The Big 5 Project
The Big 5 Project
Our teaching and learning in Penicuik is based around 5 principles. We call it The Big 5. Features of the Big 5 are present in almost all lessons and across all curricular areas.
This poster shows how the Rights of the Child are at the heart of our Teaching and Learning.
These are some of the strategies that staff use in class to support your child's learning.
Departmental Posters
Each Department also shows commitment to embedding Rights by identifying key Rights across their subject and how this is being supported. Have a look through the posters. The posters were designed by our Rights Respecting Schools pupil group and are displayed in classrooms and in our Bite Site.
Learning about Rights in Social Subjects
S2 History - Article 2 (non-discrimination) When learning about the Holocaust, students gain an understanding of other forms of discrimination.
S3 History - Article 42 (knowledge of rights) Students learn about their rights as a starter to learning about the basic rights Germans had under the Weimar Government.
S1 Geography - Article 29 (goals of education, environment) Students learn about sustainability. They create a poster on the importance of recycling for the planet.
S2 Geography - Article 27 (adequate standard of living) Students learn about the difference in living standards in Kenya. Students create a 3D model of the shanty towns in comparison with the cities.
Senior Modern studies - Article 17 (access to information from the media) students are encouraged to use a range of media and sources to stay informed on current affairs.
Learning about Rights in RMPS
S1 RMPS - Article 29 (Culture, Language and Religion) - Early in S1, pupils are introduced to the main beliefs of the 6 major world religions, as well as learning about the beliefs of some non-religious groups too.
S2 RMPS - Pupils study an entire unit on the Rights of the Child. The articles we specifically look at are 12, 13, 14 and 30 - studying examples around the world of children whose rights have been infringed, or how they are putting their rights into practice.
S3 RMPS - Article 13 (Freedom of expression) - S3 investigation allows pupils to research a moral topic of their choice, and present their findings along with their view on it in any format they wish.
S5 core RMPS - Article 17 (Access to information from the media) - Skin Deep unit highlights to pupils the effects/harm that the media can sometimes have on people.
Senior RMPS - Article 14 (Freedom of thought and religion) - Pupils study a range of religious, moral and philosophical issues and the views of others on those. They then need to form their own view on the issues.
Learning about Rights in Expressive Arts
S1 Music - Article 31(Leisure, Play and Culture) All S1 pupils learn to play at least two musical instruments, and explore music from their own and different cultures.
S2 Music - Article 17(Access to Information from the Media) All S2 pupils will use a variety of different websites to support their learning in playing an instrument. Different sources of information will be needed in projects such as the 'Create your own Music Festival) project.
S3 Music - Article 12(Respect for the views of the child) Our pupils take more responsibility in S3 music. They have a greater level of choice of music to learn and instruments to play.
S3 Music Technology - Article 13(Freedom of Expression) The podcast project gives pupils a chance to share their thoughts and opinions on a topic of their choice to record a Podcast.
Senior Phase - Article 12(Respect for the views of the child). Through a coaching approach, all senior students are supported to design their performance programmes.
Learning about Rights in Home Economics
S1 Home Economics - Article 24 (Health and Health care) Students will learn how the impact of food choices affects poorer countries and how they can make a change to support them.
S2 Home Economics - Article 17 (Access from the media) - All students are encouraged to access a variety of media to support their learning when developing a new food product, they are encouraged to be creative and use the internet and food magazines to produce a lunch dish for a teenager.
Childcare - Article 31 (Leisure, play and culture) - In Childcare one of the units students learn about is called "Play" where they explore a variety of types of play in different age groups and the benefit of play to the child development.
Learning about Rights in Modern Languages
Across all year groups - Article 29(Aims of Education) - At all levels, we explore different aspects of French/Spanish culture through film, music and looking at aspects of life in French and Spanish speaking countries.
Across all year groups - Article 12(Respect for Children's Views) - pupil surveys allow our students to give feedback on their learning experiences.
Across all year groups - Article 31(Leisure, Play & Culture) - prior to Covid restrictions, pupils have had opportunities to attend plays in another language, attend cinema trips, and go on foreign trips. We aim to reinstate these in the near future and are currently working on setting up a link with our twin town.
S1 Modern Languages - Article 8(Identity) - exploring how to talk about our identity in another language; being able to give personal information about ourselves.
S2 Modern Languages - Article 28(Access to Education); Article 29(Aims of Education) - discussing our experiences of school, exploring life at school in different countries and comparing similarities and differences.
S3 Modern Languages - Article 5(Family Guidance) - talking about relationships with our families; how our parents may support us to achieve our potential.
S4 Modern Languages - Article 24 (Health, Water, Food, Environment)- exploring healthy lifestyles; discussing environmental concerns and solutions.
S5/6 Modern Languages -Article 12(Respect for Children's views); Article 14(Freedom, thought & Religion); Article 17(Access to Information) -the Higher and AH courses deal more with current affairs (particularly AH) and pupils are encouraged to consider more contemporary issues such as the impact of technology, the climate crisis, freedom of the press and modern family structures (among others).