For children at Sgoil Àraich and P1

Here are some activities to do during a daily walk in your local area, or when looking out of the window. Using your senses, what can you see, hear and smell?

Here are some prompts for you to consider when using Gaelic:

• Discuss rules about keeping safe outside. Ask your child to talk about the rules they have at sgoil àraich or school, for example speaking Gaelic, listening to adults, holding hands and rules for crossing a road. On the walk, talk about road safety with your child. Ask them to look out for places that would help you cross the road safely.
• Talk about the green cross code. You may find it useful to read this article on road safety with your child before you leave home
• Talk about the types of buildings you can see, for example houses, places of worship, shops and offices. Mention any ways that the buildings you see may be connected to Gaelic. Describe the shape, size and colour of the buildings.
• Look for objects that help us in our daily lives, for example post boxes, streetlights, pedestrian crossings.
• Look for people who help us in our local area, for example carers, fire fighters, police officers, refuse collectors, delivery drivers.
• Look for any signage that is in Gaelic and read these aloud.
• Observe the traffic. How many bikes, cars, buses, trains pass in a set time? Count these in Gaelic and explore with you child which form of transport you saw most of while out walking?
• Observe living things you can hear or see whilst walking, or as you sit by a window. For example dogs, cats, birds, insects. Ask questions or describe the appearance of living objects.

For children at P2/P3/P4

During a walk outside, notice as many different features of your local area as you can. In Gaelic, take notes or ask an adult to take notes as you walk. Split your note pad into two parts and see if you can separate what you see into the following two groups:

Built environment - for example buildings like schools, churches and shops. Structures like play-parks, seats, sports pitches and statues.

Natural environment - for example woodlands and fields, or natural areas created by humans, such as parks, flower displays, green areas, ponds, rivers, nature trails.

Look at your list. How many built features did you spot? How many natural features did you spot? Is your local area mostly built or mostly natural, or an equal mix of both?

Look at all the features on your list that are built by humans. Why do you think these have been built? How do they help the community?

Look at all the features on your list that are natural. Why do you think these are good for your community? What do these allow those who live in your community to do?

Look at all the features on your list, do any of these have a connection with Gaelic? For example, do the shops sell Gaelic merchandise?

In Gaelic, write a few sentences about the things you like best in your community and why. Write another sentence about what you would like to see improved to make your community better.

Look for any signage that is in Gaelic and read these aloud.

For children at P5/P6/ P7

Explore your local area to find the different places where people live, work, relax and could speak Gaelic. Are there any interesting places to visit near where you live? You might do this with an adult during a walk outdoors. In Gaelic, think of a way to make notes of the information you find. You might create a table or lists.

• Present the information you have gathered using these four headings live, work, relax and speak Gaelic. You could draw a chart or a diagram, create a poster or make a presentation using technology.
• Think about your favourite place in your local area. Create a picture of this place and write down why it is special to you.
• Speak to family, friends and neighbours you know well. Find out what their favourite place is in the local area and their reason why. Take notes during these conversations.
• Using your notes, compare the information you have collected. Do you notice any similarities or differences? If two or more people had the same favourite place, were their reasons the same?

For young people at S1/S2/S3

This activity encourages young people to think about their local community and decide how well it meets their needs and how it could be improved. It will also help them to think about other young people’s needs.

Below are some tasks that young people should do in Gaelic.

• Make a list of all of the community buildings and services that are available in your area.
• Check to see if any community building or service has a link to Gaelic. For example, a Gaelic group may use the building.
• Are there other services or facilities you would like to see? Devise a short questionnaire that would help you to find out what other young people think.
• Think about what a brand new community centre or hub might look like – it could be a building, an outside area or a virtual centre.
• Design a brand new community centre or hub and give reasons for your ideas. Make sure you have thought about the needs of others in your design.
• Summarise how the brand new community centre or hub will help people develop their fluency in Gaelic.