Global Citizenship

May 4th, 2012

Citizenship included in SQA skills for learning, life and work framework

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: enterprise, school improvement
 : Categories citizenship, curriculum areas, international, sustainable development

SQA has developed a new framework of broad, generic skills. The Skills for Learning, Skills for Life and Skills for Work framework is derived from Building the Curriculum 4.

The framework outlines definitions of the five broad areas of generic skills that are essential for qualification development.

Dowload Skills for Learning, Skills for Life and Skills for Work Framework

The five broad areas are:

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Health and wellbeing
• Employability, enterprise and citizenship
• Thinking skills

This new skills framework is being used in the development of qualifications that support Curriculum for Excellence. It will also assist with the design of assessment and learning and teaching methods. These skills sit alongside knowledge, understanding and subject based skills.

For more info see http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45395.html

April 19th, 2012

School Open Day - Kinnaird Primary School, Falkirk Council

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: CPD, democracy, enterprise, europe, events, Fairtrade, learner voice, school improvement
 : Categories CPD, citizenship, curriculum areas, europe, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, international, languages, leadership, learner voice, mathematics, primary schools, religious and moral education, sciences, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

School open day - Wed 23rd May 2012

Since opening in August 2007, Kinnaird Primary School has demonstrated a strong commitment to Global Citizenship. It was the first school in Falkirk to achieve Fairtrade status, has achieved two ECO Schools green flags, Falkirk Council’s International Education Awards (Stage 2) and the British Council Intermediate Level Developing Internationalism Award, in addition to Falkirk Council’s Platinum Level Enterprise Education Award.

Download programme for open day>>

Programme

9.30 Registration and Coffee

9.45 Welcome and introduction by Pamela Adamson, Headteacher

10.00 Tour of school

Participants given tour of school by pupils/staff in small groups, including visits to classes

11.00 Coffee break

11.30 Presentation about the school’s journey (Pamela Adamson and pupils)

12.00 Informal question and answer session

12.30 Lunch

13.15 Presentation by Megan Farr, Policy Officer, outlining the work Falkirk Council Education Services do to support and promote Global Citizenship in schools

13.30 Reflection and professional dialogue

Participants exchange ideas and reflect on personal experience in the light of the visit

14.45 Close

If you wish to register for this Open Day, please contact Megan Farr on 01324 506671 or [email protected]

February 3rd, 2012

SCIPD Group Study Visit to the Netherlands

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy, CPD, enterprise, europe, events, research
 : Categories creativity, europe, international, mathematics, renewables and climate change, sciences, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

SCIPD Group Study Visit to the Netherlands

6th - 10th March 2012

Theme: The Circular Economy - Sustainable technologies, design, economics and production for the 21st century

Education Scotland is inviting applications from secondary teaching staff for a group study visit to ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands to investigate how cradle to cradle technologies and a circular economy can be used as a rich and stimulating context for interdisciplinary learning relating to sustainable development education and global citizenship. This visit has been arranged in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The Scottish Government is committed to a low-carbon and zero-waste economy, and it is important to develop enterprise, creativity and STEM (Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Maths) skills in young people to ensure the realisation of these ambitious plans for the future. The circular economy concept proposes the use of sustainable technologies and innovative design and production methods that minimise waste and reduce the exploitation of the earth’s precious resources. Industrial companies in the Netherlands are at the forefront of developing products that mimic natural processes and that are designed for disassembly and reuse.

Education Scotland, in collaboration with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, is developing strategies for professional development around sustainable development education and the circular economy to encourage the setting up of communities of practice among practitioners in Scotland. These will provide opportunities for ongoing, localised support and collaboration as recommended by Teaching Scotland’s Future.

It is expected that the visit to the Netherlands will include:

- Orientation sessions with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Dutch curriculum agency SLO, to introduce participants to the model of the circular economy and brief them on the structure of the Dutch school system and curriculum

- Visits to businesses which have adopted cutting-edge approaches to circular economy principles

- Visits to schools to see how learning relating to the circular economy is being used as a theme for interdisciplinary learning around sustainability

Travel to the Netherlands will be on Tuesday 6th March, with three working days in the area, followed by return to Scotland on Saturday 10th March.

