Category Archives: Curriculum level

Educators learn more about………Collections of the past, Dinosaur Discovery

 

Dinosaur Discovery is an interdisciplinary learning experience developed for first level and second level learners and is part of the Collections of the Past learning opportunities with the National Museum of Scotland.

The Dinosaur Discovery planning guidance  provides practitioners with an overview of the learning experiences using the NAR flow chart process. Educators can adapt this guidance to meet the needs of the learners they teach.

Dinosaur Discovery creates a context in which learners can be supported to explore evidence from the past, be posed questions to gain greater insight into the life of dinosaurs and how their fossils, bones and other evidence can be used to tell us about the history of the earth. Learners will be encouraged to:

  • Develop a curiosity and understanding of their environment and the past
  • Undertake simple scientific investigations using practical techniques
  • Explore a range of media to create images and objects
  • Be creative
  • Share and learn with peers through Glow

These challenges will be live in September 2013 with a live Glow TV event with the National Museum of Scotland on the 20th September at 1.30pm . Afterwards they will be made available as packs of learning, teaching and assessment resources in the Collections from the Past Channel on Glow.

This learning experience has been developed to work towards supporting the delivery of

The Curriculum for Excellence Implementation Plan 2012-13

The Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Impact Project Summary of Key Strengths and Aspects for Development

ICT in Education Objectives

Collections of the past – Dinosaur Discovery

What kind of dinosaurs do you know about? Which was the largest, which was the smallest, which had the most horns, or longest neck, or which ate the most food? How can we learn more about the dinosaurs that ruled the earth using evidence and fossils and what they can tell us about the history of the earth? What type of dinosaurs roamed the planet and where did they go?

Visit the National Museum of Scotland through Glow TV to be inspired and amazed by the fossil and bone evidence and go on a Dinosaur discovery. Explore some dino data to find out what we can tell about dinosaurs, their size, what they ate and who would be predator or prey. Meet the 12 metre long life-sixed cast of a T.rex to see the scale and power of the real thing and share your own dinosaur creations.

  • Look carefully at evidence
  • Share what you see
  • Record your findings
  • Ask questions
  • Share your ideas
  • Make collections with others

  • Museum curators
  • Scientists
  • The National Museum of Scotland
  • Other learners from across Scotland

Educators can find out more about our Collections of the past – Dinosaur Discovery learning opportunity here.

LearnCAT Email the LearnCat to sign up for Collections of the past – Dinosaur Discovery

Notes

  • If you are a learner, you can sign up for yourself. Please include your Glow username
  • If you are a teacher or other educator, you can sign up on behalf of a group of learners. Please include a list of Glow usernames
  • Email learncat@educationscotland.gov.uk for any enquiries.
  • A Glow Login is required for your submissions.  If you have forgotten it or don’t have one click here.

Educators learn more about …….. Animation – The Big 5!!

Educators learn more about

Animation – The Big 5!! is an interdisciplinary learning experience developed for first, second and third level learners. Scotland’s Big 5 campaign aims to get everyone talking about Scotland’s nature by discovering five iconic species and the places where they can be seen. Scottish Natural Heritage and VisitScotland are promoting the Big 5 campaign in support of the Year of Natural Scotland 2013.  Education Scotland in partnership with Dundee Contemporary Arts and industry expert animator Bruce Husband have designed a series of filmed animation workshops to support learners to use stop motion animation to create an adventure text about these incredible creatures.

The Big 5!! project outline provides practitioners with an outline of the learning experiences using the NAR flow chart process and the publication ‘Taking a closer look at NAR.

The Big 5! creates a context in which learners can be supported to

  • Create texts using animation
  • Be creative
  • Work towards safe guarding Scottish biodiversity
  • Share and learn with peers through Glow
  • Profile and recognise achievement

These challenges will be live in September 2013. Afterwards they will be made available as packs of learning, teaching and assessment resources in the Digital Story Telling Learning Channel on Glow.

This learning experience has been developed to work towards supporting the delivery of:

The Curriculum for Excellence Implementation Plan 2012-13

ICT in Education Objectives

Creativity across learning briefing paper

The Year of Natural Scotland

Educators learn more about ……. The Great Scottish Schools Bake Off!

