Smart reading

Literacy

- East Lothian claims to be leading the way in the UK with the Accelerated Reader programme. It is aimed at school-age children and gives a choice of books appropriate to their reading age. Children complete a computer-based quiz which tracks whether they have read the whole book and how well they have understood it.

Science festival

Science

- Dunbar’s first science festival takes place on Sunday (13 March) as part of National Science and Engineering Week at Belhaven Fruit Farm. It is organised by the science sub-committee of Dunbar Primary’s parent council. Head Helen Gillanders says: “We have noticed that many of our parents are scientists, so we are keen that our pupils get the opportunity to learn from their community.”

Children’s opera

Arts

- A new opera will be performed by children as young as five to celebrate the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Scottish Opera and the British Council Scotland are behind the production, which will be written over the next three years and involve more than 100 young people from Glasgow and beyond.

Primary DVD

PE

- A new DVD and booklet, Physical Education: Supporting high quality physical education in the primary school, is being sent to all primary schools. Produced by Learning and Teaching Scotland, it aims to make the subject “relevant, engaging and enjoyable”. It is available on the LTS website.

Wedding lesson

PSE

- As interest in the royal wedding grows, a new resource helps teachers to combine role-play with learning. Off to the Wedding is a play pack by Early Vision, which includes a fly-on-the-wall-style DVD covering everything from the groom’s arrival to the couple’s departure on their honeymoon; an information pack on wedding ceremonies for seven different religions; literacy notes; role play guidance; and class printables.

www.earlyvision.com.