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1 December 2009
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The Highland Clearances

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Teachers Notes
 

We highly recommend that this section is read before the site is used.

Welcome to the Teachers' section. It is divided into the following sections:-
   
An outline of the site Guidance on how to use the site
A Forward Plan Suggested supplementary activities
Links Download Information
 
Site Outline ^top^
   
The Highland Clearances website looks at the lives of people who lived in the Scottish Highlands during the time of the Clearances. It is easy to use, interactive and covers levels C to E of Environmental Studies 5 - 14 thus allowing for differentiation. The website can be used as a stand-alone resource to support the teaching of the topic, but also complements the Around Scotland television series.

The site is introduced by Callum, the friendly ghost, who takes the children on a trip into Scotland's past. It is divided into 3 sections based on important dates from the period - "1800 A Highland Township", "1814 The Evictions" and "1821 New Beginnings". The website is based on a fictitious Highland township, however the children will be able to find out factual information about people and places by clicking on the "Real Life" buttons. Through interactive activities such as information gathering, newspaper and letter writing, quizzes and various games the children will discover what factors caused the Clearances and the effects they had on the Highland communities.
   
Guidance on how to use this site ^top^

The site contains pages that might take a while to download due to the size of the files. This will vary depending on the capabilities of the network you are using. To keep these download times to a minimum we suggest that you click the 'Load Movies' button to preload the site. We also recommend working through the site in a chronological order.

The website is a very effective resource that can be used when teaching the topic of the Highland Clearances. It offers purposeful and stimulating learning activities that will complement your teaching. From the Forward Plan you can see that the site is divided into 3 main sections. To make full use of the site there are supplementary activities to complete in class before each section. These will provide the children with background knowledge of part of the topic and increase their understanding when working through the site.

To introduce the children to the site, it would be beneficial to have a Multimedia Projector and Whiteboard. In this way the whole class can be shown clearly how to navigate through the site. However, depending on the equipment your school has, this may not be possible. You can still show the class how to navigate through the site by having the children seated around one computer screen.

Due to the audio commentary it would be wise for the children to use headphones whilst working on the website. This would allow the children to concentrate on where they are in the website rather than being distracted by the audio commentary from other computers. Depending on the ICT provision in your school you could have the children working together on the site. (It is possible to switch audio off via the "Audio off" button on the "Meet the Clan" page). Although there is a full screen option, selecting this may cause the site to run slower than the 640 x 480 version.

As the children will not work through the site in one session, it may be a good idea to bookmark the site by adding it to your "Favourites Folder". To do this click on "Favourites" on your browser and then click "Add to Favourites". In this way the children can access the site quickly at the beginning of each lesson.
At every stage there is a help icon at the top right hand corner of the page giving further instructions to the user.

It is important to say that although the site offers the facility for the user to write and paint her/his own work, this cannot be saved and will be lost once the user leaves the site. However, it can be printed by selecting the "Print" option on the screen.

