Studying Scotland
How we grow and catch food – Early level
Overview
This learning and teaching idea aims to encourage learners to grow their own food and engage with the way
we grow and catch food in Scotland. The learning and teaching idea develops an understanding of
seasonality and Scotland’s farming throughout these seasons. This context for learning has been prepared for
learners working
within the early level and aims to develop skills in working with others through planting and
v
growing opportunities, solving problems through experimentation and communicating orally when sharing
thoughts and findings.
This learning and teaching idea further exemplifies the following learning opportunities:

Grow your own food in the classroom or own/local allotments

During activities/discussions about seasons explore what Scottish foods are available.

Explore the workings of a farm in Scotland
Health and Wellbeing experiences
and outcomes explored
I explore and discover where foods come
from as I choose, prepare and taste
different foods.
HWB 0-35a
Responsibility of all areas, which
could be addressed in this learner
journey:
I enjoy exploring and choosing stories and
other texts to watch, read or listen to, and
can share my likes and dislikes.
LIT 0-01b/LIT 0-11b
As I listen and talk in different situations, I
am learning to take turns and am
developing my awareness of when to talk
and when to listen.
LIT 0-02a/ENG 0-03a
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/studyingscotland
1
Interdisciplinary opportunities

Technology

Social Studies
Other opportunities could also lie in

Sciences
Studying Scotland
How we grow and catch food – Early level
This interdisciplinary approach shows some possible learning opportunities when the experiences and outcomes listed below are connected. These ideas are
starting points and could be used to support planning, depending on your context. In this example we have highlighted a lead curriculum area, however, other
curriculum areas can be included where relevant, based on needs and interests.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
SOCIAL STUDIES






Tasting and discussing traditional
Scottish food.
Visit local food supplier e.g.
Fishmonger, farm, supermarket.
Discuss what you saw/learned.
Alternatively invite a farmer /
fishmonger into the educational
establishment.
Examine a real fish from a
fishmonger – identify the gills,
scales, fins etc.
Grow your own food in the
classroom or own/local
allotments.
From foods grown select
ingredients and make simple
meals/snack e.g. sandwich, soup
or bread etc.


Related Experiences and Outcomes
connected within this context for
learning
During activities/discussions about
seasons explore what Scottish foods are
available.
Exploring stories and non- fiction texts to
discover the purpose of different kinds of
farms. E.g. vegetable, meat etc.
Through play/role play explore the
workings of a farm in Scotland.
LITERACY ACROSS THE
CURRICULUM
TECHNOLOGIES
 Share and discuss ideas for a simple recipe
e.g. sandwich.
 Prepare and taste simple recipes and give
preferences.
 Work together and share thoughts on how
to develop the recipe.
 Prepare modified recipe and share ideas
on any improvements to be made before
producing a final recipe.
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/studyingscotland
HWB 0-35a/SOC 0-09a, SOC 0-12a,
TCH 0-11a, LIT 0-1a, 0-02a
2




Listening to and reading books about
farm life.
Discussion and role-play regarding life
on a farm.
Giving instructions orally to explain
how to grow your own
vegetables/plants.
Writing a story (using pictures)
showing the planting process.
Studying Scotland
How we grow and catch food – Early level
Overview of learning in lead curriculum area
Possible prior experiences
All learners will have
experience of tasting and
expressing views on food.
Most learners will have
previously visited a
supermarket/shop.
Some learners will have
experience in helping to
prepare simple foods.
Possible learning
opportunities in lead
curricular area
Skills
Growing food
Working with others
Preparing food with Scottish
sourced ingredients
Communicating orally
Everyday farm life
Creating
Possible sources of
evidence
Solving problems
Safe use of kitchen utensils
Observation of work
A food map (using the flags on
maps to show where food
comes from the in the world.)
Scottish food
Annotated photographs
All learners will have
experience in learning through
play.
Record of discussions
Most learners will have
experience of interaction with
other children.
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/studyingscotland
Learner’s work
3
Studying Scotland
How we grow and catch food – Early level
Learning experience 1: Grow your own food in the classroom or own/local allotments.
Possible Starting Points
Resources
Story about planting and growing food in Scotland
e.g. Katie Morag and the Big Boy Cousins
BBC clips – Growing in a Scottish school: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/growingyour-own-vegetables-pt-1-2/9067.html
Short video of children planting and growing food
in Scotland e.g. Tractor Ted DVD from RHET
resource box.
RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust) resource box
www.rhet.org.uk
Visit to local allotments.
Skills
Learning
Learners will understand that:

Solving problems e.g. what does a plant need to grow

Communicating – sharing the process of growing food through discussion.
Possible evidence

Food can be grown in Scotland.

Voice recordings/teacher notes of discussions.

They can grow their own food.

Time lapse films

There is a process involved in growing
food.

A short play or storyboard story of the growing process

Annotated drawings/photographs of the sequence of the growing process

Photographs (annotated) of the learners growing and tending to their allotments/
gardens.
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/studyingscotland
4
Studying Scotland
How we grow and catch food – Early level
Learning experience 2: During activities/discussions about seasons explore what Scottish foods are available.
Possible starting points
Resources for Learning
Investigate the characteristics of the current season.
Seasonality visuals (correct for Scotland):
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/c142800f-750e41f31f01de63.pdf
Visit to a farmer’s market/retailer selling seasonal produce.
Explore and taste a variety of Scottish foods.
Watch the DVD (RHET) Scotland’s Faming Year
Seasonal salad recipes:
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/57eaddb8-a7b045c2cc048692.pdf
Teacher resource (food seasonality in Scotland)
http://eatscotland.visitscotland.com/food-drink/in-season/
Learning
Scotland’s Farming Year:
http://www.rhet.org.uk/Resources/Scotland's+Farming+Year+DVD
Learners will understand that:
Skills

There are four different seasons within the year.

Food available now might not be available next season.

Identifying seasonal characteristics.

Communicating – Discussing foods available in different seasons.
Possible evidence
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/studyingscotland
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
Learner’s work/interactive display of the characteristics of the seasons

Voice recordings/teacher notes of discussions on seasonality of foods
from Scotland.
Studying Scotland
How we grow and catch food – Early level
Learning experience 3: Through play/role play explore the workings of a farm in Scotland.
Possible starting points
Resources
Investigate farms through model farm free play and visits to local
farms where possible.
BBC class clips – Barnaby visits the farm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/working-on-a-livestockfarm/11197.html
Watch a short video about farm life.
RHET farm visits: http://www.rhet.org.uk/Teachers/Farm+Visits
RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust) resource box
Learning
www.rhet.org.uk
Learners will understand that:



Skills
There are farms in Scotland
Food is produced on a farm

Creating a farm environment through play

Evaluating the different jobs on a farm.
Different jobs are carried out on a farm.
Possible evidence
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/studyingscotland
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Observation of children’s play.
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Sequencing process of a farm
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Annotated drawings/photographs of farm life.
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Record of discussions about farms in Scotland.