Climate Change Storymat

Building on the format of the successful interactive Storymats developed by RSPB, the new RSGS Climate Change Storymat has been developed to create awareness of the Earth including habitats, biodiversity, climate and weather. It has also been designed to help young children think about personal actions we can take to reduce the effects of climate change on the environment. We introduced the Storymat at a recent twilight session attended by 10 primary teachers from Perth & Kinross schools, and piloting is now underway with two P3 classes at St Johns primary school in Perth. After piloting, the resource will be available for loan to Perth & Kinross schools.

Earth Science Education Scotland Campaign

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is backing a new campaign to promote, extend and maintain the level of Earth science content in Scottish high schools.

Earth Science Education Scotland

Earth Science Education Scotland is a wide group of people who are interested in Earth science in Scotland. Supported by the RSGS, they have come together due to concern at the very low content of Earth science in the Scottish schools’ curriculum.

Earth Science Education Scotland are currently lobbying the Scottish Government, Education Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to ensure that the planned cessation of the Higher geology certificate in 2015 is postponed until a new Earth science Higher is created. A recent survey undertaken by the group has demonstrated the enthusiasm for teaching the subject at higher level in Scottish schools.

Find out more about Earth Science Education Scotland by visiting the campaign website, which explains the background to the campaign.

http://www.earthscienceeducationscotland.com

Outdoor Journeys CPD Session for Primary and Secondary Teachers

Our Education Officer Joyce Gilbert will be hosting a Continued Professional Development session to introduce Outdoor Journeys, a simple but innovative teaching tool which was developed by Dr Simon Beames at the University of Edinburgh, at the Fair Maid's House on Tuesday 13th May (4pm-6pm).

Primary and Secondary teachers are welcome to join Joyce, primary school teacher Lisa Sneddon, and secondary school teachers Dougie Woodrow and Clare McClelland for a practical session on how Outdoor Journeys can be used as part of Curriculum for Excellence.

Contact Joyce at joyce.gilbert@rsgs.org to book your place or for more information.

Flyer for the event:
http://www.rsgs.org/events/Outdoor%20Journeys.pdf

John Muir Resources for Teachers

These educational resources are perfect for all teachers looking to introduce their pupils to the outdoors.

John Muir Education Pack – This resource aims to help teachers understand outdoor learning opportunities, and give confidence to use outdoor spaces for teaching a wide range of experiences and outcomes.

The pack for Second Level encourages structured learning in the outdoors, along with a deeper understanding of John Muir’s writings and philosophies. The pack can be used flexibility as stand-alone activities to cover certain aspects of the topic or as activities leading into each other as a programme of learning. The Second Level pack can help with an introduction to the John Muir Award. John Muir Education Pack – Second Level

The pack has been created by The Rural Connect Project which is all about reconnecting local communities to the rural environment through community engagement events, workshops and online resources

Outdoor Learning Resource Guide - This new Outdoor Learning Resource Guide summarises the many benefits of Outdoor Learning, and contains useful information and website links for further information.

John Muir, Earth – Planet, Universe - A graphic novel based upon the life of John Muir has been produced by the Scottish Book Trust with free copies going to every secondary school in Scotland. It’s also available for anyone, anywhere to download as a PDF version. Teaching support notes and pupil activities also accompany the book. John Muir, Earth, Planet, Universe brings Muir’s story to life in a new way, and is intended to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of the natural environment and the importance of protecting wild places.

New John Muir Way website – Find out everything you need to know about the UK’s newest long distance route, by visiting the new website. There are maps and information for each of the ten sections of the 133 mile route, which runs between Helensburgh in the West and Dunbar on the East.

Education Scotland John Muir Learning Journey – this learning journey is available on the Great Scots page of the Studying Scotland website. It has been designed to link in with the Social Studies curriculum at Second and Third Level

Outdoor Learning Updates and Education Resources for Teachers

Updates from the partner organisations to Education Scotland's Outdoor Learning team.

