Category Archives: Social studies

Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Literacy and English, Outdoor Learning, Social studies

John Muir – Back to the Future

May 29, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

2014 has seen John Muir leap to prominence, with a Way, a Festival, a Conference…not to mention a recent trend for beards (coincidence?!).

But what does the younger generation make of a man who left Dunbar, East Lothian for America aged 10, became an adventurer and conservation visionary, helped set up the National Parks movement, and died 100 years ago?

The John Muir Trust asked them – and found out some fascinating facts, interesting insights, and whether Muir’s message has relevance to young people today.

Watch a 5 minute film created by the John Muir Trust at http://vimeo.com/95260067 .

“The film captures young people’s thoughts and integrates John Muir’s life story fabulously.” Koren Calder, Young Adult Project Manager, Scottish Book Trust

“A lovely evocation of the roots and the meaning of Muir set into teen parlance.” John Beatty

Assessment, CfE, CLD, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, National Qualifications, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Senior Phase, Skills, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies

SQA Star Awards 2014 – Nominate Your Brightest Stars!

May 28, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

Nominations are now open. The SQA’s annual Star Awards are a unique way to celebrate success, triumph, achievement and recognition of the best in education and training. Behind every success story lies motivation and commitment, pride and self-esteem and, of course, sheer hard work.

See the stars come out – nominate your stars today www.sqa.org.uk/star

Closing date for entries is Friday 27 June 2014.

Assessment, CfE, CLD, Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, National Qualifications, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Senior Phase, Skills, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies, Uncategorised

Registration for SLF 2014 now open

May 27, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

Registration for SLF 2014 is now open at www.scottishlearningfestival.org.uk

The theme of SLF 2014 is raising achievement and attainment for all with a focus on maximising educational outcomes through:
• early intervention and prevention – for children, young people and adult learners in order to maximise educational outcomes;
• health and wellbeing – ranging from physical education and sport to the full range of health and wellbeing subjects which are the responsibility of all practitioners;
• employability skills – to secure a highly educated, well prepared and well-motivated young workforce able to compete in a global market.

SLF 2014 is free for everyone to attend and gives you access to:

• Inspirational keynotes from Michael Russell MSP, Dr Frank Dick, Prof Alma Harris and John Carnochan;
• Over 100 professional development seminars where you can engage in activities and learn from practitioners and young people;
• Lively debate at the professional discussions led by Sir Ian Wood, Chair of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, Sir Bill Gammell, Chairman and Co-founder of the Winning Scotland Foundation and Kenneth Muir, Chief Executive of the GTCS;
• Scotland’s largest education exhibition with over 100 exhibitors showcasing educational resources;
• Opportunities for discussion and professional networking with peers and colleagues from across Scotland.

Book Now
To guarantee your place at SLF 2014 and your choice of seminars book now, as many sessions do fill up before the summer break. Visit www.scottishlearningfestival.org.uk to browse the full conference programme and book your place today.

Sciences, Social studies, Technologies, Uncategorised

Power Politics – teaching resources exploring Oil and Development

April 24, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

Power Politics is a new education learning resource for schools, community groups, and anyone interested in global learning.

The resources were developed by the Living Earth Foundation as part of a three-year project funded by the European Commission. They were designed to meet the need for engaging development education materials, providing resources to teach with confidence on a broad range of issues relating to international development and global citizenship.

The resources explore issues including the Millennium Development Goals and the environmental, social and economic impacts of the oil industry, enabling pupils to compare and contrast the different contexts of Scotland and Nigeria.

Teachers, pupils and members of community groups in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were involved in a range of creative exercises and workshops, and were at the heart of developing the resources, which is clear to see in the final products. They created films and comic strips to bring to life the differences and similarities in their day to day lives, and to provoke debate and discussion about the opportunities and challenges that living alongside the oil and gas industry can bring.

The Power Politics pack includes:

Comic text books
9 short films introducing the key issues
Exercise packs with activities to suit a range of abilities
A user guide for teachers giving background information and additional support.

Power Politics is aimed at S1-S3 and the learning activities can easily be tailored to suit any age group.

The learning pack, with comics and exercises for entire classes is available free to use. You can borrow them from the Montgomery Development Education centre www.montgomerydec.org.uk. or access and download from the website www.powerpolitics.org.uk.

CfE, CLD, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies, Uncategorised

John Muir – teaching resources

April 22, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

John Muir Education Pack – This resource aims to help teachers understand outdoor learning opportunities, and give confidence to use outdoor spaces for teaching a wide range of experiences and outcomes. The pack for Second Level encourages structured learning in the outdoors, along with a deeper understanding of John Muir’s writings and philosophies. The pack can be used flexibility as stand-alone activities to cover certain aspects of the topic or as activities leading into each other as a programme of learning. The Second Level pack can help with an introduction to the John Muir Award. John Muir Education Pack – Second Level

The pack has been created by The Rural Connect Project which is all about reconnecting local communities to the rural environment through community engagement events, workshops and online resources www.ruralconnectwestlothian.co.uk.

