Scotland - curriculum links
UNA-UK's International Days resource (UNA-ID) can contribtue to delivering areas of National Curriculum for Excellence, which primary and secondary schools in Scotland are statutorily required to provide for young people.
In Scotland, learning experiences and outcomes are organised into eight curriculum areas. UNA-ID supports aspects of the learning and teaching of the statutory experiences in each area. It also supports the Early to Third Level outcomes, which represent a broad general education in the curriculum area, and aspects of Fourth Level outcomes, which represent a more advanced education linking to Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels.
These can be identified easily by simply cross-referencing the learning experiences detailed below to the relevant outcomes in the curriculum guidance document.
The chart above also cross references each of the International Days to the eight statutory curriculum areas of the Scottish school curriculum. Using this chart with the programme extracts below will assist colleagues in making optimum use of the resource within their schools and build the suggested approaches into their own schemes of work.
For ease of reference, the curriculum area of Languages has been divided so that teachers can see the links to Modern Languages as well as Literacy and English. A column entitled Assembly opportunities also appears in the chart to signpost those activities which most lend themselves to be adapted for use in this context if desired by schools.
1. Expressive Arts
Art and design
Through art and design, learners have rich opportunities to be creative and to experience inspiration and enjoyment. They explore a wide range of two- and three-dimensional media and technologies through practical activities, and create, express, and communicate ideas. Their studies of the works of artists and designers enhance their enjoyment and deepen their knowledge and understanding.
Drama
Through drama, learners have rich opportunities to be creative and to experience inspiration and enjoyment. Creating and presenting are prominent activities for all learners. Their acting and presenting skills are developed through participating in scripted or improvised drama.
Exploring real and imaginary situations helps learners to understand and share their world. They develop their capacity to enjoy drama and their knowledge and understanding through evaluating technical aspects and scripts, and commenting on their work and the work of others.
2. Mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing
The mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing of everyone within a learning community should be positively developed by fostering a safe, caring, supportive, purposeful environment that enables the development of relationships based on mutual respect. The four aspects of wellbeing are inextricably linked and are only separated here for practical purposes.
Physical activity and health
Learners develop an understanding of their physical health and the contribution made by participation in physical education, physical activity and sport to keeping them healthy and preparing them for life beyond school. They investigate the relationship between diet and physical activity and their role in the prevention of obesity.
Food and health
Learners develop their understanding of a healthy diet, which is one composed of a variety and balance of foods and drinks. They acquire knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices and help to establish lifelong healthy eating habits. They develop an appreciation that eating can be an enjoyable activity and understand the role of food within social and cultural contexts. They explore how the dietary needs of individuals and groups vary through life stages, for example during pregnancy and puberty, and the role of breastfeeding during infancy.
3. Languages
Literacy and English
As well as being a subject discipline in its own right, English is of course the medium for learning and teaching across the entire school curriculum and is integral aspect of every subject area. All of the International Days secondary learning activities provide meaningful, relevant and motivating contexts for developing spoken language, reading, writing and vocabulary in line with the expectations, experiences and outcomes of the National Curriculum for Scotland.
Languages – modern languages
Several aspects of the International Days Teaching Pack contribute to elements of the modern languages experiences and outcomes in the areas of listening and talking, reading and writing.
4. Numeracy and mathematics
Learning and teaching in some of the lesson plans for the International Days suggestions will add value to aspects of Information handling – data and analysis outlined in the experiences and outcomes for this curriculum area.
5. Religious and moral education
The International Days Teaching Pack has a significant contribution to make by adding value to several areas of the experiences and outcomes of this curriculum area particularly by providing relevant contexts within which to explore dimensions of the beliefs, values and issues; practices and traditions associated with Christianity and World Religions as well as the development of beliefs and values on a personal and community level.
6. Sciences
Biodiversity and interdependence
Learners explore the rich and changing diversity of living things and develop their understanding of how organisms are interrelated at local and global levels. By exploring interactions and energy flow between plants and animals (including humans) learners develop their understanding of how species depend on one another and on the environment for survival. Learners investigate the factors affecting plant growth and develop their understanding of the positive and negative impact of the human population on the environment.
Energy sources and sustainability
Learners explore types, sources and uses of energy and develop their understanding of how energy is transferred and conserved. They consider the relevance of these concepts to everyday life. They explore the nature and sustainability of energy sources and discuss benefits and assess possible risks to form an informed view of responsible energy use.
Processes of the planet
Learners explore the changing states of matter and the physical and chemical processes which influence Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. They learn about climate change as a natural process in time as well as the result of human activity. Through connections with collaborative studies of landscape, weather and climate in social studies they build up an integrated picture of the dynamic nature of Earth.
Topical science
By considering current issues of science, learners increasingly develop their understanding of scientific concepts and their capacity to form informed social, moral and ethical views. They reflect upon and critically evaluate media portrayal of scientific findings.
7. Social studies
The International Days Teaching Pack has a contribution to make by adding value to several areas of the experiences and outcomes of this curriculum area particularly by providing relevant contexts within which to explore dimensions of all three themes:
- People, past events and society
- People, place and environment
- People in society, economy and business
8. Technologies
The International Days Teaching Pack has a contribution to make to this area of the curriculum particularly in relation to Using ICT to enhance learning e.g. throughout the lessons for the different International Days children and young people are encouraged to use search facilities of electronic sources to access and retrieve information, recognising the importance this has in my place of learning, at home and in the workplace.