Forward Plan

 ^top^


WEBSITE PAGE/ACTIVITIES STRANDS ATTAINMENT TARGETS WHAT PUPILS WILL LEARN ASSESSMENT
TIMELINE People in the Past - Time and historical sequence.Level C Put a series of events with their dates in chronological order.Use the words 'decade' and 'millennium' correctly. Pupils will be able to place the dates of the main events of the Highland Clearances in a timeline. Successfully order the events on a timeline.
CLANS People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level C Describe the diversity of lifestyles of people in the past. Pupils will understand the structure of Highland clans. Observe children during the discussion.
People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level D Describe some features of societies, people and events from the past and suggest why they might be considered significant.
MEET THE CLAN People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level C Describe the diversity of lifestyles of people in the past. Pupils will be introduced to the fictitious people who lived in the time of the Highland Clearances. 1 Observe pupils being introduced to different characters. 2 Question the pupils as to who the different characters are.
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP 1800
1 Inside a croft
2 Outside a croft
3 Castle
4 Church
5 Runrigs		 People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level C Describe the diversity of lifestyles of people in the past. Pupils will become aware of the different ways that people lived, for examplehouses andemployment. They will learnabout variousobjects from theperiod, forexample furniture, materials andfood. 1 Click and Drag game - children have to successfully match the artefacts, clothing and food to the rich landowner or the tenant farmer.2 Highland Township Quiz, (levels 1 - 3), - children have to answer 3 multiple choice questions on information from the website to move to the next level. Children can print a certificate if they successfully complete the quiz.
People in Society - People and needs in society.Level C Developing an understanding of individual and social needs and the relationship to economic factors.
LANDLORDS People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level D Describe some features of societies, people and events from the past and suggest why they might be considered significant. Pupils will develop an understanding of the views and opinions of various people during the evictions. Observe and listen to children's views and opinions.
People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level E 1 Explain the motives or actions of people in particular historical situations.2 Explain the values or attitudes that characterised various societies in the past.
People in Society - People and needs in society.Level C Developing an understanding of individual and social needs.
POSSESS-IONS People in Society - People and needs in society.Level C Developing an understanding of individual and social needs. Through discussion children decide 5 things that they would take if they were being evicted in the present day. Observe and listen to children's views and opinions. Can they justify the possessions they wish to take?
EVICTIONS 1814 People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level D Describe some features of societies, people and events from the past and suggest why they might be considered significant. 1 Pupils will develop an understanding of the views and opinions of various people during the evictions. 2 Pupils will write a newspaper report based on the information they have been given about the evictions. This can be printed.3 Pupils will develop an understanding of individual and collective rights and responsibilities in a democratic society. 1 Maze game - children have to successfully complete the maze collecting possessions that belong to the evicted family.2 Evictions Quiz, (levels 1 - 3), - children have to answer 3 multiple choice questions on information from the website to move to the next level. Children can print a certificate if they successfully complete the quiz.
People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level E 1 Explain the motives or actions of people in particular historical situations.2 Explain the values or attitudes that characterised various societies in the past.
People in Society - People and needs in society.Level C Develop an understanding of individual and social needs and the relationship to economic factors.
People in Society - Rules, rights and responsibilities in society.Level C 1 Describe different rules that apply in different contexts.2 Suggest ways in which they can contribute to the care of others and respect their views.
People in Society - Rules, rights and responsibilities in society.Level D 1 Explain why laws are made in society.2 Suggest some of the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in a democracy.
WORLD MAP People and Place - Using maps.Level C Extend the mental map further by identifying on a map or globe world locations. Pupils will be able to label places the evictees moved to on a world map, in particular Canada, Scottish cities, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Successfully label map of World.
NEW BEGINNINGS 1821
1 Life on the coast
2 Life in the city
3 Life in Canada
4 Life in the Highlands		 People in the Past - Change and continuity, cause and effect.Level C/D Develop an understanding of the cause and effect of historical contexts. Pupils will develop an understanding of the views and feelings of various people after the evictions.Pupils will write various letters, as one of the evictees, telling what their new life is like. 1 Grid game - children have to successfully navigate a ship across the ocean from Scotland to the Americas, answering 'true or false' questions along the way.2 New Beginnings Quiz, (levels 1 - 3) children have to answer 3 multiple choice questions on information from the website to move to the next level. Children can print a certificate if they successfully complete the quiz.
People in the Past - People, events and societies of significance in the past.Level D Describe some features of societies, people and events from the past and suggest why they might be considered significant.
People in Society - People and needs in society.Level C Develop an understanding of individual and social needs and the relationship to economic factors.
   
Through using the Highland Clearances website the children will fulfil the following ICT outcomes:
STRANDS ATTAINMENT TARGETS WHAT PUPILS WILL LEARN ASSESSMENT
Searching and Researching - Level B Access websites with pre-set bookmarks After the teacher has bookmarked the website, pupils will be able to access it via the Favourites folder. Observation and successfully accessing the website.
Searching and Researching - Level C Use a Web browser independently Pupils will browse through the website independently, successfully moving from page to page. Observation.
Print selectively Pupils will print desired parts of the website. Observation and print out.
Searching and Researching - Level D Create bookmarks Children could bookmark useful pages of the website. Observation and successful bookmark pages.
Capture text and graphics by copying and pasting Children could copy the images from the website into own document. Observation and successful capturing of graphics.