Outdoor Learning Resource Guide – This new Outdoor Learning Resource Guide summarises the many benefits of Outdoor Learning, and contains useful information and website links for further information.
http://www.jmt.org/assets/john%20muir%20award/downloads/resourceguideoutdoorlearning.pdf

John Muir, Earth – Planet, Universe – A graphic novel based upon the life of John Muir has been produced by the Scottish Book Trust with free copies going to every secondary school in Scotland. It’s also available for anyone, anywhere to download as a PDF version. Teaching support notes and pupil activities also accompany the book. John Muir, Earth – Planet, Universe brings Muir’s story to life in a new way, and is intended to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of the natural environment and the importance of protecting wild places.
http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/teachers-librarians/teaching-resources-cpd/john-muir

New John Muir Way website – Find out everything you need to know about the UK’s newest long distance route, by visiting the new website. There are maps and information for each of the ten sections of the 133 mile route, which runs between Helensburgh in the West and Dunbar on the East. http://johnmuirway.org/

Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Literacy, Mathematics, Outdoor Learning, RME, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies, Uncategorised

Outdoor Learning online support

April 22, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

For information, resources, support, key organisations and national guidelines on taking learning outdoors click on the link below to access the Education Scotland outdoor learning online resource:

Education Scotland Outdoor Learning online resource

Key documents available on this resource include:

Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning – this document provides guidance on how your school or centre can provide the best opportunities for creative and inspiring outdoor learning.

Outdoor Learning: Practical guidance, ideas and support for teachers and practitioners in Scotland – this document provides materials and resources for teachers to support the embedding of Curriculum for Excellence through outdoor learning.

Outdoor Learning 3-18: Self-evaluation resource – this resource is specifically designed to support teachers and educators in pre-school centres and primary, special and secondary schools and Community Learning and Development (CLD) to evaluate the potential of their work to help children and young people learn outdoors.

Building your Curriculum: Outside & In – This document supports a strategic approach to the development of Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning.

Going Out There: Scottish Framework for Safe Practice in Off-site Visits – This framework has been developed in partnership by the Scottish Government, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education (SAPOE), Education Scotland and the Association of Directors of Education, with input from other partners including voluntary organisations and providers. http://www.goingoutthere.co.uk/

A downloadable word document highlighting all these links is available here: Education Scotland Outdoor Learning online support materials

Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Outdoor Learning, Social studies

Sustrans – The Big Street Survey

April 9, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

Sustrans, the British charity which promotes sustainable transport, has developed a learning and teaching resource for P6-7 and S1-3 called The Big Street Survey. It is designed to get pupils thinking and learning about their local environments, how they make them feel and how they can go about developing a manifesto for changing their streets and making them healthier and safer places.

A series of free downloadable resources can be viewed here:

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/change-your-travel/children-and-families/schools/big-street-survey

These resources deliver various Experiences & Outcomes across Health & Wellbeing, Social Studies, Expressive Arts, Literacy and Numeracy.

CfE, Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Senior Phase, Skills, Social studies, Technologies, Young people, children & families

Last Chance: Community Resilience Conversation and Networking event – Monday 17th March 2014 at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel. (09:30 for 10:00 start – 15:00)

March 12, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

There are still places available at Education Scotland’s Community Resilience Conversation and Networking Event on Monday 17^th March.

The day is aimed at members of the Scottish Government, emergency planning and civil contingencies teams from local councils, representatives from local education authorities, and members of other key organisations to consider community resilience as a rich and exciting context for teaching and learning.

Conversation activities will provide delegates with opportunities to network with one another and engage in professional dialogue in relation to preparing for emergencies and developing resilient communities. Selected examples of good practice will also be shared through engaging presentations delivered by government, local council and school representatives.

We would like to invite you to take part in the event at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on the 17^th March 2014 to explore how we might take forward resilience education in schools and consider important developments in teaching and learning.

We would be grateful if you could register online at http://svy.mk/Mb8ZM7 by end of day Thursday 13^th March 2014 to confirm your attendance and inform us of any special dietary or access requirements you may have.

CfE, Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Senior Phase, Skills, Social studies, Technologies, Young people, children & families

Community Resilience Education – Conversation Day and Networking Event – Mon 17th March 2014

March 4, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

Time: 09:30 (for 10:00 start) – 15:00

Venue: Glasgow Hilton Hotel, William Street, Glasgow, G3 8HT

Education Scotland is excited to be hosting its first community resilience conversation and networking event with a view to developing a shared, partnership approach to provide 3-18 resilience education opportunities.

The day aims to bring together members of the Scottish Government, emergency planning and civil contingencies teams from local councils, representatives from local education authorities, and members of other key organisations to consider community resilience as a rich and exciting context for teaching and learning focusing on a range of contexts such as flooding and other forms of extreme weather and their impact on our lives.

We would like to invite you to take part in the event at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on the 17^th March 2014 to explore how we might take forward resilience education and consider important developments in teaching and learning. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. There is no cost to attend.

We would be grateful if you could register online at http://svy.mk/Mb8ZM7 by Monday 10^th March 2014 to confirm your attendance and inform us of any special dietary or access requirements you may have.

Senior Phase, Social studies, Technologies, Uncategorised

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

February 5, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

Re-thinking Progress: 25th – 27th March 2014, register now

Big thinkers. Different sessions. One issue.

Re-thinking Progress is the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s first ever education open-house event in partnership with Bradford University’s centre for the circular economy. We would love for you to join us.

