As
one of our international days, we decided we'd celebrate St Andrew's
Day. There were a few wee issues with this though. One, St Andrew's
Day was on a Sunday but we could work around that and two, most of the kids
think that Scotland is a far north state in India.
But, we decided to go for it! After some brief planning we had our itinerary for the week.
Monday 24th November - differences between Scotland and India
Tuesday 25th November - story of St Andrew, Scottish Story book, draw Saltires
Wednesday 26th November - make a giant Nessie
Thursday 27th November - Scotland maps. Draw a thistle
Friday 28th November - Draw tartan, tartan paper weaving, Scottish music and Scottish songs
Saturday 29th November - Watch Brave
So we painted our nails as Scotland flags and started St Andrew's Day Week.
So I discovered that there's very little about dear St Andrew. So that was very hard. And the fact that he never went to Scotland makes it all the more confusing to try and teach 8 year olds. "Yes, he's the saint of Scotland... But he lived in the Middle East and then died in Greece. I know you probably have no idea where those are either. Just roll with me."
Sarah brought this amazing pop-up book about Scotland with her. It's so good and the kids love it. We've even read it to some of the older kids. The 15 year olds. But it's so helpful. It has tartan, tossing the caber, highland cows, bagpipes and castles. So the kids learnt about Robert the Bruce, Greyfriars Bobby ("I know that story Miss!" "Really Reena..? Okay..") and the Loch Ness Monster. I say learnt, they were told it and I really can't say how much was absorbed. Sarah showed her fourth standard class the page with Stirling Castle on it and said that I lived near there and something got a wee bit lost in translation and now the class think I live in Stirling Castle.
Then we drew lots of Scottish flags! Some better than others. Parminas still likes orange.
Wednesday was a fun day. We made a giant Nessie collage. Trying to explain that Nessie is a monster but we name it and refer to it affectionately was rather difficult. I was also told that it was am Anaconda. Nope. Not correct.
But all the kids loved colouring and sticking tissue paper. They love doing something different so it was so lovely to see it. But I did have to refrain myself from taking the crayon and colouring it for them because I love colouring. Even 10th Standard enjoyed doing a section. At the end of the day we stuck it all together and finally got to see what it looked like. It looked amazing. I have to say. I'm so proud of what we managed to do. So Nessie is now stuck to the outside of the school for all to see!
But, we decided to go for it! After some brief planning we had our itinerary for the week.
Monday 24th November - differences between Scotland and India
Tuesday 25th November - story of St Andrew, Scottish Story book, draw Saltires
Wednesday 26th November - make a giant Nessie
Thursday 27th November - Scotland maps. Draw a thistle
Friday 28th November - Draw tartan, tartan paper weaving, Scottish music and Scottish songs
Saturday 29th November - Watch Brave
So we painted our nails as Scotland flags and started St Andrew's Day Week.
Monday.
The differences between Scotland and India. Everything. Nothing is the same. Nothing. If you can think of something I can guarantee it will be different in India. Feel free to test me of you want. So, this is the basic list I came up with to make it simple.
The differences between Scotland and India. Everything. Nothing is the same. Nothing. If you can think of something I can guarantee it will be different in India. Feel free to test me of you want. So, this is the basic list I came up with to make it simple.
Tuesday.
So I discovered that there's very little about dear St Andrew. So that was very hard. And the fact that he never went to Scotland makes it all the more confusing to try and teach 8 year olds. "Yes, he's the saint of Scotland... But he lived in the Middle East and then died in Greece. I know you probably have no idea where those are either. Just roll with me."
Sarah brought this amazing pop-up book about Scotland with her. It's so good and the kids love it. We've even read it to some of the older kids. The 15 year olds. But it's so helpful. It has tartan, tossing the caber, highland cows, bagpipes and castles. So the kids learnt about Robert the Bruce, Greyfriars Bobby ("I know that story Miss!" "Really Reena..? Okay..") and the Loch Ness Monster. I say learnt, they were told it and I really can't say how much was absorbed. Sarah showed her fourth standard class the page with Stirling Castle on it and said that I lived near there and something got a wee bit lost in translation and now the class think I live in Stirling Castle.
