love your school to join us for the regular online debates. The next debates planned are as follows:

  •  Thursday 31st October – in association with Authors Live and the Scottish Book Trust, a debate inspired by storytellers from around the Commonwealth. Writers Lari Don, Peter Chand and Mara Menzies share their stories.
  • Thursday 14th November – a debate based around the Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013 in Sri Lanka.
  • Thursday 21st November – a language debate to mark International Education Week 2013.
  • Thursday 28th November – in association with Authors Live and the Scottish Book Trust, a debate related to a live event with Mairi Hedderwick, author of the Katie Morag stories.

 Previous debates have included contributions from pupils in Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa, as well as across the UK.

 It’s easy to take part in class — watch the film, discuss the issues and email your comments to us at commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk

Queen's Baton Relay, The Commonwealth Class

BBC live debate and concert: The Queen’s Baton Relay

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The Debate

Watch the newly released video with the adventurer Mark Beaumont and join young people from across the Commonwealth to discuss the Queen’s Baton Relay, launched on 9 October from Buckingham Place by her Majesty the Queen. To take part simply share and discuss your ideas between now and the 11 October by emailing commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk . The BBC will publish pupils’ opinions, allowing schools to respond and converse in real time. For more information go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldclass/livedebates/.

The Concert, 11 October, 11 am

On Friday 11 October join a live concert from Glasgow to mark the first stage of the Queen’s Baton at its arrival in India. A live stream will be provide through the BBC Commonwealth Class programme.

Assembly materials

Involve your school, year group, form class etc. in a stimulating debate on the most current event around the Commonwealth Games, the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay.  Video and teachers’ notes have been provided by the BBC here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldclass/assemblies/

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.

International Education, International partnerships, Uncategorized

Commonwealth Class: BBC Online Debate, 27th June

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DEBATE TIME: Thursday, 27th of June from 1100-1300; Target age: 7 – 14

Join pupils around the world for the second Commonwealth Class debate.

How it works

In class, watch the film on the Commonwealth Class website about ‘school journeys‘. Talk about this in class and gather some opinions, examples and comments to share with pupils around the world.

Go back to the page at any time between 1100-1300 BST on Thursday, 27th of June to share and discuss your ideas by emailing them to commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk

Commonwealth Class will publish pupils’ opinions on the site, allowing schools to respond and converse in real time.

The aim is to include as many contributions as possible.

About Commonwealth Class

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.