With a focus on discussion and interaction, Re-thinking Progress will see the Foundation’s education team host a one-off series of short talks, Q&A’s, breakout sessions, seminars, and expert lectures, to explore what the circular economy can offer in the way we approach and deliver effective education.

The event will be held at the re:centre, University of Bradford (pictured left) which is a cross University facility for business engagement and collaboration, with the circular economy providing one of the major programme elements.
Thinkers and innovators will join us from areas as diverse as 3D printing, higher education, urban design and aquaponics to inform the application of the circular economy for both formal and informal educators. Everyone is welcome.

See some of the highlights for the session topics below, and learn more about the circular economy in education here.

Session highlights

Circular economy “bootcamp”
Urban design and the circular economy
HE curriclum development
A New Dynamic – book launch
Aquaponic food systems
Systems thinking
STEM & the circular economy
The changing face of business education
Teaching the circular economy in the classroom
Ellen MacArthur live-streamed special address

http://bit.ly/Me9u7x

CfE, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies

Reminder – Climate Week 2014 (3rd – 9th March)

February 3, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

Climate Week 2014 is fast approaching. It is Britain’s largest climate change campaign, with half a million people attending over 3,000 events each year.

Climate Week is about how people can live and work more sustainably, and you can run any kind of event or activity you wish. Here are some ideas:

Don’t forget to enter the Climate Week Challenge, a competition for small teams in schools and workplaces. It needs no preparation, is free and helps develop innovation and teamwork. There are one-hour and one-day versions – register here.

Also enter the Climate Week Awards for professional achievement that is helping to create a more sustainable society – click here to find out more. Deadline – February 14th 2014.

Run a Climate Week Swap event at which people can exchange clothes, books or children’s toys they don’t want any more – find out more here.

Please remember to register your events and activities with Climate Week – they will then be listed as an official part of Climate Week, encouraging others to take part and so growing the movement for environmental change.

CfE, Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Young people, children & families

Climate Week 2014 – Countdown!

January 8, 2014 User deactivated Leave a comment

It’s time to start planning for Climate Week – eight weeks from now on 3-9 March 2014. It is Britain’s largest climate change campaign, with half a million people attending over 3,000 events each year.

Climate Week is about how people can live and work more sustainably, and you can run any kind of event or activity you wish. Here are some ideas:

Enter the Climate Week Challenge, a competition for small teams in schools and workplaces. It needs no preparation, is free and helps develop innovation and teamwork. There are one-hour and one-day versions – register here.

Enter the Climate Week Awards for professional achievement that is helping to create a more sustainable society – click here to find out more. Deadline – February 14th 2014.

Run a Climate Week Swap event at which people can exchange clothes, books or children’s toys they don’t want any more – find out more here.

Power cuts and flooding after gales hit west coast. Are you Ready for Emergencies?

December 19, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Severe weather has caused disruption through utility failures and signifiant flooding in various areas throughout Scotland.

Winds of up to 90 mph hit parts of the country last night causing power cuts, rough seas and heavy swells. Those regions partcularly badly affected include Glasgow, Aberdeen, the Western Isles, Shetland, Orkney and Dumfries and Galloway among others.

For further details go to: http://bbc.in/1klW9Yb

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has been issuing regular flood warnings urging the public to take immediate action against the predicted flooding.

The ‘Ready for Emergencies’ website contains free teaching resources to help young people and their local commuitites to prepare and cope in extreme weather situations like these. For severe weather learning journeys go to: http://bit.ly/1gmTEml

Make sure you are signed up for SEPA’s free flood alert service. Register at: http://bit.ly/1cCJ2uB

Scottish Water – Play safe around water this winter!

November 27, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Scottish Water is reminding teachers and learners of the importance of playing safe this winter.

In recent years Scotland has witnessed some of the coldest winters for generations, so there’s no telling what the coming weeks may bring. Scottish Water is advising customers that they should remain vigilant and should not take any risks around freezing cold watercourses.

While it’s important that youngsters enjoy their school holidays and that people across Scotland take pleasure in the country’s beautiful lochs, rivers and reservoirs, it is also vital that they stay safe. Latest figures show 22 people died accidentally or from natural causes around water in Scotland last winter, but there are easy ways to prevent tragedies, and equipping yourself with the knowledge of what to do in an emergency can save a life.

For further details of Scottish Water’s recent release and advice on how to stay safe around water this winter, go to: http://bit.ly/1b4agsG

Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Sciences, Social studies, Young people, children & families

Climate Change in Scotland – Reflecting on Typhoon Haiyan and the impact of global climate change

November 25, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

The number of people confirmed dead in the Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan now stands at in excess of 4000, and a further 4 million people have been forced to leave their homes since the storm hit.

At a recent conference at the Royal Society in central London, the Prince of Wales claimed that the typhoon is a ‘direct result’ of climate change and that ‘the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events has increased, and is set to increase even further’.

In the face of global warming and it’s possible impact closer to home, Scotland has set world-leading greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and has plans in place for how to reduce further by 42% by 2020.

Adaptation Scotland provides advice and support to help ensure that Scotland is prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of climate change. Find details of key messages, climate information and adaptation suggestions in light of climate change in Scotland.