Forestry Commission Scotland – Woodland Workout

Forestry Commission Scotland is encouraging young people to feel the benefit of the Commonwealth Games with a new Woodland Workout pack. Targeted at 3-14 year olds the pack promotes opportunities for quality, fun and safe physical activity in the outdoors and includes ideas for games, physical activities and staging ‘adapted’ Commonwealth sports in the woodlands. The pack, complete with teachers’ guide, encourages young people to have fun but to also be responsible for their well-being and consider risk. As well as considering potential hazards in their activity space and taking risks with solving problems, it also allows children the chance to learn how to manage ‘failure’ through reflecting on performance to set new challenges. The Woodland Workout, with Commonwealth Games supplement has been issued to schools across Scotland and is available to download

Youthlink – The Link Magazine

The latest edition of The Link Magazine focuses on outdoor learning and highlights the huge range of Outdoor Learning experiences being delivered across the youth sector. An online edition can be viewed here.

RSPB- Nature of Scotland Awards

The Nature of Scotland Awards are now open for entries. The Nature of Scotland Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in Scottish nature conservation.

The Youth & Education Award celebrates a school or youth group who can demonstrate how they have made a real difference to the conservation and sustainability of Scotland’s wildlife and habitats.

This could be through fundraising for a conservation-related project, a school grounds development, partnership working or best practice in hands-on delivery of learning for sustainability, connecting young people to the natural world.

Sustrans – Big Street Survey

We have developed a learning and teaching resource for P6-7 and S1-3 called The Big Street Survey. It is designed to get pupils thinking and learning about their local environments, how they make them feel and how they can go about developing a manifesto for changing their streets and making them healthier and safer places.  You can view the resources here.

The resource delivers various Health and Wellbeing outcomes, Social Studies, Expressive arts, literacy and numeracy Experiences and Outcomes..

The Royal Highland Education Trust / Glachbeg Croft Centre – Maths on the Farm Career Long Professional Learning

A  FREE training session to primary practitioners which will introduce a range of maths activities that can be carried out using the farm as a background and provide information on what is on offer locally to help support farm learning. This training will take place on 22nd May at Glachbeg Croft Centre, Munlochy.

Duke of Edinburgh Award – Flag a Munro Challenge

The Flag a Munro Challenge is being organised by the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and is open to those who have signed up to complete their DofE Award. From April to June 2014 participants are invited to ‘Flag a

Munro’ to celebrate the Commonwealth Games. The project aims to connect people with our mountain heritage, encourage physical activity and recognise the significance of Scotland’s landscape. Photos taken on each climb will be used to compile a collage, a lasting piece of artwork to share the legacy of the challenge. The collage will be displayed at a special art exhibition in Glasgow this summer. For more information including how to sign-up, visit the Flag a Munro blog.

The Octavia Hill Awards

This year, the Octavia Hill Awards are looking for heroes who have helped children and young adults connect with the outdoors and wildlife – passing on their own experience, enthusiasm and love of nature. As many studies have shown, such connections with nature (even, or especially, in towns and cities) are essential for our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

Nominate your wild hero - examples could include:

• A teacher who makes a special effort to inspire their pupils to love and understand nature through outdoor learning.
• An individual or organisation that has fought a campaign to save outdoor space to play in.
• A conservation volunteer who gives up free time to take children and parents on field trips.
• A national organisation that promotes the importance of children’s connection with nature.
• An individual who teaches children outdoor skills, such as foraging, den-building, camping and birdwatching.

The closing date for nominations is midnight 31 May. Further information can be accessed here or here
.
The Great Trossachs Forest

The Great Trossachs Forest has developed Geography, Art & Design and Biology teaching resources. Each resource pack contains a series of fact sheets, short films to compliment the subjects and suggested activities for the classroom and as part of outdoor learning. All the written information is provided in either pdfs or editable word documents so they can be tailored to suit different needs and teaching styles. The resource pack also provides useful information about bringing a class to The Great Trossachs Forest along with contact information should ranger support be required during the visit. 

Click here to access the downloadable resources

Pupils experience the life of a drover

A class of sixteen Rockfield Primary School pupils experienced the life of the ancient drovers of Argyll when they drove a small herd of Highland cattle, cooked bannocks over an open fire, sang traditional songs and shared in the storytelling tradition.  This experience was delivered completely in Gaelic.

