New RSPB learning course
RSPB Scotland is encouraging primary schoolteachers in Renfrewshire and across the country to inspire young nature conservationists to save our seabirds by signing up to a free education resource.
Designed by pupils for pupils, with the support of RSPB Scotland’s Education, Youth & Families team, the resources are all available in English, Gaelic and Welsh.
They have been produced as part of the Biosecurity for LIFE project which is working to raise awareness of the threat of invasive predators to seabirds and put in place systems to prevent their accidental introduction to islands.
A number of schools across Scotland have already taken part in online workshop sessions with RSPB Scotland to learn about biosecurity, its importance in their communities, and then encouraged to design ways for other children to find out about how to help island and coastal nature.
The education resource pack is made up of online modules including: an online snakes and ladders style game created by pupils from Small Isles and Raasay Primary with the aim of collecting as many eggs as possibly whilst avoiding predators, a campaigning module where pupils launch a campaign to share this important conservation story and a free physical board game designed by pupils from Small Isles Primary with the aim of eradicating rats from islands.
Laura Copley, RSPB Scotland education, youth and families manager said: “Scotland is such an important place for many of the world’s incredible seabirds but unfortunately they are facing an increasingly difficult future.
“It is our collective responsibility to protect them and who better to advocate for this than young nature enthusiasts!
“It’s been a joy collaborating with so many passionate young people from our island and coastal schools to bring this conservation project to life in such an imaginative and empowering the children by helping the nature that lives alongside them in their communities.
“Watching the resources develop through the concept, design and production stage has been a fantastic learning experience for us all!”
For more information on the online course, visit www. biosecurityforlife.org.uk/ education