Welcome to the fortnightly STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.
National STEM Network: Primary Meetings 23/24
Are you a primary practitioner interested in growing and sharing STEM learning? Come along to the network sessions and share and learn together. These sessions are open to all primary practitioners (including those leading STEM in their setting).
25 October 4 – 5 pm STEM through the year
Practical STEM ideas to enhance learning opportunities for key dates and celebrations throughout the year.
21 November 4 – 5 pm The Future of STEM
The world is changing how can STEM learning help equip us for the future?
Book tickets here: Events | Education Scotland
STEM Nation Award Drop In Sessions
The STEM Nation Award Drop-in sessions are for practitioners from ELC settings, schools and CLD providers who are interested in learning more about the STEM Nation Award programme.
The sessions also provide the opportunity for STEM Nation Award applicants to ask questions or seek support with their application from the Education Scotland STEM team.
The sessions are hosted on Microsoft Teams – you can join the meeting using a Glow or non-Glow account. There is no requirement to attend for the full session – you may wish to just drop-in to ask a quick question.
Upcoming sessions:
Mon 23 October 11:00-11:30
Mon 23 October 16:00 – 16:30
STEM Nation Award Drop-in Sessions
STEM Grants & Funding
STEM Grants and Funding updated Oct 23
British Science Week – Kickstart Grants
• Kick Start Grant: A grant of £300 for your school to run an activity during British Science Week.
• Kick Start Youth Grant: A grant of £150 for students aged 10-19 at your school to organise and deliver an activity during British Science Week.
• Kick Start More Grant: A grant of £700 for your school to host a science event or activity that involves your students and the local community.
• Kick Start Grant + Youth Grant: A combined grant of £450 for your school to run an activity during British Science and an additional activity organised and delivered by students aged 10-19.
STEM Festivals
List of Science STEM Festivals updated Oct 23
What is Careers Hive?
Careers Hive is an immersive careers education event designed to give students between the ages of 11–14 a new way to think about their futures. It highlights the opportunities available to those who study STEM subjects, as well as the cross-disciplinary skills and subjects that can support and enhance STEM careers.
Careers Hive 2023
Careers Hive will return to the National Museum of Scotland this year 6–11 November. For more information or to book your school groups place go to the website.
STEM Grant Programme Spotlight
This month the spotlight falls on a project focused on Mathematics at Milnathort Primary School in Kinross, part of Tayside Collaborative.
The Making Sense of Maths project develops a conceptual approach to teaching numeracy across primary schools and nurseries, sharing this method with families and other partners. This approach is implemented by engaging in high quality professional learning, developing the skills of maths leaders to allow them to support other teachers and practitioners and releasing time for teachers and practitioners to observe each other, to plan collegiately and to engage with the moderation cycle as part of their planning and assessment approaches to numeracy. Also central to this project is ensuring parents and children have opportunities to learn together to promote positive engagement with maths.
In Phase 2, a numeracy improvement group is leading the development of the project, with book group sessions and additional sessions to support professional learning in numeracy. Further book group sessions are planned, together with further in house professional learning. This approach will be shared through planned work with additional cluster schools this session.
Teacher and Practitioner CLPL is most effective when additional learning is enhanced by in class support and collegiate working. To ensure the project will have a long term strategic impact, staff have time to collaborate and introduce new approaches to classes. There is time for professional dialogue around shared texts, as well as visits to other classes and follow-up reflection time.
Phase two of the project also involves professional learning with parents and families in order that the whole school community can work together on the development.
Scottish Water Generation H₂O
Scottish Water Generation H₂O is a new nationwide campaign that will empower every young person in Scotland to take positive action to protect Scotland’s water. Water is one of Scotland’s most precious resources and we all need to be part of protecting it.
Find out more here.
Mission H₂O is a fun, hands-on challenge for learners aged 5-11 (P1-P7). The mission kicks off with a whole-school assembly before learners embark on a series of water-themed challenges to deliver at home and in school. The mission ends with a prize award and celebration.
STEM the Flow of marine pollution with Keep Scotland Beautiful
Delivered as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s award-winning Upstream Battle campaign, the STEM the Flow competition encourages pupils to investigate and design solutions to tackle marine litter at source with a pupil-led STEM project for Primary 5 to Secondary 3.
The STEM the Flow competition is live now. Please register to take part and stay up to date will all the STEM the Flow Challenge information.
Royal Highland Education Trust – Teacher Learning Opportunities
RHET’s training, through the provision of up to date information, provides the opportunity to reflect and develop personal connections to the complexities of our food system. IT touches on health and wellbeing, science, technology and geography. We all need to eat and food is a component of life which crosses boundaries and is truly interdisciplinary.
This professional learning involves tackling current issues through providing practitioners with information, together with the opportunities to gain knowledge and expand pedagogies through experiencing industry and/or undertaking classroom activities, utilising virtual and face to face opportunities.
Scottish Water Careers Map – Let’s Explore!
Scottish Water have launched a brand new Careers Map for pupils across Scotland.
Pupils can explore eight stops along the map including Science & Environment, Construction & Engineering, Communication & more. The map has something for everyone, each stop giving insight into various areas throughout Scottish Water.
Pupils interested in STEM subjects may wish to visit Digital, Data & Technology, pupils interested in protecting our planet may wish to visit Science & Environment. In each stop, pupils are able to hear from people, talking about their roles & how they ‘got the job’ … it might not be the way you think! The Careers Map is suitable for ages 10-17 (P6/7 – S6) & pupils in P6 – 7 who may benefit from an early introduction to the variety of exciting roles available to them in the future.
TRIC DigiFest 2.3
TRIC DigiFest 2.3 will take place on 11 November 2023.
This professional learning and networking event aims to highlight and share high quality, inspiring practice from schools in all three local authorities. Comprising of a mix of workshops, roundtable discussions and presentations, it is hoped that practitioners and leaders from all sectors can join TRIC DigiFest 2.3.
Partnering with University of Dundee, this event will take place in the Dalhousie Building between 9.15 am-1pm.
To register, please click here.
STEM/LfS Events Calendar
The Events Calendar contains STEM and Learning for Sustainability professional learning opportunities, networks for dialogue and sharing practice and events from across a variety of STEM partners and also includes professional learning offered by Education Scotland.
To view the calendar click here.
Dates for your diary
STEM Nation Award Drop-in Sessions 23 October 11:00-11:30 & 16:00 – 16:30
National STEM Network Primary Meetings 25 October 4 – 5 pm & 21 November 4 – 5 pm
Linnean Society Our Local Nature Grant closes 22 October
Royal Society of Chemistry Inclusion and Diversity Fund closes 31 October
Learning Places Scotland Conference 14-15 November