Rockwell Primary School pupils and teachers droving.

 The trip was the pinnacle of the school's project to examine the life of Argyll drovers, and is unique in that it is the first droving project to have pupils to do a real life drove with cattle.  The children have learned about droving in Argyll and the old drove routes, made clay Highland cows and held an auction, where their cows were bought and sold.

The project has been a partnership involving Joyce Gilbert from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Sally Harkness from Storyline Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council's education service.

Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education and Lifelong Learning, Councillor Aileen Morton, said, “The strength of introducing children to multi-disciplinary projects is that they learn through experience. The drovers project has taken the class to a shieling in the mountains, to a market and now on a cattle drove.
“The council is committed to providing a flexible approach to learning, making it a rounded and enjoyable experience that young people will pursue throughout their lives.”

Rockfield Primary School Acting Head Teacher Margaret Cain said, “This is learning through experience at its best.  The children were able to go back in time and imagine what life as a drover was really like.   On the drove the whole experience became very real and this will facilitate a depth to the children’s learning and understanding.  

“Maths and language skills have also been taught through the storyline in real and relevant contexts.  It has been a wonderful opportunity and a fantastic example of Curriculum for Excellence at its very best.   Learning is deeper and the storyline has enabled links to be made across the children’s learning.”

A spokesman from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society said, “We were delighted that Rockfield Primary School and Argyll and Bute Council chose to use the droving project to inspire their pupils. The Drovers Storyline was developed as part of a wider RSGS project 'Stories in the Land' which took place during last summer. The aim of the project is to encourage people to become collectors, creators and tellers of old and new stories inspired by the epic journeys of the Scottish drovers.”

Find out more about Stories in the Land at www.storiesintheland.blogspot.co.uk.

Tivy Education Medal awarded to Alan Parkinson

Alan Parkinson was awarded the Tivy Education Medal, together with Fellowship of the RSGS, at the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers conference in Perth in October. The award was given in recognition of his work developing online educational resources for schoolteachers.

In 2001, Alan developed the then-revolutionary Geography Pages website. He went on to become a prolific blogger, better known to some for his online persona ‘GeoBlogs’, and he now runs eight blogs on various aspects of geographical education. He previously worked for The Geographical Association, and is a founder member of the Geography Collective / Explorer HQ, creators of the Mission:Explore books and website. He now works part-time as a geography teacher at King’s Ely.

Delighted to have received the Medal, Alan remarked, “What was equally important to me was to read and hear the comments of others who were there, who appreciated the work that I’ve created and shared over the years.”

Shakespeare's Scotland: 25th September

To coincide with Perth Theatre’s production of Macbeth, on the evening of Wednesday 25 September, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society will be putting on an informal display from its extensive collections of these splendid early maps of Scotland, together with others of the same period, and drawing particular attention to those geographical localities named by Shakespeare in his play.

Margaret Wilkes, one of the joint authors of the recently-published, much-acclaimed ‘Scotland: Mapping the Nation’ and Convener of RSGS’s Collections & Information Committee, will be present to guide visitors through this special display and to point out items of interest about the maps.  She will be accompanied by Tony Simpson, a member of RSGS’s Collections Team, who has produced a sequence of detailed Powerpoint images focusing on the places which have particular association with Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Forres, Darnaway, Cawdor, Inverness, Glamis, Macduff’s Castle by East Wemyss, Birnam and of course Dunsinane.

This special evening will run from 17.30 – 18.30hrs and take place at the Society’s Headquarters, Lord John Murray’s House, 15 - 19 North Port. Perth.

Tickets are £5. Places are limited. Please book by contacting 01738 455050 or enquiries@rsgs.org

MSPs Discuss Future of Geology in Scottish Curriculum at Paliamentary Meeting

Geology outside, and inside, the Scottish Parliament Building.
Image © Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body – 2012. 
Licensed under the Open Scottish Parliament Licence v1.0.

We are delighted to report that the issue of retaining geology and earth sciences in the Scottish curriculum was discussed at a parliamentary meeting on Tuesday 21st.  