SCIPD funding will cover return flights to the Netherlands, airport to hotel transfers, and overnight hotel accommodation in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on a bed and breakfast basis.

Participants will be offered a pre-visit preparatory meeting, and a post-visit meeting to support follow-up activity and encourage wider impact.

This study visit is targeted at education professionals in Scottish secondary schools, particularly teachers of sciences, technologies, mathematics, business studies, economics and geography.

Expected learning outcomes

Participants will have an opportunity to:

• Increase their knowledge of the circular economy concept, its implementation in industry, and its impact on education for sustainability
• Investigate and discuss Dutch educational practice for sustainable development and its place in the curriculum
• Share professional dialogue and reflection with their hosts and with colleagues in the group

Upon returning from the study visit, participants will be expected to:

• produce reports for Education Scotland which demonstrate the impact on their professional practice of the study visit experience
• disseminate findings, share ideas and new approaches within their own establishment and beyond
• make changes to learning and teaching practices in their own professional context.

Applicants may wish to use the experience of the study visit towards professional recognition by GTCS or simply to enhance their professional understanding and practice.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified members of Scottish school or authority staff, who should complete the Netherlands group application form available below or from Nick Morgan at [email protected]

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 21st Feb 2012

SCIPD Netherlands application form

January 27th, 2012

Whitelees Primary School - Open Day

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy, CPD, enterprise, events, Fairtrade, learner voice, nature, school improvement
 : Categories CPD, biodiversity, citizenship, community, curriculum areas, learner voice, outdoor learning, primary schools, renewables and climate change, sharing practice, sustainable development

School open day

Whitelees Primary School, North Lanarkshire Council

9:30am – 3.00pm, Monday 20^th February 2012

Theme: Sustainable Development Education

This event was originally due to take place on 8^th December 2011 but had to be cancelled due to the severe storms. It has now been rescheduled for Monday 20^th February 2012.

Whitelees Primary School hit the headlines in 2011 when it became the first primary school to be awarded five ‘excellent’ grades by the school inspectors. This isn’t the first time their achievements have made news. The school’s accolades and awards include:

• Finalist, Scottish Education Awards - Sustainable School category (2011)
• Best Green School Award (2009)
• Winner, Scottish Education Awards – Best Enterprise category (2008)
• Four Green Flags, Eco-Schools Scotland.

A key factor in the school’s success has been the way it has placed global citizenship and sustainable development education at the heart of the curriculum to provide exciting, relevant and engaging contexts for learning. This has helped to create, ‘Highly motivated, confident and ambitious children who are keen to learn and to make a difference in school and the wider community.’

This CPD event offers practitioners and school leaders from across Scotland the chance to visit Whitelees Primary School to meet with the Head Teacher, staff and learners and also tour the classrooms, buildings and grounds. A focus of the event will be to identify and share the practical lessons and ideas that have helped the school develop a successful whole school approach to sustainability and global citizenship including:

• A sustained commitment to pupil voice with learners being given real opportunities to shape the curriculum and school decision making
• Effective use of the school grounds, nature and vegetable gardens to support outdoor learning and deliver the curriculum
• The inspiring pupil rock band which has achieved notable success through their songs about fair trade and climate change.

Those participating in the open day will also have time to reflect and share their own experiences.

Click here to download programme for open day

How to book

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

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. This is a free event!

October 26th, 2011

Junior Climate Challenge Funding - apply now

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, community, enterprise, funding, learner voice
 : Categories citizenship, renewables and climate change, sustainable development

The Climate Challenge Fund forms part of the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Action Fund. The Climate Challenge Fund is managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful and made funding of £37.7million available to communities across the four financial years 2008-12.

Since its creation, the CCF has supported 345 communities across Scotland to take action on climate change this action includes a wide range of activities, including increasing energy efficiency of homes and community buildings, helping communities to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste, encouraging the use of low carbon transport and active travel options, and the consumption and production of local foods.