CfE, Social studies

National Competition Helps Pupils Bring History To Life

November 21, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Primary schools in Scotland have until December 1, 2013 to sign up to a national competition that will see pupils turn detective to uncover the real life stories of ex servicemen and women.

The Scottish Primary School War Memorial competition, run by the Royal British Legion Scotland, will see hundreds of pupils investigating stories of soldiers – whose names are on local memorials – and their families from World War One and conflicts since.

Pupils will bring history to life as they work with local veterans from RBLS branches as part of the project. And they will get a chance to trace living relatives of war heroes as part of their research, which starts with a visit to the local war memorial.

Newburgh Primary School in Fife won the first competition in 2007. Head Teacher, Susan Mitchell said: “As a result of their research they spoke to living relatives of local boys and former pupils of the school, killed in action at 19. They also won a community award and Friends of the Forces.

She added: “The competition opens up so many opportunities. Pupils develop skills across the curriculum from literacy to IT. And ultimately it helps pupils learn the real value of history, as young citizens of their local community.”

To enter, pupils need to research a local war memorial within the school’s area and find out as much information as they can about the servicemen and women, the battles they were in and the stories of their service.

A great prize is up for grabs too – the winning school will win a trip for ten pupils to London to tour and sleep on board World War Two warship HMS Belfast moored on the Thames. Pupils will also present their winning entry to veterans from across Scotland.

To enter, teachers need to visit www.rblscotland.com/schools and fill in the entry form.

Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies, Young people, children & families

Reminder – Make your booking today! Free interactive urban flood model visits and workshops.

November 18, 2013 User deactivated 1 Comment

Not to be missed! Heriot Watt University still have availability for schools interested in receiving a visit from the interactive flood model and flood experts.

For a flavour of what you can expect, see the flood model in action at: http://bit.ly/1dNfNIa

What is it?

An interactive, free workshop has been developed to explain the processes involved with urban flooding and flood prevention. It also introduces the concept of community resilience and the role that individuals can play in protecting themselves and their neighbours.

The main element of the workshop is an interactive physical model, representing a typical town with a river, houses, shops, industrial units, roads and parks. The model simulates rainfall, with water being fed to sprinklers and the river via a system of pumps. Workshop participants are able to change certain elements of the urban fabric to help reduce the severity of flooding.

Is it any good?

Since 2009, over 5000 people have participated in the workshop, most of whom were young people. Independent evaluation of the workshop “…yielded strong evidence for the learning that took place during audiences’ interaction with the project”.

Work with the Scottish Government and SEPA has supported on-going flood risk awareness raising, and again the feedback has been very positive.

Can it come to my school?

Sure. The Scottish Government have commissioned Heriot-Watt University to take the workshop to Scottish schools in 2013/14.

We can visit you to run our interactive workshop for your pupils for free; all you have to do is provide us with some space to run the workshop and some interested children. We will also leave you with a follow up lesson plan to reinforce some of the key workshop messages

Contact Grant Wright to arrange a visit (Tel: 0131 4518261, Email: g.b.wright@Hw.ac.uk)

For more information go to http://urbanfloodmodel.wordpress.com/

Social studies

Education Scotland promoting political literacy for all

November 14, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Scotland’s new curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence, places political literacy at the heart of citizenship education. By doing so it aims to ensure that young people acquire the skills, knowledge and understanding that will help them become responsible citizens who participate actively in society’s decision-making processes.

Political literacy is one of the foundations of modern democracy. It is the means by which citizens make informed choices about the kind of society they want to live in. Being politically literate helps everyone to understand political decisions and how they affect their own lives, and it ensures that evidence and reasoned debate trump unsubstantiated assertion and hyperbole. Political literacy matters in a society whose values are wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity, one which demands equalities and fairness for all, and in which the right of all citizens to develop and express their own views is respected.

In Education Scotland we are committed to helping educators develop young people’s political literacy to the full. Below is our position so that everyone understands our role and responsibilities which have been agreed with the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), the Electoral Commission, the Electoral Management Board for Scotland and School Leaders Scotland as outlined in the briefing published jointly by us in June 2013. We want young people to engage in political processes in an active and well-informed way, whilst we are entirely impartial about how individuals’ might vote on any specific issue.

As Scotland’s 16 and 17 year olds will be eligible to vote for the first time in the Constitutional Referendum next year, it is now even more important to ensure that young people develop the skills they need to participate in an informed way. Young People need to be aware of the political process and the key issues at stake and have the confidence and skills they need to participate in a way which enables them to exercise an informed choice.

The development of political literacy should not be left to chance nor be dependent on the particular set of subjects that learners have chosen to study. Rather it needs to be mainstreamed into the curriculum for all. With that in mind Education Scotland is working widely with a range of partners to provide teachers with support for approaches that will enable them to help young people develop the skills, without guiding them towards any particular point of view.

We have already published ‘CfE Briefing 14: Political Literacy’ which provides clear guidance on approaches to promoting political literacy in an impartial way. In the coming months we will also promote more resources, guidance, case studies and links to information on the referendum which teachers and those working with young people will have the option to use for teaching political literacy, if they are appropriate to their context. We will only promote resources which support the teaching of political literacy in a completely impartial and unbiased way.