A number of the MSPs who attended a parliamentary lunch and presentation by sixth year pupils from Perth High on the 16th were impressed and added their voices to the call for geology to continue to be well represented in the curriculum.  

The decision has been made by the SQA to stop offering Higher geology as an examinable subject. The replacement qualification, environmental science, does not have much earth science content.  

Perth High pupils, supported by their teacher Rachel Hay, RSGS Education Officer Dr Joyce Gilbert, Professor Stuart Monro from Our Dynamic Earth, University of St Andrew's Dr Ruth Robinson, and RSGS President Professor Iain Stewart, presented their case for why they feel that geology should continue to feature strongly at senior level.

MSPs Liz Smith, Clare Adamson, Annabelle Ewing and Nanette Milne all referenced the presentation in a discussion about Public Science Engagement Initiatives.

After the page break please find extracts from the full meeting. The full text of the meeting can be found here. (45page pdf, discussion begins p7, geology p12)

Perth High Pupils argue the case for geology at Scottish Parliament

On Thursday 16 May Dr Joyce Gilbert, Education Officer at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, arranged for the Higher Geology class at Perth High School to visit the Scottish Parliament to give a presentation to MSPs about what they had enjoyed about their year of studying Higher Geology. Their enthusiastic presentation provoked a fascinating discussion amongst the audience about the value of Geology (and Earth Sciences) in the Scottish curriculum, and raised concerns about the Scottish Qualification’s decision to remove the qualification from 2015. 

Perth High School pupils and their teacher Miss Hay outside the Scottish Parliament building.

The parliamentary visit was hosted by local MSP Liz Smith. The pupils were supported by  Dr Ruth Robinson, senior lecturer in Earth Sciences from St. Andrews University, Prof. Stuart Monro, Scientific Director at Our Dynamic Earth, their teacher Miss Hay, and, by video link, the RSGS’ President Prof. Iain Stewart, a geologist known for his presenting work on the BBC programmes Men Of Rock, How to Grow a Planet and Volcano Live.

Here is what some of the pupils said about their day: 

‘Having the opportunity to have our voices heard was great. The thought of not only speaking to MSPs, but trying to show them how great geology is was daunting. But with the support of two Doctors and two Professors, the day felt really professional!’

(Brooke Morran)

‘It was very beneficial to be able to interact with MSPs and to share our experiences of studying geology. I hope our presentation made as much impact on them today as studying geology has made on me this year.’ (Craig Davidson)

‘I greatly enjoyed visiting the Scottish parliament and experiencing First Ministers Question Time for myself. I was proud to be part of a group to speak in front of MSPs to fight for geology to be kept in the school curriculum.’ (Merlin Hillyer)

 ‘A very enjoyable day where the presentation was a great success. I enjoyed speaking and the ensuing discussion was very thought-provoking. A great end to a geological filled year!’ (Fraser Todd)

The students argued the case for ensuring that geology continues to be represented in the new Scottish curriculum to seven MSPs from across the parties. Attending were Liberal Democrat Wllie Rennie,  the SNP's Marco Biagi, Annabelle Ewing and Clare Adamson, Scottish Conservatives Nanette Milne and Liz Smith, and independent MSP Jean Urquart.

Geology has been dropped as an examinable subject within the shake up under Curriculum for Excellence, but this is not so much a lack of take up as arguably a lack of teacher training - there has been no geology in teacher training since 1985.  The replacement qualification Environmental Science does not have much Earth Science content. 

Brooke and Craig join the round table discussion with MSPs.

Scotland is one of the most geodiverse regions on the planet, and geologists are involved in work in petroleum, water resources, natural hazards, environmental problems and climate change.   Also, this decision comes at a time when other countries, including England, Japan, Norway and Australia are actually increasing the provision of Geology and Earth Science education.

The RSGS chief executive, Mike Robinson, has called on ministers to ensure that geology had a future in Scottish schools. “We are determined not to see this subject disappear from our schools, or be sliced and diced until there's nothing left,” he said. 

