Tag Archives: Financial Education

CfE, Community Capacity Building, Mathematics, Research, Sciences, Skills

Welcome to ‘Clean Energy from the Sea’

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Welcome to ‘Clean Energy from the Sea’ 

The Sustainable Learning Partnership, in association with our partners The Crown Estate, welcomes teachers, school leaders, educational professionals and learners to this progressive, interdisciplinary learning and teaching resource – the first in a planned series – founded upon the principles and practices of 21st Century Learning and designed to help young learners prepare for life and active participation in a global society that is safe, just and sustainable.

CfE, CLD, Community Capacity Building, Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, National Qualifications, Outdoor Learning, Research, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Senior Phase, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies, Young people, children & families

Learning for Sustainability – report published

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Learning for Sustainability – the report of the One Planet Schools Working Group, was published 17 December 2012. 

The report includes strategic recommendations to support the development of coherent whole school approaches to ensure that learning for sustainability, global citizenship and outdoor learning are experienced in a transformative way by every learner in every school across Scotland. The report includes a number of recommendations relating to career-long professional learning and initial teacher education and advocates genuine partnerships with local communities and action to improve the sustainability of the school estate. A key ambition of the report is to provide an agenda for strategic change that will create an enabling framework, remove barriers, and build on existing excellent practice.

Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages said:
“I welcome the publication of Learning for Sustainability and would like to thank the Working Group for their work and commitment to producing the report and recommendations. As we approach the Year of Natural Scotland in 2013, the report reminds us of the importance of learning which connects young people to local and global issues, an integral part of Curriculum for Excellence.

“A wide range of actions have been taken as part of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and we welcome steps to encourage and support schools in their approach to sustainability and global citizenship, including through outdoor learning.

“We will take time to consider the report, to engage with partners on its recommendations and respond in full in March 2013.”

The report can be downloaded from:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/ACE/OnePlanetSchools 

See the associated Engage in Education blog from Professor Pete Higgins, Chair of the One Planet Schools Working Group: http://engageforeducation.org/news/learning-for-sustainability/

CfE, Health and wellbeing

Micro-Tyco School Enterprise Challenge

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Micro-tyco is a way of inspiring children and young people to think and be creative in an enterprising way while also becoming aware of business ethics.

Some Local Authorities were involved in this challenge last year and more are already signed up to participate in 2012.  The programme is supported by the business community including Sir Tom Hunter and Deloitte.

This initiative is endorsed by Mike Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and lifelong learning.

https://vimeo.com/49015338

The one month challenge kicks off at the start of November where learners work in team to transform £1 into as much money as possible. Micro-Tyco inspires an entrepreneurial environment that unleashes participant’s latent talents and develop new skills.

The funds generated go into support micro-finance in the developing countries around the world.

If you would like to view some videos from past participants please visit

http://www.wildheartsinaction.org/microtyco

If you are interested in registering teams now you can do so online:

http://www.micro-tyco-registration.com/

Prizes last year included a special private dinner with Sir Tom Hunter at his house for the top teams, a celebratory lunch and networking event at Deloitte’s offices for the top schools and t-shirts and badges for runners-up.

 For further information visit the website:

http://www.wildheartsinaction.org/microtyco

http://local.stv.tv/east-kilbride/news/188967-sir-tom-hunter-this-challenge-enables-young-people-to-be-all-they-can-be/

Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Mathematics, Social studies

Dennis the Menace becomes a global citizen

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Who’d have thought it? Dennis the Menace becoming a global citizen and the Bash Street Kids growing their own vegetables and getting their 5-a-day!

In the forthcoming special edition of the Beano, primary school pupils will get to see a very different side of their favourite characters. Scottish Business in the Community, a charity that actively encourages businesses from all sectors to improve their impacts on the economy, environment and society, has teamed up with one of its members, DC Thomson, to support the creation of a special edition Beano designed to engage young people in environmental and societal issues in a positive and fun way.

Sent to every primary school pupil in Scotland, the free special edition Beano will incorporate the key themes core to SBC and central to creating a sustainable future for Scotland including: 

  • Environment / visioning the future
  • Health & wellbeing / growing your own veg
  • Employability and soft skills
  • Responsible citizenship and community

 This special edition Beano is supported by a teachers information pack linking to Curriculum for Excellence.

 Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Leaning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, is very supportive of the initiative saying, ‘I welcome the opportunity afforded to schools to use resources such as this to engage the children in positive and more importantly, fun learning experiences.’

 Comics will start arriving in schools towards the end of August.

CfE

Have you seen Beads, Bawbees and Banknotes?

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This free resource about money can now be ordered from the Museum on the Mound, Edinburgh. The Glow-based version has been available for many months – but the disc provides even more material…

Use it to discover:
What is the oldest form of Money?
Why do we use coins?
What can you find on a banknote?
How do banks keep money safe?

For further information download the Beads, Bawbees and Banknotes PDF flyer.

The resource has been designed for flexible use by teachers and pupils, and can be linked to many areas of the curriculum. Ensure that you visit the Beads, Bawbees and Banknotes Glow Group!

Social studies, Technologies

Stock Market Challenge

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The Investment Challenge is being run as an online competition for S5 students from across North East and South East Scotland. Students will compete online using the new Global Investor simulation, which will be launched on 7 May 2012.

The competition comprises an in-school qualifying event during May and early June involving all participating schools. The top 8 schools from the first round will compete in the final on Thursday June 14 at Standard Life’s offices in Edinburgh.

Competition entry is free and each participating school will receive a site licence to the full Stock Market Challenge resource. Students from the winning school will visit Standard Life’s offices in July for a prize presentation and a chance to observe how the company’s trading desk works.

The competition’s main aim is to promote higher education opportunities and develop students’ business awareness and transferable skills. The challenge is sponsored by Standard Life, Scottish Investment Operations and Skills Development Scotland.

The closing date is 4th May.

For more information visit their website.

Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Technologies

Community Café

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On Wednesday (02/02/12) I had the opportunity to visit Kate O’Regan a Primary 7 teacher at Livingston Village Primary in West Lothian. The Primary 7 pupils were preparing for the opening of their Café the following day. They described the processes they went through to set up the Café and also explained the skills they developed.

To find out more about my visit view the video of Primary 7 on the Chalkface Blog.

To find out about  the opening of the Café visit their blog.

Social studies, Technologies

S1 Business Enterprise

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On Wednesday (08/02/12) I had the opportunity to visit Elizabeth Still a Business Education teacher from Kincorth Academy in Aberdeen. She described to me their S1 Business Enterprise Course, this programme involves the class running a small enterprise activity.

To find out more about my visit, view the video of Elizabeth on the Chalkface Blog.

Literacy

Tell us what you think of ‘On the Money’

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Education Scotland, in partnership with Scottish Book Trust and Standard Life, is carrying out an evaluation of the ‘On the Money’ resource.

‘On the Money’ is a book of four stories by Theresa Breslin, Jonathan Meres, Nicola Morgan and Alison Prince, exploring issues of financial responsibility for children. It was distributed free to schools throughout Scotland and was also published as an online resource.

The main purpose of this evaluation is to help us decide how we take the project forward. Therefore we are looking for the views of practitioners who have used the resource with learners in educational establishments to provide us with evidence on which we can base our decision.

Please take 10 minutes to complete our online survey.

Your help is greatly appreciated, and in recognition of your support one lucky school will be picked at random from the respondents to receive a free visit from an author, organised by the Scottish Book Trust.

The deadline for responses is the end of this term.

(Please note, the online survey website contains adverts).

Adult Learning, CLD, MCMC/16+LC, Senior Phase, Young people, children & families

Young Scot Extra

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 Young Scot is working in partnership with the Scottish Government to help increase young people’s confidence in being more financially capable by providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions and choices around money-related issues.

As part of this work, Young Scot is delivering four seminars to demonstrate how Young Scot Extra supports the senior phase of the Curriculum for Excellence, and how it can assist those working with young people post-school and involved in 16+ Activity Agreements in delivering financial capability information to young people. The seminars also aim to provide an opportunity for practitioners to get involved in the discussions around young people and financially capability, and to help shape the services and information Young Scot Extra offers.

