S1 pupils at Bucksburn Academy are currently taking on one of the most important questions facing us today - climate change - through an innovative interdisciplinary project.
The school is one of two in the North-East working on the project supported by the ScotPEN Wellcome Engagement Award through the University of Aberdeen’s Food and Climate Change project.
All S1 pupils at Bucksburn Academy undertake two lessons each week of Interdisciplinary Learning. In this class, the pupils develop a range of skills and use knowledge from across the curriculum to answer a ‘big question’. This term, the pupil’s big question is: “How can we eat to save the planet?”
Pupils have already undertaken research on how our food choices can affect the planet and how eating locally grown food can make a big difference to reducing our carbon footprint. This term the focus is going to be on taking action, with pupils aiming to grow their own food in the school grounds and learning about locally sourced food.
The pupils are kicking off the action side of the project with a visit from the Countryside Classroom on Wheels (https://www.rnci.co.uk/ccow) on the 22nd and 25th February. This is a purpose built, bio secure trailer designed to bring livestock, crop and feed samples to the school playground with the aim of introducing pupils to farming, food production and the countryside while also raising awareness of animals and plants raised on Scottish farms.
Each S1 pupil will get the opportunity to visit the trailer which will have livestock and demonstrations to help show our pupils the importance of agriculture in the North East and how buying local can support this. The Countryside Classroom also provides an opportunity for pupils to learn about different careers in agriculture.
Aberdeen City Council’s Education Operational Delivery Convener, Councillor M Tauqeer Malik, said: “This another great example of our pupils playing an integral role in our crucial work to tackle climate change and achieving Net Zero green economy for the city.
“We put the views of our young people at the heart of what we do, and only last month our committee approved plans to develop accessible information for young people relating to Net Zero while also deciding which suggestions from children and young people for tackling climate change can be taken forward in more detail.
“Children and young people are the city’s future, and this fantastic project which helps tackle real world problems in a practical and engaging way will help them develop the pupils’ skills as they progress towards to becoming active global citizens who are ready for the world of work when they leave school”.
Following the visit from the Countryside Classroom, the pupils will go on a field trip in Aberdeen to find out about how local people can grow their own vegetables in a city environment and what locally grown food are available.
The pupils will put their learning into creating a book with tips for *Eating to Save the Planet” and recipes using locally sourced ingredients.
The photograph shows Bucksburn Academy pupils and Aberdeen City Council Education Operational Delivery Convener Councillor M Tauqeer Malik at today’s visit by Countryside Classroom on Wheels, part of the school’s innovative climate change project.