“There is a danger that this country, which has led the world in geology and geography, is turning its back on these practical and vital modern sciences through a simple lack of understanding.”

Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife said:  “I was delighted to welcome pupils and teachers from Perth High School to the Scottish Parliament and to watch their first class presentation. It was clear from the pupils experiences that they had really enjoyed the their geology studies and had been able to visit a number of sites in Scotland as part of their project.   
 “Scotland is one of the most geodiverse countries in the world and is regarded by many as the cradle of modern geological thinking. “
Concerns have been expressed that the Scottish Qualifications Authority is to close Higher Geology as a subject for examination particularly given the importance of geology to earth sciences and the emerging industries in Scotland.”

Pupils show rock samples to Liz Smith, MSP.

Fair Maid's House - A Volunteer's Story

Being retired for a few years and not really having a focus, when I saw the request for volunteers for the Fair Maid's House, I thought that might be an idea of something useful to do for the summer.

I didn't know much about RSGS, so went onto the web to find out a bit more. That got me even more interested. I have always been interested in geography and maps, since the National Geographic magazine came in the post when I was quite a small child in the 1950s, and when it was a map month that was even more exciting, especially if it was of the UK and you knew the places on it. I certainly would not class myself as a geographer, just an interested person.

Travel has been a big part of my life after being widowed in my forties. I decided that I had to see a bit of the world before I was too old to really enjoy the travel. Highlights have been trips to the west coast of America and Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies, a recent visit to Singapore and, with my work, a year on secondment to Oman.

The Fair Maid's House has some fantastic exhibits.

So – a visit to speak to Fiona, and a volunteers information session, and I was ready to go!

 When we opened in April, it was still quite cold and sometimes snowy, but it was the Easter holidays and we had a steady stream of visitors. Some visitors want to just look around on their own. Others are quite happy for you to tell them stories about the displays. In the beginning I don't think my stories were very accurate, but after being on with some more experienced volunteers they improved over time. You keep finding out more all the time. There were times when it would have been nice to have had more visitors, but unless you move the Concert Hall so as we can be seen, I am not sure how that can be changed. The photographic display during the summer months made us busier and let people experience the house as well. Lots of visitors say they will be back.

The highlights of volunteering are the people – the staff of RSGS, the other volunteers, and of course the visitors. People really love to share their experiences with you – where they live, where they have visited, and lots of times the fact that they knew the Fair Maid's House in the past. Visitors have come from all over the world. One amusing story was the group of young locals who put their heads round the door and asked if they could come in. They went round and were asked to sign the visitors book. The result was that, in amongst the “very interesting” and the “excellent”, there is now the comment “BEAST”, which apparently means “very good” in young speak.

Will I do it again? Of course I will. Roll on April 2013. Will you join us?

If you are interested in volunteering in the Fair Maid’s House during 2013, please contact Fiona Parker on 01738 455050 or email fiona.parker@rsgs.org.

 

Scotland Rocks - a Geology Conference for High School Students

The RSGS was behind Scotland Rocks, a conference for Higher Geology students, which took place in Perth on the 3rd and 4th March in Fife and Perth.


Scotland Rocks was  a two day conference for what could be the last group of Higher Geology students.  The RSGS  convened this conference of students, scientists and educationalists in Perth to highlight the threat to geology as an academic discipline. 

On Sunday, the students, who represented nearly every student currently studying Geology, were taken on a field trip to St Monans. The goals of the field excursion were to: identify key rocks types around St Monans, interpret depositional environments of sedimentary rocks, make a small geological map and find some geological treasure!

The field trip was led by staff from the University of St Andrews, GeoBus, University of Dundee, British Geological Survey and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

On Monday, the students were addressed by the well-known TV presenter and Scottish geologist, Professor Iain Stewart, who is President of the RSGS. They then took part in some fascinating workshops on Volcanoes, Tsunamis, Fossils, Communicating Earth Heritage and Studying Geology at University.  

Professor Iain Stewart with some of the Perth High School Geology students.

While the conference was organised by RSGS, the original call to action came from Perth High School, where current students are desperate to see that geology continues to be represented in the curriculum.