The events will take place between 10am and 12pm on:

  • 18 January – The Mitchell Library, Glasgow
  • 19 January – The Discovery, Dundee
  • 20 January – Oasis Youth Centre, Dumfries and Galloway
  • 23 January – 6VT Youth Café, Edinburgh

Contact: Rachel Eddington at Young Scot, Tel: 0131 313 2488 [ e-mail | website ]

Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Mathematics

Cheers for credit unions!

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This resource illustrates the development of financial capability using pupil-run credit unions. The activities address experiences and outcomes within Curriculum for Excellence and help schools and early years’ establishments make connections across learning.

This 3-18 resource will support staff in embedding financial education in the curriculum, supporting family learning and promoting partnership working within the community.

To find out more click here.

MCMC/16+LC, Senior Phase

What’s it really like to work in financial services?

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What’s it really like to work in financial services?

The re:think website provides school leavers and college and university graduates with information on the financial services sector in Scotland.

Find out what it’s really like to work in financial services. The site contains a number of case studies, from real people, who work for some of Scotland’s key employers.  They provide more information on their jobs, their typical day and how they got into their current role.

Find out more at www.sds.co.uk/rethink

Social studies, Technologies

Clipbank Business

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ClipBank is Channel 4’s searchable library of high quality digital television clips. The Business library looks at various aspects of a business and how all the various functions of a business operate.

The topics available through Clipbank for teaching Business cover finance, marketing, motivation and objectives, or explore by different business types for case study examples in fashion, music, leisure, tourism and the motor industry. You can also find out about the skills required for business in IT, communication and problem solving.

Click here to view the resources. (Glow log in required)

Technologies

Micro – Tyco Glow Meet

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Lots of schools are asking about what they are going to do over enterprise month this year. 

Tune in to the Glow Meet on Thursday at 12.30,1.30 or 3.30 to hear social entrepreneur Mick Jackson talk about the popular WildHearts Micro-Tyco Challenge and how it can engage whole communities in enterprise education and at the same time raise awareness and tackle social injustice.

Click here to visit the Aberdeen City Glow Group for more information. (Glow log in required)

Or better still join the Glow Meet Briefing Room on Thursday 6th October at 12.30,1.30 or 3.30 by clicking here. During the Glow Meet teachers and pupils will have an opportunity to engage with Mick about the Challenge and to ask him any questions you might have about enterprise in general or the challenge specifically.

Assessment, Literacy, Social studies, Technologies

SLF 2011: Technologies: Curriculum for Excellence: Learning, Teaching and Assessment, Making the Connections

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During the Technologies Seminar at the Scottish Learning Festival 2011, Claire Kane and Carla Watson from St. Nicholas RC Primary in West Lothian, joined by their pupils Olivia, Anna, Ewan and Jack presented an interesting and inspiring account of how Technologies for Learning were embedded in their Social Enterprise Project – Food for Thought Community Cafe.

You can view the presentation here. (Glow log in required)

You can also follow the project on Twitter @fftcc or visit their blog.

CLD, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Social studies, Technologies

Food for Thought Community Cafe

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I recently was invited to the Food for Thought Community Cafe at St. Nicholas Primary School in Broxburn, West Lothian.

Food for Thought is a Fair-Trade community café run by the pupils of St. Nicholas Primary School. At Food for Thought you can share a tea or coffee and some delicious home baking over a chat while learning more about Fair-Trade and how it helps countries in the developing world. You can also buy Fair-Trade goods and find out more about the pupil’s learning in school. From time to time they may provide entertainment or run workshops for you to get involved in. At Food For Thought their aim is to provide a happy atmosphere and a strong sense of community.

Food for Thought was dreamt up by the pupils while they were working on a block of learning about Global Citizenship. It is a Social Enterprise venture and profits will support their sister school in Ghana and local community groups supported by the St. Vincent de Paul.

You can find out more information about their project and the cafe by clicking here to visit their blog. You can also follow them on Twitter @fftcc.

To view their leaflet click here. FFTCC Leaflet

If you are interested in finding out more about this project, the teacher and pupils involved are presenting at the Scottish Learning Festival this year. Click here to sign up to their seminar.