Our aim is to ensure that all young people acquire political literacy skills and are well prepared to engage constructively with democratic processes such as the forthcoming Referendum. In any political process our aim is to ensure that all eligible young people are prepared to cast a well-informed vote after engaging in balanced and well-informed consideration of the issues at hand. That is what being a ‘responsible citizen’ is all about.

For more information please visit The Electoral Commission website.

CfE, Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies

FREE to your school!! Urban Flooding Model Workshops

November 13, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

What is it?

Is it any good?

Work with the Scottish Government and SEPA has supported on-going flood risk awareness raising, and again the feedback has been very positive.

Can it come to my school?

Sure. The Scottish Government have commissioned Heriot-Watt University to take the workshop to Scottish schools in 2013/14.

Contact Grant Wright to arrange a visit (Tel: 0131 4518261, Email: g.b.wright@Hw.ac.uk)

For more information go to http://urbanfloodmodel.wordpress.com/

Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies, Young people, children & families

Ready for Winter 2013/2014 – Are You Ready?

October 10, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

The 2013/2014 ‘Ready for Winter’ campaign will be launched by the Scottish Government on the 21^st October. Key messages for this year include: ‘Thinking Ahead’ and ‘Taking an Hour’ to prepare for severe winter weather in the community, at home, on the move and in the workplace. With the clocks moving back one hour on the 27^th of October, let’s use this extra time pro-actively! Education Scotland are therefore working in partnership with the Scottish Government to ensure that Scottish schools are as ready as possible for winter.

To promote the launch of ‘Ready for Winter’ and its rich links to resilience education, teachers are being asked to run health and wellbeing sessions (21^st to 25^th October) ranging from simple class lessons to larger projects. Web links and free downloadable activities will soon be made available for schools to access from Education Scotland’s ‘Ready for Emergencies’ website http://bit.ly/GJ8CWz

Further details and links to activities will follow shortly. In the meantime, general information about ‘Ready for Winter’ and resilience education can be found at http://bit.ly/1gmTEml and http://bit.ly/1aiEZnp

CfE, Community Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Young people, children & families

Ready for Emergencies? – Resilience Education Web Resource

October 10, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Have you ever been affected by difficulties such as severe winter weather, flooding, utilities failures or pandemics (amongst others)? What would you do if you were? Would you know how to cope in an emergency situation and what procedures to follow? How could you ensure that you and your community were fully prepared for times of crisis?

The ‘Ready for Emergencies’ website provides information on all of the above and is a valuable resilience education resource to help develop resilient attitudes and pro-active strategies among young people to prevent and deal with emergency situations.

The site contains a wide range of links to free downloadable teaching and learning materials http://bit.ly/1gmTEml including learning journeys, challenges and media files covering numerous real-life emergency contexts linked to the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence.

For further details – visit: http://bit.ly/GJ8CWz

Additional Support for Learning, Community Capacity Building, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, MCMC/16+LC, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Universal Support, Young people, children & families

Royal Horticultural Society – The Edible School Garden

October 1, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Royal Horticultural Society

The Edible School Garden
Dumfries House, KA18 2NJ – Tuesday 19th November 2013, 10 am – 3 pm

Kilbarchan Primary School, PA10 2LA Thursday 28th November 2013, 10 am – 3 pm
To give teachers of all age groups the skills to confidently grow and manage a simple productive garden throughout the year. To ensure that produce is used in tasting, cooking and enterprise activities. Every school should be a food growing school.
Objectives
At the end of this course you will:
a) Have the knowledge and skills to sow and grow the RHS top 14 fruits, vegetables and herbs for the school garden, to provide a range of fresh, healthy produce throughout the school year
b) Get hints and tips on tasting and cooking with the produce, outside in the garden and in the school canteen
c) Know how to add value to your produce through correct harvesting and storage, preserving and other simple enterprise ideas.
Experience: Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.
CPD Provider

Angela Smith
angelasmith@rhs.org.uk

RHS Development Officer for Scotland

Additional Support for Learning, Adult Learning, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Social studies, Universal Support, Young people, children & families

Outdoor Learning with the National Parks Inspiring Landscapes – Inspiring Learning

September 13, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Senior Leaders Professional Learning Event – Dounans Centre, Aberfoyle: Friday 20^th September 2013

A one day event for head teachers and deputy head teachers, focusing on whole school approaches, inspection and self-evaluation for school managers. Delegates will hear from senior managers, education officers and others with experience of outdoor learning in the context of school improvement.

Staff Professional Learning Weekend – Dounans Centre, Aberfoyle: Friday 20^th – Sunday 22^nd September 2013

This opportunity is aimed at staff from all schools and settings within the partner authorities, and will provide inputs from project and centre staff, from the National Park ranger service, and from Education Scotland staff to support you in embedding Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning in your school or nursery. As well as a variety of ‘sharing good practice’ sessions run by teachers across all sectors.

The weekend will provide staff with practical tools, ideas and inspiration for developing progressive and frequent outdoor learning opportunities for pupils which will support and enrich all aspects of their learning.

Spaces are still available on these programmes for further information contact

Joan.Reilly@educationscotland.gov.uk

Workshops Staff Professional Learning Weekend

Staff CLPL residential weekend 2013 – info for schools

Final Programme Staff PL Weekend

Final Programme School Leaders

CfE, Social studies

New CfE briefing on political literacy

August 30, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Education Scotland has published the latest in a series of briefings on Curriculum for Excellence. This briefing covers political literacy. It offers guidance to practitioners around how best to deliver political literacy for all learners. This resource was developed with key partners in the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.