The RSGS chief executive, Mike Robinson, has called on ministers to ensure that geology had a future in Scottish schools. “We are determined not to see this subject disappear from our schools, or be sliced and diced until there's nothing left,” he said. 

“There is a danger that this country, which has led the world in geology and geography, is turning its back on these practical and vital modern sciences through a simple lack of understanding.” 

Students building an indoor geological map at Perth Concert Hall.

The conference was organised with the help of the Scottish Geodiversity Forum and the University of St Andrews' GeoBus, with workshops and representatives from Geopark Shetland, Perth Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Dundee and the University of St Andrews.

See the programme for Scotland Rocks here:

http://issuu.com/rsgspubs/docs/scotland_rocks_programme?mode=window

Find out more about the Royal Scottish Geographical Society

Perth High School pupils link up with the Great Barrier Reef

On Friday 23^rd of November pupils at Perth High School found themselves connected directly with researchers on the other side of the world in a live internet link up organised by the company Digital Explorer. Digital Explorer and Perth High were brought together by Dr Joyce Gilbert, the Education Officer at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.  

On a wet and windy November morning the Higher Managing Environmental Resources and Advanced Higher Biology classes were transported to warmer climes as they took part in a live Skype chat with researchers on the Great Barrier Reef off the north-east coast of Australia.  Pupils spoke to a marine biologist and a geographer who were aboard their research vessel some 15,000km away, and learned about some cutting-edge research which is now underway.  

The pupils were fascinated to hear about their innovative research project, their adventurous dives, and their findings so far.  Amongst other observations, the researchers reported evidence of coral bleaching on the reef and a close encounter with Tiger sharks earlier that day!  Pupils also got an interesting tour of the boat, which gave them a great insight into life aboard a research ship.  

Fair Maid's House Nominated for Architecture Award

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society's visitor centre has been nominated for a prestigious architecture award.

Perth’s oldest house has been shortlisted in the Glasgow Institute of Architecture Design Awards. The Fair Maid’s House was renovated and extended by Page/Park Architects between 2010 and 2011 to become the RSGS visitor and education centre.

The annual GIA Awards are recognised at local and national level and are one of the main highlights of the annual GIA programme.

Glasgow Institute of Architects

The visitor centre has been shortlisted in the ‘Office, Commercial, Industrial, Leisure or Retail’ category. Past Winners in this category include a design award for Shettleston Housing Association Offices and a commendation for the Creative Industries and Media Centre in Stornoway.  The GIA award a number of design awards and commendations, a sustainability award, and sometimes a Supreme Award for a stand-out property.

Awards will be presented by the RIAS President at the GIA Annual Members Dinner on 9 November 2012.

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society relocated to the historic North Port of Perth in 2009, purchasing Lord John Murray’s House and taking a long lease from the Council on the adjacent Fair Maid’s House, giving the Society the opportunity to meet our expanding needs and establish a permanent headquarters capable of fulfilling our requirements. 

Lord John Murray’s House serves as an administration base, while the link and new extension to the Fair Maid’s House provides archive and general collections stores, an education room, exhibition and interpretation areas, and a story telling room.

The new architecture, based on the design of a map chest in a palette of glass, steel and copper, appears to slide out of the less historically significant ‘link’ building, highlighting the importance of the Fair Maid’s House and Blackfriar’s wall, while not impacting on the historic front elevation of the house. 

The Fair Maid’s House was made famous in1828 by the Sir Walter Scott novel The Fair Maid of Perth.  Parts of the building date back to the 1400s.  The visitor centre opened in July 2011. It is currently closed for the winter season, but is used for educational visits, and is available for larger group bookings and as a venue

Royal Scottish Geographical Society Logo

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) is an educational charity which promotes an understanding of the natural environment and human societies, and their interactions, making the connections between people, places and the planet, and aiming to inspire positive long-term change. It currently has a membership of 2500 people and growing made up of people from all walks of life, and promoted to anyone interested in the world around them. It runs a range of educational work, operates an educational and visitor centre in Perth, and helps promote geographical understanding through its journal (the Scottish Geographical Journal) and its newsletter (The Geographer).