Global Citizenship

August 2nd, 2011

New resources on outdoor learning

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, nature, resources, scottish culture
 : Categories biodiversity, community, early years, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, mathematics, outdoor learning, primary schools, sciences, scottish culture, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development

The following new resources on outdoor learning have recently been added to the Education Scotland website.

Woods for Learning

These case studies highlight a number of different examples of the way that woodland environments can provide a rich resource and context for learning.

Lady of the Lake: A Literacy and Outdoor Learning Transition Project

This project was a partnership approach to an innovative transition process, involving the 14 feeder primaries to McLaren High, Stirling. This incorporated outdoor learning and collaboration with local artists to inspire creative works, just as Sir Walter Scott took inspiration from the landscape of the Trossachs 200 years ago to write the epic poem ‘The Lady of the Lake’. The resultant process and outcomes supported many aspects of literacy across learning.

LOST? archaeology project

In June 2010, 130 young people from Upper Deeside started working with local and national archaeology groups on what is thought to be the largest schools archaeology project of its kind in Scotland.

Clim-ATIC Media Project

The project took place within the Cairngorms National Park, an area with a unique natural and cultural heritage, where the impacts of anthropogenic climate change are becoming a reality. The project aimed to involve young people in exploring these impacts, through the medium of film, and to identify opportunities and consider adaptations to climate change. This was an interdisciplinary project that allowed pupils to make connections between their learning in school and the world outside.

Grounds for Learning videos

Working in partnership with Grounds for Learning, Education Scotland have developed a series of short video clips supporting various ways in which school grounds can be used and developed to support the Curriculum for Excellence. Scroll down the page to select from clips such as Messy Outdoors Maths, The Creative Spark in Literacy, Nature’s Playground and Fire as a Context for Learning.

July 29th, 2011

LGBT Pupil Voice growing in the Borders

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, conflict, learner voice
 : Categories citizenship, secondary schools

The Scottish Borders Challenging Homophobia Together Project is part of a national project that aims to reduce homophobia and homophobic bullying in schools bullying. The project is led by LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Youth Scotland, supported by Scottish Borders Council and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. This work follows both national and local research that indicates homophobic bullying has links with low attainment, truancy and early school leaving. Research also suggests that this type of bullying can have a negative impact on young people’s health and well-being, the consequences for some pupils include depression, self harm and suicide attempts.

In Galashiels Academy and Peebles High School LGBT delivered assemblies to 5th and 6th year pupils. Here we asked if anyone would like to get involved in delivering work that challenges homophobia in their school. The response was overwhelmingly positive and a Youth Advisory Group now runs in Gala Academy with 6 pupils and in Peebles High school with 5 pupils. Their ideas have included: posters that challenge homophobia, eliminating the use of the word “gay” as an insult, gathering information on homophobia from other pupils, involvement in developing and delivering lesson plans, and promoting the inclusion of same sex couples at their Christmas dance.

This work is in its infancy, however the interest from a broad range of pupils has shown that young people are interested in getting involved in work that can make a difference in their school, and that homophobia and homophobic bullying can affect many pupils. We also discovered that assemblies, although short, can still have a clear impact. In a recent assembly pupils were asked the question: “Does Homophobia exist in your school”? In response all of the pupils in the assembly hall put their hand up. This sent a strong message about the need for this work and school staff noted their shock and surprise at pupil’s responses.

Written by Karen Wilson,Youth & Community Development Officer LGBT Youth Scotland
Karen can be contacted at [email protected]

July 29th, 2011

Teach maths to make sense of the world

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, conflict, enterprise, Fairtrade, poverty, research, resources, rights
 : Categories citizenship, mathematics, secondary schools

Recently, two very dynamic maths teachers, Chris Smith and Aimee Strange, together with a group of very talented pupils, delivered a session for practitioners during the ‘Leadership of Global Citizenship’ open day at Grange Academy. “I want to teach maths in a way that makes sense of the world” said Chris Smith. Below are some links and resources from Chris, Aimee and the pupils, providing an insight into the way in which Maths is taught at Grange, embedding global citizenship throughout the curriculum. They are very happy for others to use these materials….
Our presentation
http://prezi.com/rqzk_r-j1kih/global-citizenship

All of the lessons we created and the tools used to deliver them are available on the website below
www.enterprisingmaths.com/citizenship/

Many of these resources were created using Amnesty’s Citizenship book: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/books_details.asp?BookID=10

You can download the pupil presentations here

Chris also writes a weekly newsletter for the department which includes loads of lesson ideas (for example the citizenship lessons will be included) , maths puzzles, useful websites, etc. Here are some sample newsletters:

Maths at Grange Academy issue151pdf

Maths at Grange Academy issue152pdf

July 29th, 2011

Developing Rights and Responsibilities at Mearns Primary: the Rights Respecting School Award

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, democracy, learner voice, rights
 : Categories citizenship, primary schools, social studies

In June 2009, Mearns Primary School achieved Level 1 of the Rights Respecting School Award. We surveyed staff, parents and pupils to evaluate the impact of developing an understanding of rights and responsibilities within the school and wider community. Embarking on Rights Respecting Schools Award had a hugely positive effect on general behaviour and the ethos within the school. With this in mind we decided to work towards Level 2.