Supplementary Classroom Activities		 ^top^
Activity 1: Location ( People and Place - Using Maps. Level C )

Show learners a map of Scotland highlighting the Regions, where they live and any other relevant special features. Focus on the Highland region including the Northern Highlands, Skye, Lochalsh, Fort William, Lochaber, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey. Distribute blank map and get learners to identify these key areas and highlight where they live.
Assessment: Successfully label map.
(NB. Please note that the list above is not definitive. There were clearance experiences by people in Orkney and Shetland, West Aberdeenshire, east side of the Grampians and the island of Arran, among others).

Activity 2: Timeline ( People in the Past - Time and Historical Sequence. Level C )

Discuss with learners a variety of significant dates (the present, their birthday, WW2, the Victorians and dates from topics studied at school). Divide into groups, distribute flashcards
(with event and date) and ask pupils to arrange in chronological order beginning with the present. Incorporate the dates mentioned in the website - 1800, 1814 and 1821 - and explain that this is the period they are going to be studying.
Assessment: Successfully order events in a timeline.

Activity 3: Clans (People in the Past - People, Events and Societies of significance. Levels C/D - difference between levels is in the ability to consider and describe diversity and consider the notion of significant events )

Discussion, in an appropriate context, to clarify the notion of 'boss' and 'management systems.' Explain that in Scotland before the 1800s there was a Clan System where everyone worked together for the good of the clan. Elements of this still existed in the 19th century.
The cottars - worked for sub-tenant farmers. Place this card at the bottom of the pile.
Sub-tenant farmers or crofters - lived in croft houses and leased land from the tacksman. Place this card above the cottars.
Tacksmen - leased land from the Clan Chief and made sure things ran smoothly on the land. Place this card above the sub-tenant farmers.
Chief - owned the land. Add this card to the top of the display.

Activity 4: Landlords ( People in the Past - People, Events and Societies of significance;
People in Society - People and Needs in Society. Levels C-E )

Construct a dramatic activity which involves the entire class in an exploration of options, choices and consequences facing the various groups at the time of the Highland Clearances.
The Landlords - many landlords decided they wanted the land for animals not people as this would make more money.
How did this affect the cottar, crofter, and the tacksman?
Assessment - Observe and listen to children's views and opinions.

Activity 5: Possessions ( People in Society - People and Needs in Society. Level C )

Talk about the 'evictions.'(The removal of people from their land )
Ask children to imagine what 5 things they would take from their homes today if they were ever evicted. Individuals have to explain what they would take, and why, to other class members.
Assessment - Observe presentations.

Activity 6: Eviction ( People and Place - Using Maps. Level C )

Using a world map locate the Scottish Highlands.
Discuss with the children that after eviction, the people who survived had to move elsewhere to find work in order to live. On the world map label some of the countries they went to - Canada, United States of America, Australia, and New Zealand. Highlight some of the distances travelled and why these countries were selected.
(NB - This is not a definitive list).
Assessment - Successfully label map of the World.
Download Information ^top^

The website has a very high graphic and animation content which means that some parts of the site may take longer to download than others. The site requires the Flash 4 plug-in to enable this high level of animation. Click here to get the Flash plug-in. Most schools can access this plug-in, but if you are experiencing difficulty you should consult your ICT Co-ordinator. He/she can get in touch with the service provider that maintains computers for your LEA and ask them to make it possible.

There is a "Text only" version of the site but it is limited and contains solely text with no graphics.

When you are working through the site you will notice a large amount of audio. This enhances the atmosphere and makes the site a more effective resource, but it may slow down the download time. On the "Meet the Clan" page there is an "Audio off" button. If you click this, the site will download and run quicker. This may also be useful if you are using the site in a classroom situation without headphones. Without audio, the children will have to read transcripts of the audio to find out information.
Links ^top^

Further information about the Clearances can be found on the following websites. It must be stressed, however, that they are not all suitable for unstructured use by children. It is imperative that the teacher fully inspects them before allowing children to carry out further research.

http://www.theclearances.org

http://www.tartans.com/articles/highclearmemmain.html

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/clearances.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/nations/scotland_clearances_01.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/scotland/highland/


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