The Scottish Government’s spending review has confirmed that the CCF will continue to support communities in this way. £10.3 million will be available to Scottish communities for each of the next three years to 31 March 2015.

A proportion of the CCF will support projects run by and for young people; this activity will be titled the Junior Climate Challenge Fund.

Applications are now being invited from Scottish communities for activities that will take place between now and 31 March 2015.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 2nd December 2011 (Fri).

More info is available at: http://ccf.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/overview.aspx

Scottish Government press release is at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/10/05091832

September 28th, 2011

Newly revised - Schools Global Footprint calculator

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, enterprise, learner voice, nature, resources, water
 : Categories ICT, mathematics, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Education Scotland’s new-look Schools Global Footprint Calculator is now live and can be viewed at: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/schoolsglobalfootprint

This key online resource has had a significant make-over and now features:

• a user-friendly interactive calculator
• streamlined navigation
• a comprehensive teacher handbook
• tutorial videos for practitioners
• inspiring examples of how schools have used the resource to reduce their footprint.

The school estate is responsible for an estimated 50% of greenhouse gas emissions from local authorities. The online calculator allows learners to measure the ecological footprint of their school in relation to six topic areas: food, water, energy, buildings, transport and waste. Learners are also encouraged to develop innovative approaches to reducing their impact on the environment and promoting sustainable lifestyles in the wider community – from tackling the school run to growing and eating their own produce to reduce food miles.

In addition to providing an exciting real life context for delivering the experiences and outcomes, the resource greatly supports Eco-Schools activities and provides learners with skills for learning, life and work as Scotland move towards a low-carbon future.

View the Schools Global Footprint resource or find out more about Education Scotland’s sustainable development education resources.

September 19th, 2011

Bring learning to life with the brand new Global Citizenship calendar 2011/12

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, competition, democracy, enterprise, europe, events, games legacy, resources
 : Categories Uncategorized, africa, biodiversity, citizenship, commonwealth, games and sport, international, scottish culture

We are delighted to offer you a free Global Citizenship calendar containing major events and dates to help you plan rich and stimulating learning experiences across the curriculum throughout the year.

Go to Global Citizenship calendar 2011/12 and download the pdf version or email [email protected] to request a printed (A2) version.

An exciting online version of this calendar connecting you to support materials for each entry will soon be available on the Education Scotland website (http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/ ). So, whether you are planning learning around religious festivals, Holocaust Memorial day or World Environment Day, the Global Citizenship calendar will point you in the right direction.

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

Election fever: developing young politicians in primary school!

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, democracy, enterprise, learner voice, scottish culture
 : Categories citizenship, primary schools, scottish culture, social studies

At Mearns Primary the election fever topic looks at election processes, the Scottish parliament and is run as an enterprise topic. Pupils work in teams to run an election campaign and undertook the following:
• Through discussion and activities the children realised the importance of a leader to organisation and decision making capabilities
• Pupils discussed what qualities a leader (a candidate) should have. For this the children used a resource called ‘Ideas Trail’, to sort their ideas and arrive at important qualities. This allowed them to structure their discussion and rate their final choices.
• Pupils had opportunity to think as to whether they had these qualities or indeed whether they could develop these qualities and propose themselves as a candidate.
• Candidates then had to write a manifesto, whilst those not applying had to write a similar script on what they would like to be changed in the school/classroom.
• A mini secret ballot was then initiated and 4 candidates chosen to run for election. The other children in the class were assigned to work for a candidate and they were to choose a logo a party name and a slogan.
• On the day of voting children were given specific roles: Presiding Officer, Polling Agent, Counting Agent and Tellers.
• The winning candidate then made a speech and gave thanks to their supporters and support team. A considerable effort was made to ensure ballot was as realistic as possible by making a ballot box, voting booth, using name cards, high visibility vests etc.
• Pupils are also given an additional activity where they are given the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer. We watch a video of the Budget and the children are given a fictional amount of money and they have to decide how they are going to spend it e.g. Education, Armed Services, Health etc. The class then have a debate about how the money is spent and get to see that people from different perspectives have very different opinions.

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