As every class had participated in lessons to develop an understanding of the UNCRC we looked to ways to further embed this within the school. This was done through looking for ways to embed rights and responsibilities throughout the curriculum. When planning, teachers look for specific links to articles in the UNCRC through topics such as WW2, Victorians, Refugees, Election Fever and Local Area. In addition to this, our P7 reading buddies now have a template they use to discuss various rights and responsibilities when reading with younger children.

Every class has a class charter, displays linked to Articles and a copy of the UNCRC display so to up level this the steering group interviewed members of the school community from pupils, catering, office and janitorial staff to teachers and parents. They highlighted the right that they felt applied to them and the responsibility they have in ensuring others enjoy it. These were displayed throughout the school.

We introduced a ‘Right of the Week’ system where each week we focus on a different right and responsibility. Pupils who display responsible and respectful attitude towards that right receive a certificate. This is organised independently by the steering group.

The steering group wanted to raise awareness in the local community so they organised a poster competition throughout the school. Details were put in our RRS Newsletter and the posters were completed as a homework task. This increased awareness and understanding for parents. The winning posters were published and then the steering group visited local community establishments explaining what the UNCRC is and what we had been doing to become a RRS. They then asked for the posters to be displayed and for that place to be a RRS doctors, dentist, library etc.
Our RRS also visited local guides, brownies and BBs to do presentations about RRS there, this was well received and we aim to continue to do this.

Written by Siobhan McColgan, DHT, Mearns Primary. Siobhan can be contacted at [email protected].

July 29th, 2011

EthCo Challenge 2011 Winners

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, enterprise, Fairtrade, learner voice, natural disasters, research, rights
 : Categories citizenship, curriculum areas, international, primary schools, secondary schools, sharing practice

EthCo has announced the school winners in this year’s Challenge competition. The Challenge was to use one of the EthCo tasks to promote Interdisciplinary Learning in the spirit of Curriculum for Excellence, and be able to demonstrate this learning in a vibrant and clear manner.

For more information see: http://bit.ly/oMLECy

July 27th, 2011

What type of Scotland would we like in 2030?

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, research
 : Categories health and wellbeing, renewables and climate change, sustainable development

Scotland’s Futures Forum has developed three thought-provoking scenarios exploring what sustainable communities might look like, in Scotland, in 2030. Each scenario is accompanied by a short film and podcast.

The scenarios are very accessible and throw up interesting and pressing questions for politicians, policy makers and for wider Scotland. These scenarios are not predictions but can be used as a tool to question and assess our understanding of sustainability, of community and how we are preparing for the future.

More at: http://scotlandfuturesforum.org/index.php?id=101

May 23rd, 2011

Energy efficient demonstration houses are worth a visit

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy, community
 : Categories community, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

The ground-breaking Glasgow House project is a unique partnership between City Building, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and PRP Architects to deliver the first energy-efficient, highly insulated prototype house in Glasgow.

The Glasgow House prototypes incorporate high levels of insulation and air tightness, efficient heating systems and solar gain through the use of sun rooms and solar thermal panels. Tests have shown that they comfortably exceed both industry standards and project targets for both energy efficiency and air tightness.

The driving force behind the construction of the energy efficient homes is to tackle fuel poverty and deliver modern, attractive and affordable low-carbon, social housing for the people of Glasgow. It is hoped that the Glasgow House concept will be rolled out on a larger scale as Glasgow knocks down its high rises and regenerates its housing stock across the city.

The concept of sustainable communities is at the heart of this project in other ways too. Young people who have struggled to find employment are being taken on as apprentices and are being trained in construction techniques for the new houses at the City Building Skills Academy. The furniture and timber kits are also being manufactured by the Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi), one of Europe’s largest supported employment facilities which provides valuable employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

To book a tour of the Glasgow House for your school then phone 08456 001 323 or email: [email protected]

See the video at: http://www.gha.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s43_11

May 18th, 2011

School open day: Lawthorn Primary School, North Ayrshire, Wed 15 June 2011

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, events
 : Categories sustainable development

9:30am – 2.45pm

Main focus: Sustainable Development Education.

The highly successful programme of Developing Global Citizens study visits to schools around the country continues with Lawthorn Primary School, winner of the Best Sustainable School Award 2010.

Participants will have the opportunity to find out for themselves how the school’s systematic approach to global citizenship education acts as a key driver for enriched learning across the whole curriculum . and discover how this has transformed the attitudes of pupils and the wider community.

The visit will allow practitioners to find out about:

• implementing a highly effective carbon reduction scheme using the LTS online ‘global footprint calculator’ administered by pupils
• utilising green spaces surrounding the school as ‘outdoor classrooms’
• building strong partnerships with parents and a wide range of local community groups and businesses.
• planting trees and growing food in the school allotment
• the impact of active and vibrant pupil- led ‘eco’ steering groups which drive many initiatives and campaigns. This includes sustainable school travel, waste minimisation and support for wider sustainability education programmes .

For more information see: School open day programme Lawthorn PS

Or visit our LTS Sustainable Development Education Glow group.

Flyer and programme : Lawthorn Primary Open day

How to book

Places for this event are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

To book, please email: [email protected] or phone 0141 282 5172.

This event is free of charge.