Dr Bill Maxwell, Chief Executive of Education Scotland, said, “The aim of this resource is to help teachers and other practitioners to improve political literacy amongst learners, this includes ensuring they understand and appreciate differing opinions and that they can appreciate equalities and fairness for all and the right of every citizen to make up their own mind. I would encourage all practitioners from early years, through school years and adult education to read this guidance and use the resources we are making available to help increase political literacy amongst all learners.”

Bruce Robertson of ADES said, “This is a very useful resource for practitioners and gives good advice on the different approaches to political literacy in the classroom. The coming year will be an active time for politics in Scotland and being aware of how best to deal with these types of conversations, how to use this context in education and ensuring a fair and balanced approach are all of the utmost importance. ADES looks forward to helping promote some of the resources Education Scotland will be making available for practitioners.”

John McCormick, Electoral Commissioner for Scotland, said, “Many young people will be able to participate in the forthcoming referendum and we need to ensure they have access to impartial information and support to develop the skills to take part confidently. We will be providing information about how to register and vote but teachers and youth workers have an important role to play in developing political literacy. We are pleased to see this being taken forward through CfE and hope that it will be used to promote the skills young people need to participate fully in the referendum.”

Download a copy of CfE Briefing 14, Political Literacy.

CfE, Early Years, Glow TV, Health and wellbeing, Literacy and English, Literacy and Gàidhlig, Social studies

Glow TV is Back!

August 19, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Welcome back to the new session! Everyone here at Glow TV hopes that you had a relaxing break and are ready for the challenges of the new term ahead. As ever Glow TV continues to offer a wide range of events both for use in the classroom with your pupils and also for Continued Professional Learning. We are kicking off next week with a series of events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Why not sign up and join us live at an event or if you are unable to join live then remember that all events are recorded and can be found in the Glow TV Watch Again section.

Monday 19th August at 12.30pm – Tom Palmer’s Football Reading Game
This event is suitable for Primary 4-7. Find out more about this event and sign up!

Tuesday 20th August at 10.30am – Superhero Siblings with Gwyneth Rees
This event is suitable for Primary 3-5. Find out more about this event and sign up!

Tuesday 20th August at 12pm – The Physics of Superheroes with James Kakalios
This event is suitable for S2- S6. Find out more about this event and sign up!

Wednesday 21st August at 10am – Titanic: Death on the Water with Tony Bradman This event is suitable for P4-7. Find out more about this event and sign up!

Wednesday 21st August at 12.30pm – Ciaran Murtagh: Jokes, Genies and Japes
This event is suitable for P3-6. Find out more about this event and sign up!

Friday 23rd August at 10am – Lunar Adventures with Simon Bartram
This event is suitable for P1-3. Find out more about this event and sign up!

CfE, CLD, Community Capacity Building, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Sciences, Social studies, Young people, children & families

Mission:Explore celebrates John Muir with launch of a new ebook

April 21, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

A partnership between the John Muir Trust and Mission:Explore – a group of teachers, artists, activists and adventurers – has launched a free ebook to introduce the great explorer, naturalist, writer, mountaineer and conservationist to a new audience.

Supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, Mission:Explore – John Muir, features a range of activities that reflect the adventures and ethos of the Victorian Scot, whose 175th birthday will be celebrated this month in his adopted homeland the USA as well as in the land of his birth.

It encourages people of all ages – including groups and families – to follow in the footsteps of Muir by taking part in an imaginative set of ‘missions’, which involve looking, touching, walking, exploring, thinking, and even dancing in wild nature wherever they find it.

Suggested activities range from observing how frogs swim to getting windswept, creating a mini-National Park, and staring at the stars.

The book launch ties in perfectly with Year of Natural Scotland 2013 and its theme of celebrating John Muir. There is already interest across the UK and in America.

Your ebook is free to download from Mission:Explore and John Muir Award web pages, and can be used on smart phones, laptops and tablets, or printed off and read in the old-fashioned way.

Link to John Muir Award launch page – http://www.jmt.org/jmaward-mission-explore-john-muir.asp
Link to Mission:Explore launch page – http://www.missionexplore.net/shop

Daniel Raven-Ellison, Guerilla Geographer at Mission:Explore, said: “Mission:Explore and the John Muir Award have much in common. We’re both all about discovering, exploring, conserving and sharing, so making this book together made perfect sense.

“We had a great time making it and we’re sure that our readers will have an even better time doing each of the quirky adventures inside. Good luck!”

