Category Archives: Scottish Culture

library, Literacy, NQT, Scottish Culture

Scottish Poetry Day – 6 October 2011

 The Scottish Poetry Library has some ideas and resources for National Poetry Day on 6 October.  Visit http://www.readingroom.spl.org.uk/poetry_issues/issue_25.htm for directions to:

  • pdf posters to download of all 8 poems in this year’s National Poetry Day (Scotland) postcards
  • sets of ideas for teaching, reading and writing activities
  • booking info on September CPD sessions to make the most of National Poetry Day.
    The free online magazine, Poetry Issues, provides monthly updates on NPD Scotland poem postcards, info and teaching resources.
Literacy, News, Scottish Culture, Social Studies

Competition – Set the Scene for an Adventure

An exciting competition for primary school children offers the chance to set the scene for a new adventure by award-winning Scottish children’s author Lari Don. The Edinburgh-based author will launch the competition on Thursday 23 June.  Children are invited to suggest the perfect real-life Scottish location to be used in the fourth, and final book of the First Aid for Fairies series. The winner’s setting will be incorporated into the thrilling series finale, where it could be visited by one of the fabled beast stars of the adventures (including a centaur, a selkie, a fairy and a dragon).   

Entrants are asked to come up with a location and describe why it is special in no more than 250 words. As well as having their location used in the final book, the winner will also get signed copies of all the books in the series and a special author visit to their class. The deadline for entry is Friday 23 September. 

More information about the First Aid for Fairies series and Set the Scene Competition can be found on www.discoverkelpies.co.uk from Thursday 23 June.

History, Literacy, Scottish Culture, Scottish Heritage, Scottish History, Workshops

National Records of Scotland Schools Programme 2011 – 2012

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) has launched its 2011-2012 programme of free workshops and Glow Meet sessions for primary and secondary schools.

New topics include ‘Tartan: a Chequered Tale’, ‘Witches on Trial’ and ‘Scottish Census Records’.  Senior secondary students may be interested in ‘Study Skills – using primary sources’, and new sessions that support Higher History topics: The Wars of Independence, 1286-1328, The Age of Reformation, 1542-1603, and Migration and Empire, 1830-1939.

Full details of the Schools Programme and the booking form are available on the NRS education website: http://www.scottisharchivesforschools.org/workshops.asp

Literacy, Scottish Culture, Scottish Heritage, Scottish History

SWAP competition and Glow Group

Scots Words and Place-names (SWAP) is running a competition for all school pupils in Scotland during June. The competition is open to all ages and aims to get people talking about the Scots language in their classrooms, as well as using it outside of them. Everyone on Glow will get a chance to read the best pieces of writing and vote on which one they think deserves to win.

All pupils need to do is to write a story, poem or piece of discursive writing relating to Scots and upload it to the SWAP Glow group.

This could be about their favourite (or least favourite!) Scots words, about what a Scots place-name means to them, or could even be a whole story written in the Scots language. The possibilities are endless – the only requirement is that the piece of writing should clearly relate to Scots words and/or place-names. The competition is split into four age groups, P1-3, P4-7, S1-S3 and S4-S6.

Further information can be found at https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/nationalsite/SWAP/default.aspx

Literacy, Scottish Culture

‘The mither tongue’ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/11/30105023

A group set up to advise Ministers on the profile and needs of the Scots language has published its recommendations setting out proposals to enhance the status of Scots and promote the use of all its dialects. The work of the Group focused on sectors that have the potential to increase the use and status of Scots, including education, broadcasting, publishing, literature and the arts.

The report sets out practical and achievable recommendations in these key areas. Ministers will now consider the report and its recommendations before responding formally to the Group.