Teachers’ Page & Activity Packs
Earth science is an exciting subject to teach in class and out doors, and nowhere in the world has more to offer than Scotland! Your pupils will probably be excited and interested in topics such as volcanoes and fossils, but there are plenty of opportunities to go much further and explore the richness of Scotland’s story, connecting the rocks beneath the surface with the shape of the land and the way that people have lived in the past and present.
A Curriculum for Excellence encourages teaching in Earth Science to link science and social science topics and to explore the landscape of Scotland and elsewhere. There are many resources and organisations available to support teaching in Scottish schools. And with a better understanding of the Earth, developing an informed attitude towards the environment becomes easier too.
GeoBus is a free educational outreach project for schools developed and run by the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of St Andrews. GeoBus is available to visit all secondary schools in all educational authorities around Scotland. Teaching packages cover broad areas of Earth science aimed at supporting STEM subject teaching generally, and highlighting career opportunities in Earth science and other STEM subjects www.geobus.org.uk.
Learning at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh We have a core programme of workshops for pupils from 3 to 18 years of age with teacher Continued Professional Development, outdoor learning activities and resources to further support your science exploration at school. Our Learning experience is flexible, designed around Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and led by highly qualified science communication professionals and experienced outdoor leaders. Our interdisciplinary gallery experience is facilitated by knowledgeable and professional gallery guides and our ShowDome screens the latest in Domefilm productions, helping every learner develop knowledge, skills and attributes for learning, life and work www.dynamicearth.co.uk/learning
The Ecology Centre in Fife offer innovative environmental education programmes, including outdoor learning with a focus on life on Earth www.theecologycentre.org.
Online Resources
- British Geological Survey Education – a large section targeted at schools covering various topics on general geology and British geology. You can use the BGS Geology Viewer to find out more about your local geology.
- Open.Ed – Open Educational Resources (OER) from the University of Edinburgh. Includes OERs produced by the School of Geosciences for pupils studying at SCQF Level 6-8 (Scottish Higher, AS-Level, and above) from current research outputs. open.ed.ac.uk
- TES Resources – by teachers, for teachers. Lesson plans, classroom resources, revision guides and curriculum worksheets, and links to good quality geology teaching resources www.tes.com/teaching-resources
- Earth Science World Image Bank – a fantastic resource of free photographs for educational use www.earthscienceworld.org/imagebank/
- Oxford University Natural History Museum Learning Zone – a great site full of information and activities on rocks, fossils and minerals www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/index.htm
- Rockwatch – a national club for those pupils who are fascinated by all things geology www.rockwatch.org.uk
- Earth Science Teachers’ Association – includes a comprehensive resource section with links to other sites, lots of practical ideas for teaching Earth Science and sources of books, maps, equipment and specimens earth-science-teachers.uk
Other Resources
Downloadable simplified geological map of Scotland, which is free to use for educational purposes.