Educators learn more about

The Great Scottish Schools Bake Off is an interdisciplinary learning experience developed for first, second and third  level learners.  Learning experiences will be supported in the kitchen learning space in Glow from September 2013.   Sharing the learning process in Glow will increase opportunities for learners to access specialists and learn with others across Scotland.

The Great Scottish Schools Bake off outline provides practitioners with an overview of the learning experiences using the NAR flow chart process and the publication ‘Taking a closer look at NAR.  Educators should adapt this guidance to meet the needs of the learners they teach.

The Great Scottish Schools Bake Off creates a meaningful context in which learners can be supported to improve their understanding in sourcing local food producers, hygienic and safe practical cooking techniques, healthy eating, financial education and enterprise. A series of measurement learning experiences are being developed to address areas of weakness identified by the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy. These will work towards improving learners understanding and skill in measurement.

Baking techniques will be demonstrated by leading chefs from across Scotland. These inspirational role models will aim to instil a sense of pride and value in preparing and cooking food with local Scottish ingredients.

The first of four bake offs is the Muffin Bake Off live from the Cooking Bus at Dundee on 3rd September at 10am

You can sign your class up on Glow TV

Recipe sheets for the Muffin Bake-off are

Beetroot and chocolate muffins

Fruit muffins

The presentation for the Muffin Bake-Off is on Prezi

Afterwards learning experiences will be made available as packs of learning, teaching and assessment resources in the Health and Wellbeing Learning Channel on Glow.

This learning experience has been developed to work towards supporting the delivery of:

The Curriculum for Excellence Implementation Plan 2012-13

The results of the Scottish Survey of literacy and numeracy

ICT in Education Objectives

Health and wellbeing experiences and outcomes, Food for thought

Educators learn more about …….. learning in Minecraft

Educators learn more about

Over the past number of years Education Scotland has partnered with schools across Scotland to explore the effective and innovative use of computer games to enhance and enrich learning and teaching. Together we have helped contribute to changing the discourse around the use of such resources in schools by understanding, embracing and practically applying theoretical perspectives such as socially mediated learning, situated learning and the power of semiotic domains in our practice.

Our attitudes to and our professional appreciation of the digital tools and contexts that are embedded in the cultural domains of young learners is continually evolving and we are developing our awareness of the many ways that learners are engaging with learning outside of school. As teachers we have to some extent always tuned in to and exploited cultural phenomenon such as books, TV shows, music and movies and more and more we are doing the same thing with computer games.

One game that is currently hugely popular with learners across the globe is Minecraft. Minecraft is a sandbox game that allows learners/players to create the most amazing and complex worlds by mining for materials and using them in informed ways. Materials that are mined or collected are then gathered in an inventory and can be crafted together in order to make the necessary materials and resources to help you build and survive in the world.

This learning experience is not about actually playing on a Minecraft installation but about offering learners a space in Glow where they can:

  • learn from others
  • share their expertise
  • celebrate the wonder of the world of Minecraft
  • showcase their expertise, interests and talents for everything Minecraft

If you speak to primary school children about Minecraft they will happily talk to you about accessing servers, downloading texture packs, survival techniques, the best YouTube tutorial channels and even the differences in the platforms that this game can be played on. The bar of expectation and aspiration is being raised by them.

What we want to offer learners is a learning space where first of all they will choose to come and when they do they will see this space as their own – a place where they can play an active part in discussion forums, where they can upload their own tutorial videos and even their own creations of all things Minecraft in ways that we have seen it happening on the fantastic diy.org site. Have a look at some examples from there: Creeper in hama beads, Creeper costume, Minecraft cookies

Learner engagement in contexts such as this offers ways in which skills development and dispositions to learning in its wider sense can be addressed, showcased and celebrated.

We are keen to begin building Learning Spaces in Glow that tap in to the digital zeitgeists that so engage and enthuse our learners. There is so much potential here and so much to be gained by situating learning in contexts that have cultural appeal and that encourage learners to choose to share their learning and to showcase their talents.

