NGfL Cymru Blog

Following the success of the composing resource at Key Stage 3 and 4 on NGfL Cymru a new series of resources was commissioned to encourage pupils to compose creatively in Key Stage 2. The resource is designed for teachers who are not experts in the field of music and learners can work through the activities independently. There are six themes:

- Recycling

- Work

- Transport

- Healthy Eating

- Celebrations

- Seasons

In each unit there is an opportunity for learners individually, with a partner or group to perform, compose and appraise but with main emphasis on developing a composition and following a specific brief. Many units provide opportunities for learners to improvise on their own instruments or classroom instruments. Above all pupils have the opportunity to plan and explore different musical areas. Some units use graphic scores while others encourage the learners to record their compositions with specific reference to use of pitch.

There will be opportunities for learners at the end of each unit to reflect and evaluate their compositions and more important to perform to their peers. 

The resource was authored by Owain Gethin Davies and developed by Tinopolis on behalf of the Welsh Government.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/vtc-home/vtc-ks2-home/vtc-ks2-music/vtc-ks2-music-composing-ns/vtc-ks2-music-composing-creative_composing/music-creative-composing.htm

NGfL Cymru was pleased to be asked by Andrew Williams, Schools Strategic ICT Manager for Merthyr Tydfil, to help organise their first ever Teachmeet. The event was held at Ysgol Heolgerrig on Thursday May 3^rd, and our concerns that the event may not be well received were ill founded. We had a good turn-out and a really great, supportive atmosphere.

A huge thanks to those brave teachers who volunteered to share their ideas at the event, in particular thanks must go to Sarah Heptinstall,  who in the true spirit of an informal Teachmeet event agreed to share what she had been doing on the spur of the moment and stood up to talk for seven minutes without any opportunity to prepare.

It was great to see so many innovative uses of Moodle in the Primary setting and we at NGfL Cymru also shared some resources that can be used within the platform. The resources from the main literacy presentation for Key Stage 2 can be found using the link below.

http://www.scoop.it/t/enhancing-literacy-in-2-minutes

We thoroughly enjoyed the event and we’re looking forward to working with Andrew again to plan the next one for the Autumn term. From the feedback we’ve received, the teachers who gave up their early evening to come along and share ideas enjoyed it too.

‘Thoroughly enjoyed the range of presentations in particular the NGFL resources and our colleagues sharing their excellent practice. There were a number of ideas and activities that I will use in my own practice and share with my colleagues.’

‘I thought the teach meet was interesting, I found the NGfL presentations the best as they highlighted useful resources on their site.’

‘I was very impressed with the work going on in other schools and now understand how much work we need to do to provide the children in my school with the same exciting opportunities as other children.’

‘Thanks for the teachmeet experience! It was really useful for staff to see the presentations. I have done a quick feedback session and the main response has been that it was “a great opportunity to see a wide range of good practise” and that this has given a direction to “focussing and supporting the development of staff IT skills.’

All of the individual presentations can be viewed by clicking on the image below:

Climate Change is a global issue and everyone has a part to play in combating it, including you. Decisions about how climate change is tackled are made at local, national and global level – but where does that leave you?

Young people are the future and that’s why your views are important! All around the world young people are standing up and saying their views matter in the run up to the Rio+20 international climate summit.

We need you to get creative and show decision makers what young people are concerned about, what action they are taking and why you should be part of the climate debate! We are putting your views, together with the views of young people from across Europe and Africa to decision makers from the local to the global to say your future is important.

There are two ways to enter and a top prize of an Apple IPod for each as well as lots of runners up prizes!

Option 1: You have 250 words to get your voice heard – tell us what climate change issues concern you, what you’re doing about it, why you’re doing it, what impact you think you’re having on the environment and why young people should be included in decision making.

Option 2: Get creative by sending us a photo or a piece of artwork showing what you want your future to look like: from grow your own to sustainable energy show decision makers what you want to see in your future.

For more information about what we’re looking for, how to enter and to download the entry form go to www.mtl-cec.org/haveyoursay2012

A presentation file for teachers can also be downloaded from here.

DEADLINE Friday 15th June

A series of materials authored by Gareth Southwell and developed by NGfL Cymru have recently been published on the website.  The materials are intended to support the ‘Existence of God’ element within the ‘Beliefs, Teachings and Sources’ section of Unit 5 of the GCSE Religious Studies syllabus, Specification A.  The resources support classroom delivery and/or independent study and include the following topics;

1. Why some people have religious belief whilst others do not.

2. The argument from design for the existence of God.

3. Secular approaches.

4. Reason and revelation as approaches to philosophical discussion about God’s existence.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/vtc-home/vtc-ks4-home/vtc-ks4-re/vtc-ks4-re-wjec_rs/ks4-re-existence-of-god.htm