“These missions are great, you can really see the spark they’ve generated with teachers.” Carol Walker, South Lanarkshire Outdoor Learning Development Officer

Featuring 20 activities that reflect the adventures and ethos of the Victorian Scot, you can access the free Mission:Explore John Muir eBook or PDF in a number of ways:

• eBook – on-line with Graphicly http://graphicly.com/mission-explore/mission-explore-john-muir/john-muir
• eBook for iPhone or iPad – via ‘Mission Explore John Muir’ in iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/mission-explore-john-muir/id627660952?mt=11
• eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=The%20Geography%20Collective&search-alias=books-uk&sort=relevancerank
• Printable PDF version (5.3MB) from http://www.jmt.org/jmaward-mission-explore-john-muir.asp

Find hundreds of other missions on the Mission:Explore website http://www.missionexplore.net

About Mission:Explore

• Mission:Explore is a collection of books created by the Geography Collective, a unique team of over 25 geographers, teachers, educators and artists who work together to help young people explore and see the world in new ways. It makes books full of illustrated challenges that aim to make children a little more confident, happy, empathetic and knowledgeable.They think that learning in the real world, in real places and about real issues are vital to any childhood.

• Mission:Explore has won awards including National Trust & Hay Festival Outdoor Book of the Year 2011, and a Pink Stinks approved stamp for being gender neutral.

About Year of Natural Scotland 2013

• The Year of Natural Scotland 2013 is the latest in a series of themed years for the Scottish Government. It aims to highlight Scotland’s stunning natural beauty and biodiversity, and promote opportunities for visitors and residents to enjoy our beautiful landscapes, wildlife and heritage responsibly. http://www.snh.gov.uk/enjoying-the-outdoors/year-of-natural-scotland-2013

About The John Muir Trust

The John Muir Trust is the leading wild land conservation charity in the United Kingdom, with a membership of around 10,000.

We seek to ensure that wild land is protected and enhanced, and that wild places are valued by and for everyone.

The Trust does this by:
• Owning and managing wild land for conservation
• Assisting others in wild land management
• Campaigning for the long-term legal protection of wild land
• Encouraging people to connect with and care for wild places through the John Muir Award and volunteer conservation programmes.

We take our name and inspiration from John Muir (1838-1914), the pioneering, influential Scots-born American conservationist who dedicated his life to protecting wild places and campaigned successfully for the establishment of National Parks to safeguard vast tracts of wild land, including Yosemite Valley in California.

CLD, MCMC/16+LC, Senior Phase, Social studies

Be Extraordinary for a Day!

April 11, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

What could you change in a day? Could you challenge yourself to do something extraordinary? Live UnLtd want to back your idea to make a real change!

Be Extraordinary for a Day is for 11-21 year olds who’d like to try their hand at addressing a social or environmental issue in their area over a short period of time e.g. a day to a week. If your application is successful, award winners will receive support and up to £500 to help you turn your idea into a reality. Some people may choose to develop their ideas after this short term award while others will not.

Basic Criteria
Your idea must be a short project that will tackle an issue in your area. If successful, your project must take place in a short timescale (for example, a day or a week) between July and December 2013.
This competition is open to individuals aged between 11 and 21 years only. Clubs and organisations cannot apply; however, applications from individuals within a club/organisation setting are welcome to apply, providing the project is run separately from the club/organisation.
People aged between 11 and 21 can apply for £250-£500. Those aged 11 – 17 must have parental permission, and must work with an advisor to assist in making the project happen (for example, a youth club worker, parent, guardian, or teacher). Cash Awards can only be used to cover project costs and not direct salaries.

Apply now and Be Extraordinary For A Day!
Closing date for applications is Friday 14th June 2013
Winners will be announced on Friday 28th June 2013

Social studies

Scotland declared a Fairtrade Nation

February 27, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Scotland has become one of the world’s first Fair Trade Nations, International Development Minister Humza Yousaf announced this week.

The news comes on the first day of Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 and follows a nationwide campaign led by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum that has seen the people of Scotland rally behind Fair Trade principles.

The accolade means people, government, businesses, public bodies and community organisations across Scotland have come together to meet stringent criteria designed to promote Fair Trade.

Speaking ahead of a visit to the Urban Fox project in Glasgow, where he will launch an initiative to supply Fairtrade footballs to youth and sports groups in disadvantaged areas, Mr Yousaf said:

“People in every city and across all local authority areas share a vision of Scotland as a good global citizen, committed to playing its part in addressing poverty.

“That vision includes our commitment to Malawi, to take the lead in climate change, to promote clean drinking water and explains why we have doubled our International Development Fund to £9 million since 2007/08.

“I thank every person, business and organisation who has helped Scotland towards achieving Fair Trade Nation status. In particular I commend the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, who have been instrumental in driving forward our Fair Trade Nation agenda.

“We must now build on today’s achievement and continue to work hard to encourage even greater Scottish support for Fair Trade.

To qualify for Fair Trade Nation status, the Scottish Fair Trade Forum (SFTF) was required to demonstrate how Scotland had met a series of stringent criteria, including:

All seven Scottish cities and at least 55 per cent of local authority areas to have Fairtrade status.
All 32 local authorities areas and at least 55 per cent of towns with a population of 5,000 or more to have active Fair Trade groups working towards Fairtrade status.
At least 60 per cent of higher education institutions to have active Fair Trade groups working towards Fairtrade status.
Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to use, promote and make available Fair Trade products internally, and to actively promote Fairtrade Fortnight each year.
Fair Trade to be promoted in schools through the curriculum, procurement and other possible means.
Schools, Further Education Institutions, Faith Groups, Trade Unions, business networks, voluntary and youth organisations to pledge to use and promote Fair Trade.
75 per cent of people to buy a Fair Trade product every year.
40 per cent of people to regularly buy Fairtrade products.