Derek P. Robertson 02 June 2013

Educators learn more about ……. Natural colour

Educators learn more about

Natural colour is an interdisciplinary learning experience developed for first level learners and is part of a progression of creativity challenges designed around the context of colour.

The natural colour outline provides practitioners with an overview of the learning experiences using the NAR flow chart process and the publication ‘Taking a closer look at NAR.  Educators should adapt this guidance to meet the needs of the learners they teach.

Natural colour creates a context in which learners can be supported to explore ‘fat questions’ through practical and creative challenges

  • Develop a curiosity and understanding of their environment
  • Undertake simple scientific investigations using practical techniques
  • Create visual information
  • Explore a range of media to create images and objects
  • Be creative
  • Share and learn with peers through Glow
  • Profile and recognise achievement

These challenges will be live in September 2013. Afterwards they will be made available as packs of learning, teaching and assessment resources in the Creativity Learning Channel on Glow.

This learning experience has been developed to work towards supporting the delivery of:

The Curriculum for Excellence Implementation Plan 2012-13

The Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Impact Project Summary of Key Strengths and Aspects for Development

ICT in Education Objectives

Creativity across learning

2013 is the Year of Natural Scotland

Game on Scotland – Athlete’s Village Art Competition

Learning JourneyExpressive artsArt workshop

Have your art displayed in the Athletes’ Village by entering this exciting competition.

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GameOn_art_competition Listen to what the Game on Scotland Athlete’s Village Art Competition is all about

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is committed to ensuring that children and young people are at the heart of the Games and what better way to do that than by enlisting their help to welcome our 6,500 athletes and visitors?

Game On Scotland is asking every school in Scotland to get their pupils to design posters to be placed in the rooms of the Athletes’ Village. We’ll guarantee to every individual school that takes part that their chosen artwork will be displayed in the village – your pupils’ work could end up in the bedroom of Usain Bolt, Tom Daley or any of the talented athletes coming to Scotland from all over the world.

At the end of the Games, athletes and officials will be encouraged to take your art as a gift from the people of Scotland and, excitingly, to write back to you offering their thanks.

REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL HERE

 

How it will work / key Information

◦Don’t start yet! We only need schools to register their interest now and we’ll send full competition guidance at the beginning of the new school session to those who have signed up.

◦The competition is only open to schools in Scotland.

◦Schools will be invited to run an in-school competition involving as many pupils as possible, selecting a pre-determined number of winning pieces (fewer than 10). Schools may wish to organise in-school exhibitions of their work.

◦The school should then send the winning pieces to the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee. We will then arrange for the winning artwork to go on display in the Athletes’ Village.

◦Along with the artwork, we will also be asking schools to send us stamped-addressed postcards (one per winning entry) which we will encourage the athletes and officials to return with comments.

Digital Storytelling – The Big 5!

Digital storytelling Main curriculum area languages, other area technologiesLanguagesTechnologiesDigital storytelling

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The Big 5 Listen to what the The Big 5 is all about

This is the Year of Natural Scotland! The Big 5 are out there! The Whiskered Diver! The Roaring Monarch! The High Flyer! The Curious Seadog and The Tufted Acrobat! Celebrate the beauty and diversity of Scotland by creating an animated adventure starring these Nature Superheroes!  Get outdoors, look at photographs, ask experts and watch video clips and wildlife webcams to research the Big 5. Storyboard an adventure tale. Create models and sets. Collect and make natural superhero sound effects. Share ideas, resources and help each other solve problems. Use stop motion animation and editing software to bring the Big 5 to life and then have your Big 5 animation adventure shared with Scotland!

Learn to....languagestechnologies

  • Select and organise ideas and information logically
  • Write an adventure story with great characters and settings
  • Use visual information to make models and sets
  • Explore and use animation software
  • Record and make sound effects
  • Edit, publish and promote your adventure tale
  • Appreciate Scottish biodiversity

learn with...languageslearn with...technologieslearn with...sciences

  • Learners across Scotland
  • Industry expert animator Bruce Husband
  • Dundee Contemporary Arts
  • Scottish Natural Heritage

Educators learn more about this learning experience here

LearnCAT Email the LearnCat to sign up for Digital Storytelling – The Big 5!

