News: 'A Union for a' that'

'A Union for a' that' is a collaborative education project for Scottish schools marking the 300th anniversary of the Union of the Parliaments in 1707. The project is funded by the Scottish Government Education Department, Tourism, Culture and Sport. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, Historic Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Parliament, and the Law Society of Scotland are together delivering learning resources exploring the historical significance of the Union and a programme of learning activities looking at both that history and the architectural expression of democratic decision-making, designed to support A Curriculum for Excellence.

A free copy of the learning resources, a booklet and cd-rom, will be distributed to all primary and secondary schools in Scotland. The learning activities comprise full and half-day workshops covering the history of the Union and the architecture of local and national government.

'A Union for a' that' is supporting the Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament by delivering four half-day workshops for S3 - S6 pupils for the teams which qualify for the regional finals. Pupils will address both the history and the architectural impact of governance and democracy.

Twelve full-day workshops will be delivered to upper primary pupils, six in Aberdeen for schools in the north of Scotland, and six in Edinburgh for schools from central Scotland. The day will include:

• an historical workshop based on primary sources of evidence to explain
  • what happened in 1706-7
• object handling to explain 'before' and 'after' as regards coinage, flags and heraldry
• drama and role-play to bring the opposing views of those involved in the negotiations to life
  
  
• an architectural trail to encourage an appreciation of the architecture of local and national government
  
  
• a workshop focussing on how Scotland is governed today

For more information, please contact:

Alison Diamond
Project Manager
A Union for a' that
HM General Register House
Princes Street
Edinburgh EH1 3YY

Telephone: 0131 535 1375

Email: alison.diamond@nas.gov.uk