Bronze
5 boys
7-9
January 2018 - March 2018
How the project achieved the sections of the award
Plan
Initially we had a discussion with our pupils and shared with them that this was to be our next topic. We thought about the title of the topic and explored/discussed what this meant to us, then together completed a ‘What I know, what I’d like to know and how we will find out’ activity. This gave us a starting point.
We discussed the topic together as a small group and created a plan.
Investigate
Our learning environment included interactive games, library books, interactive class displays, websites, library books, songs and clips of documentaries.
The children watched documentary clips, listened to songs, created displays, read information, created a timeline of important events, looked at The Saltire and Lion Rampant flags, discussed what they learnt about key events and the main people involved, and researched information online.
Engage
We were able to visit and explore a local castle. We also used our knowledge of Massage in Schools Program to create a massage routine retelling the story of the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Inspire
The children, with support, created wall displays showing key players and information on what they had learned.
We looked at coats of arms and family crests and explored their significance. This led the group to create their own shields with their own coat of arms and share what they had included and why.
We looked at family crests and created our own family crests using things that are important to us to incorporate into our shields
The group made our very own William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. We tried to make them as authentic as possible.
The group worked hard to make Glenngarry Bonnets.
Reflect
We organised a celebration of success event within our campus where the children got to share their learning with other staff and family members. They managed to speak briefly about what they had learned and what they had enjoyed particularly about the topic. Speaking in front of an audience is a huge achievement for our children and we were delighted to see their confidence grow through the experiences provided in working towards their HHA.
Lessons Learned
If possible I would like to visit more places of educational interest related to our topic and link up with more outside agencies..
Highlight(s)
For me a real highlight was observing the level of engagement in the topic from our group of children. We are a very small campus who work with children who are finding mainstream education difficult for a variety of reasons and we are always striving to explore and attempt new ways of presenting the curriculum to our pupils.
To see the children with high levels of engagement, empowering them to take a leading role in their learning was another real highlight for myself and colleagues. It can be challenging to engage our pupils and support them into a mental place where they are ready to learn, so to see them actually leading their learning at times by organising displays of their work for example, was extremely satisfying as a teacher and thus enabled us to build learning blocks and stretch their learning.
The benefit of using the Heritage Hero Awards
The sense of achievement this award gave to our children was very powerful. This not only boosted their confidence but developed their self-esteem and a belief in themselves that they can actually achieve something if they give it a go. To me that’s priceless!
Quotes
Pupil
This was the best topic ever!
Staff member
Our children learned how to co-operate as well as interesting facts and stories about people and their past. They even learned a few things about themselves along the way!
Case study compiled by Dawn Greenan, East Ayrshire Support Team.
Notes from Archaeology Scotland:
Thank you for looking at completing this case study for us. The idea is these case studies will act as great inspiration for groups wanting to take part in the Heritage Hero Awards, as well as being an opportunity for us to celebrate your group/ project on our webpage.
We would love to include images with the case study, so please attach a couple of photos for you project that you are happy you have permission for us putting online. Let us know how you would like us to caption the photos below.
We will put this case study online on our Heritage Hero Award webpage http://www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk/Learning/Heritage-Hero-Awards as a PdF only and will do nothing else with the information/ images supplied without your further permission.