Notes

  • If you are a learner, you can sign up for yourself. Please include your Glow username
  • If you are a teacher or other educator, you can sign up on behalf of a group of learners. Please include a list of Glow usernames
  • Email learncat@educationscotland.gov.uk for any enquiries.
  • A Glow Login is required for your submissions.  If you have forgotten it or don’t have one click here.

Consolarium Code Club: Introduction to Scratch 2.0

Consolarium code club main curriculum area technologiesTechnologiesConsolarium Code Club

Listen to LearnCAT Introduction to Scratch 2.0 Listen to what the Introduction to Scratch 2.0 Learning Experience is all about

Wreck it Ralph in Scratch 2.0
Game like Wreck it Ralph can be made using Scratch 2.0

Now, we all know that playing computer games is very popular with young people. Maybe you enjoy playing them yourself? If you decide to join the Consolarium Code Club you will begin an exciting journey where you make the step up from just playing computer games to learning how to create your own using an application called Scratch 2.0! Maybe lurking in your imagination is the idea for a game that might become the next world wide smash!

This learning experience is slightly different because it is not being led by educators but by the learners from P.7 at Newburgh PS in Fife. Join with them and get coding!

technologies

  • use the drawing tools to design the characters for your game
  • use the tools to animate your characters and bring them to life
  • create scripts that can control the movement of your characters
  • look at other learners scripts and modify (mod) these
  • share your work and be a support for other learners in the Consolarium Code Club

learn with...technologies

  • each other
  • other learners in the Consolarium Code Club across Scotland
  • the team from P.7 at Newburgh PS
  • educators across Scotland

Educators can find out more about our Introduction to Scratch 2.0 learning opportunity here.


LearnCAT Email the LearnCat to sign up for Consolarium Code Club: Introduction to Scratch

Notes

  • If you are a learner, you can sign up for yourself. Please include your Glow username
  • If you are a teacher or other educator, you can sign up on behalf of a group of learners. Please include a list of Glow usernames
  • Email learncat@educationscotland.gov.uk for any enquiries.
  • A Glow Login is required for your submissions.  If you have forgotten it or don’t have one click here.

Collection of the week – ‘All the Seas’ – Tania Kovats

Collection of the week - Main curriculum area social studies, other curriculum area expressive artsSocial StudiesExpressive artsArt workshop

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All the Seas Listen to what the Collection of the Week- ‘All the Seas’ by Tania Kovats is all about

Do you live by the sea? Go on holiday by or know someone who lives or works by the sea or ocean?  Tania Kovats is a British artist and she is inviting you, and a global network of people to take part in an artwork by collecting water from the sea or ocean and sending it to The Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh.  The artwork will be called ‘All the Seas’ and will be part of a major exhibition of Tania Kovats work called Oceans which opens in March 2014 at The Fruitmarket Gallery. The names of all the people who have collected water will be included in the artwork to acknowledge their involvement. Share your photographs and stories about collecting water from a sea or ocean and help to tell the story of the artwork.

Email LearnCat if you wish to take part in this collaborative artwork and you will be sent a special label to attach to your bottle of water to show that you learned about Tania Kovats through Glow with The Fruitmarket Gallery.

Social Studieslearn to ...expressive arts

  • Use different types of maps to locate key features
  • Respond to the work of artists by discussing thoughts and feelings
  • Create text

Expressive arts

  • Learners across Scotland
  • Tania Kovats
  • Caitlin Page, Learning Programme Manager
  • The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh

Educators learn more about this learning experience here

LearnCAT Email the LearnCat to sign up for ‘All the Seas’ – Tania Kovats

Notes

  • If you are a learner, you can sign up for yourself. Please include your Glow username
  • If you are a teacher or other educator, you can sign up on behalf of a group of learners. Please include a list of Glow usernames
  • Email learncat@educationscotland.gov.uk for any enquiries.
  • A Glow Login is required for your submissions.  If you have forgotten it or don’t have one click here.