Then we drew lots of Scottish flags! Some better than others. Parminas still likes orange.
1st Standard
Parminas and orange
Chandana in 1st
5th Standard
Wednesday.
Wednesday was a fun day. We made a giant Nessie collage. Trying to explain that Nessie is a monster but we name it and refer to it affectionately was rather difficult. I was also told that it was am Anaconda. Nope. Not correct.
But all the kids loved colouring and sticking tissue paper. They love doing something different so it was so lovely to see it. But I did have to refrain myself from taking the crayon and colouring it for them because I love colouring. Even 10th Standard enjoyed doing a section. At the end of the day we stuck it all together and finally got to see what it looked like. It looked amazing. I have to say. I'm so proud of what we managed to do. So Nessie is now stuck to the outside of the school for all to see!
Thursday.
I showed the kids a big map of Scotland and pointed out all the important places. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Niamh Miss house, Sarah Miss house, where Nessie lives. My third standard class actually made up a song comprised only of the word Tullibody.
Explaining that the Thistle is national flower of Scotland was made remarkably easy by the fact that the kids really know that they're national flower is a Lotus. I didn't try and explain that like the Tiger is their national animal, the Unicorn is ours because I'm not sure they would have got that really.
I showed the kids a big map of Scotland and pointed out all the important places. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Niamh Miss house, Sarah Miss house, where Nessie lives. My third standard class actually made up a song comprised only of the word Tullibody.
Explaining that the Thistle is national flower of Scotland was made remarkably easy by the fact that the kids really know that they're national flower is a Lotus. I didn't try and explain that like the Tiger is their national animal, the Unicorn is ours because I'm not sure they would have got that really.
Friday
Tartan day! Without physically having any tartan (literally as I wrote this, I remembered I have some tartan and now I feel like an idiot) it was difficult. And my drawing skills aren't really up to tartan. I did try. I got some interesting pieces back from first standard though.
In third I was doing paper weaving instead of drawing and at least that is more recognisable as tartan. They quite enjoyed it as well when they worked out how to do it..
We taught them Flower of Scotland which went surprisingly well. Third know it really well now and first know the tune. But there are some kids who sing it so badly that even I am better. I had three teachers watching as I sang it and first sang the tune and danced around. One of the teachers even joined in the dancing and they were so pleased to be an audience.
Tartan day! Without physically having any tartan (literally as I wrote this, I remembered I have some tartan and now I feel like an idiot) it was difficult. And my drawing skills aren't really up to tartan. I did try. I got some interesting pieces back from first standard though.
In third I was doing paper weaving instead of drawing and at least that is more recognisable as tartan. They quite enjoyed it as well when they worked out how to do it..
We taught them Flower of Scotland which went surprisingly well. Third know it really well now and first know the tune. But there are some kids who sing it so badly that even I am better. I had three teachers watching as I sang it and first sang the tune and danced around. One of the teachers even joined in the dancing and they were so pleased to be an audience.
Saturday.
This was an easy day. We just sat them down in front of my laptop and they watched Brave. They really enjoyed it when they weren't talking. They said "WOW!" when I told them it was Scotland and pointed out the tartan and the tossing the caber. Which I was pleased about because that means they actually took something in during the week!
I really enjoyed doing all the Scottish stuff. It was so good to talk about Scotland and tell them all about my home country. It made me feel so proud of it and it made me realise again how proud I am to be Scottish.
This was an easy day. We just sat them down in front of my laptop and they watched Brave. They really enjoyed it when they weren't talking. They said "WOW!" when I told them it was Scotland and pointed out the tartan and the tossing the caber. Which I was pleased about because that means they actually took something in during the week!
I really enjoyed doing all the Scottish stuff. It was so good to talk about Scotland and tell them all about my home country. It made me feel so proud of it and it made me realise again how proud I am to be Scottish.
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