For most of my life, I have stayed in Penilee, a small housing scheme on the southern western edge of Glasgow, Scotland. After growing up here, I have learned a lot about the small scheme and its changes throughout the years. The houses in Penilee are mostly houses that are provided by the council. These […]
For most of my life, I have stayed in Penilee, a small housing scheme on the southern western edge of Glasgow, Scotland. After growing up here, I have learned a lot about the small scheme and its changes throughout the years.
The houses in Penilee are mostly houses that are provided by the council. These flats and tenements where built to accommodate workers who worked at Hillington Industrial state which Is a five-minute walk. The industrial estate includes many areas of work and opportunity’s such as factories, offices and retail shops. Penilee is now under major construction development. The council have begun by building modern new shops which include a chip shop, a Chinese and Indian takeaway, a butcher and a grocery shop. They have also begun to demolish old flats, and build modern up to date houses that can fit a family of 4 with a fancy drive way and a front and back garden. As these new homes are beginning to take shape, the green space in the area is starting to decline.
Penilee provides plenty of transport for the people who live in the community with a train station connecting to Greenock and Glasgow city centre. There are also bus links that take you to shopping centres such as Braehead and Silverburn, the city centre.
Surrounding Penilee there are 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school which is a short 5-minute walk in Crookston. Penilee used to have its own secondary school named Penilee Secondary school, however it was demolished along with Crookston Secondary School and Rosshall Academy was formed combing two schools together. This has created more green space in the heart of Penilee where the local park now is. Penilee also has a local community centre which caters lots of different sports and activities for the local community. There are also many free classes for the community especially the elderly where the can join a class to socialise with others and learn a new skill such as playing an instrument. The local gym is also within the community centre. According to the Scottish Air quality (2017) the air in my area is stated to be low.
The Curriculum for Excellence(2017) provides many opportunities for outdoor learning. During the sustainable development seminar, we had the opportunity to go for a sensory walk. This would be a perfect lesson for primary school children to learn about their urban environment as it would be engaging that the children would get to leave the classroom and explore the community they are living in. When I took part in this lesson around the university I was shocked at things I didn’t know of the environment I was in every day. I had the chance to explore and gain new skills and knowledge through the activity.
A perfect lesson for primary school children to use their seses to explore the enviroment around them. What can you hear, smell, and touch? What can you see?
References
Education Scotland (2017). Experiences and Outcomes. [Online]. Available : https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/policy-for-scottish-education/policy-drivers/cfe-(building-from-the-statement-appendix-incl-btc1-5)/Experiences%20and%20outcomes#soc. [ Accessed : 25 September 2017]
Air Quality in Scotland. (2017) Latest Pollution Map. [Online] Available: http://www.scottishairquality.co.uk/latest/?postcode=G21+3HY&postcode-submit.x=0&postcode-submit.y=0 [Accessed: 25 September 2017].
