Learning for Sustainability – Page 12 – LfS news & CLPL opportunities from Education Scotland

Character, Culture and Values Conference

Developing a whole school approach to learning for sustainability requires teachers to practise what they teach. A shared culture and values-based approach can enable practitioners and children to work together meaningfully. Pupils learn much from how these values are modelled and implemented by their teachers. However, supporting the development of character and values is a responsibility shared by all: parents, young people, teachers, youth workers, employers and communities. On 15^th & 16^th June, a dedicated conference on character, culture and values will bring a diverse group of people together to learn from each other, connect on these issues and be inspired to take action.

For further information or to register please visit www.character.scot/conference. Registration is available until 22nd May 2015.

Legacy Week 2015

This week is dedicated to highlighting the Legacy of the Glasgow 2014 XX Commonwealth Games.

Legacy Week (9th-15th March 2015) throws a spotlight on the impact, opportunities and benefits of legacy activity across Scotland. With over 60% of the Commonwealth population under the age of 30, the theme for 2015 is “A Young Commonwealth”.

Legacy week begins today with Commonwealth Day.

Visit the Game On blog for further information.

Global Learning Programme Scotland

Overheard conversation between two young learners in a Scottish primary school this week – Learner 1: “I want to go to the rainforest and tell them to stop cutting it down.” Learner 2: “Don’t go yet. You’re too wee. Wait till we’re bigger and we’ll both go.” The potential of where this conversation and these aspirations will lead to is intriguing. Many learners are making connections between rich curricular contexts for learning and their own capacity to engage with the ever changing world around them.

To engage our learners in learning for sustainability requires teachers who can confidently weave a number of aspects, including global citizenship, sustainable development education, outdoor learning and children’s rights into their practice.

Global Learning Programme Scotland (GLP-S) supports the development of global citizenship through the curriculum and offers free professional learning for teachers. Click here to find out about the range of CLPL on offer from the six Scottish regional Development Education Centres.

You can also sign up for their online global citizenship magazine Stride at www.stridemagazine.org.uk

For more information contact Rachel Hamada at ideasforuminfo@gmail.com

Children and Young People’s Summit

Young people from across Scotland are invited to have their say on the big education issues that affect them.

The Children and Young People’s Summit will take place from 11am–2pm on Monday 23 March 2015 at the Ironworks, Inverness. This summit is part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to ensure that children and young people are at the heart of decisions which affect them and their education. This event forms part of the official Scottish Cabinet visit to Inverness. Those attending will have the opportunity to feedback their thoughts and experiences directly to Senior Ministers including the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela Constance.

Schools and organisations are invited to bring up to five young people, from year groups P7 to S6 alongside a supporting adult. Spaces are limited and you are invited to register your interest by Wednesday 11 March, 2015 at http://bit.ly/1zIEjCR

International School Meals Day

International Schoo gdw_ismd_logo l Meals Day is back on 5 March 2015, raising awareness of the importance of good nutrition for children, and healthy eating habits at home and at school. Celebrating culture through food is this year’s theme. Also, remember that Food for Thought funding applications can be submitted until Sunday 29th March 2015. This provides a great opportunity to make the connections between your existing work on learning for sustainability and food education.

Religious and Moral Education through Outdoor Learning

Photo of pupils working outdoors Taking learning outdoors is an important aspect of learning for sustainability. In the recent, ‘Conversations about learning for sustainability’ report, the benefits of outdoor learning were highlighted time and again by parents, pupils and practitioners. 3 -18 Curricular Impact Reports, including those in Sciences, Social Studies and RME have documented the positive impact of outdoor learning approaches. Religious and Moral Education through Outdoor Learning is a new resource which explores how high quality learning and teaching in RME can be delivered through outdoor learning. This resource is aimed at all practitioners involved in the delivery of RME and contains a range of useful case studies, practical questions and professional dialogue prompts.

‘Dams to Darnley’ Outdoor Education Pack

The Dams to Darnley education resource offers an interesting range of outdoor learning activities for all practitioners. Each activity is linked to science experiences and outcomes from early to fourth level. Whilst the resource was produced by the countryside ranger service in East Renfrewshire, it promotes a number of engaging approaches which can be replicated within school grounds or country parks across Scotland.

Countryside rangers can lead activities, however, there are also self-led activites to allow teachers to take ownership within their own settings. The pack also contains helpful appendices with guidance on taking learning outdoors, templates for risk assessments and useful contacts and links.

Fair Trade 2015

Fair Trade Fortnight 2015is now approaching, and this year’s dates are 23rd February to 8th March.

Schools get involved in the new annual campaigns each year, but teachers also work with their students the whole year round to facilitate study and thinking about issues of justice and international development. Young people develop their understanding of the issues underlying key global problems, and come to recognise their own potential for making a difference. Fair Trade is a broad concept, and other products such as chocolate, coffee, cotton and rice are frequently seen in school activities.

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum (SFTF) supports and encourages positive action all over Scotland, and schools rise to the challenge. Extending educational activity into nurseries and early years establishments is a particular focus, with a new Fair Trade Nurseries section on the website.

The Traidcraft charity website Schools section provides resources for teachers and advice about becoming a Fair Trade School.

Just Trading Scotland is a fair trade supplier based in Paisley. Their popular 90k Rice Challenge runs again this year, challenging schools and community organisations to sell 90k of rice, the amount of rice sold that would enable a Malawian farmer to pay for a year’s secondary education for one child.