Additional Support for Learning, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Literacy and English, RME, Sciences, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Universal Support

Promoting Diversity and Equality

February 26, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Promoting Diversity and Equality: Developing Responsible Citizens for 21st Century Scotland

This publication aims to support schools and centres in promoting diversity and equality through all aspects of planned learning.

Diversity is about recognising and valuing difference, where everyone is respected for who they are. Equality is about creating a fairer society, where everyone can take part and where everyone has the opportunity to be all they can be.

Curriculum for Excellence challenges schools and communities to develop children and young people as responsible citizens who:
• show respect for others
• understand different beliefs and cultures
• are developing informed, ethical views of complex issues.

All involved in successful learning need to understand themselves what it means to live in this diverse society, and to help children and young people understand what it means for them.

Assessment, BtC5, CfE, Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Literacy, Literacy and English, Mathematics, Moderation, Modern Languages, NAR, Outdoor Learning, Profiles, Profiling, Religious and Moral Education, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies

Taking a closer look at the National Assessment Resource: A professional learning resource

February 12, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Education Scotland have recently developed this professional learning resource. It provides an opportunity to reflect on effective practice in learning, teaching and assessment, drawing on the work published on the National Assessment Resource (NAR). It also provides a structured look at the NAR flow chart as a tool for planning effective learning, teaching, moderation and assessment.

The resource can be used by individual practitioners keen to reflect and improve on their assessment practice as well as pairs, groups of practitioners, associated school groups (ASGs) or clusters working collegiately to reflect on and improve practice.

It is available to download from the Education Scotland website and welcome section on NAR. There will be a Glow meet on Wednesday the 13th of February at 8:20am and Thursday the 14th at 4:15pm to explore the resource further.

CfE, Glow TV, RME, Social studies

Holocaust Memorial Day 2013 – Glow TV Events

January 22, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Glow TV is once more celebrating Holocaust Memorial Day which is on 27th January with a series of events. Below you can find out all the details and hopefully you will be able to join us for some of them!

Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory – Sello Hatang – Thursday 24th January 2013 11am

Sello Hatang from the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory will speak about the work of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and how this organisation has helped rebuild the fractured community in South Africa. Pupils will have the opportunity to ask Sello questions about his experiences to do with reconcilliation and rebuilding trust.

Sello Hatang is the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory’s Head of Public Programming, and spokesperson. Previously he was a senior manager at South Africa’s Human Rights Commission. He participated in the post-1994 transformation of the National Archives, including archival support for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and is a former Director of the South African History Archive. He was a member of the editorial team of Nelson Mandela’s book, Conversations with Myself. Sign up and join us in Glow TV – Nelson Mandela Foundation – Rebuilding communities .

Holocaust Memorial Day 2013 – Monday 28th January 2013 10.30am

Join us live from from Glasgow City Chambers to take part in Holocaust Memorial Day 2013, Scotland’s National Event, with Jean Paul Samputu from the Rwandan Forgiveness Campaign, Sello Hatang from the Nelson Mandela Foundation and pupils from Shawlands Academy, Holyrood Secondary and St Anne’s Primary School choir. Help us to be a community together and build a bridge! Sign up and join us in Glow TV – Holocaust Memorial Event – Scotland 2013.

Rwandan Forgiveness Campaign – Tuesday 29th January 2013 join us at for 11am

Jean Paul Samputu is a Rwandan musician who lost almost his entire family in the genocide in 1994 and who now campaigns for reconciliation and forgiveness. Samputu sings in six languages and uses a variety of musical styles in his work. After the genocide and murder of his family by a man he regarded as his best friend, Jean Paul fell into a spiral of drink and drug abuse and was unable to perform music for several years.

Samputu is now a cultural ambassador for Rwanda and travels throughout the world teaching about and performing traditional African music and also spreading his message of peace and forgiveness. In 2009 he was nominated for World Vision International’s Peace Prize.

This will be a unique opportunity to hear Jean Paul speak about his experiences, about forgiveness and to ask him your own questions. Sign up and join us in Glow TV – Rwandan Forgiveness Campaign

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CfE, Expressive Arts, Glow TV, Literacy and English, Literacy and Gàidhlig, Social studies

Burns Bash

January 16, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Join us for our celebration of the birth of Burns and the life and work of our famous bard on Friday 25th January at 9.30am. This year we want you to be able to share what you have been doing in your schools and classrooms so join us for our Burns Bash!!

If you would like to share your Scottish poems, dances or art work then make sure that you are with us that day to let other schools see what you have been doing – remember we always need an audience too so if you don’t want to perform then please just join us anyway!!

Taking part in the Glow Meet is easy – just email Jen McDougall and let her know what you would like to do and she will organise a short test with your webcam/microphoe to ensure that you are ready to go on the day.

If you have any Burns/Scottish art work that you would like to share then please send that to Jen as well and that will be showcased on the day too on our Scottish Showcase Sharepod!

During the event we will be joined by Newburgh Primary who wowed us with their ukulele playing in our recent Scotland’s Got Talent Glow TV event and a piper who will be piping us in to our show and bringing it to a close.

So get your shortbread and Irn-Bru (or other Scottish themed foods!) and join us for a fun and interactive session.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV!

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