Sowing The Poppy Seed – Year two of helping school children learn about veterans.

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Veterans’ charity Poppyscotland and Learning and Teaching Scotland launched today (14 September) the second phase of a series of internet-based materials to revolutionise the way pupils learn about veterans, remembrance and conflict.

Following the success in 2008 of Sowing the Poppy Seed, Poppyscotland is continuing to grow its education project this year. New materials are available for children aged 3 to 8, with an exciting new film for younger children that will take the form of a chat show, with the child presenter interviewing the Poppy. There is also a new poetry competition for pupils in P4-7 and S1-3. Stimulus is photographs by acclaimed war photographer, Robert Wilson, taken in Baghdad, Iraq, and Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Pupils from Hermitage Park Primary and James Gillespie High attended the launch at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh and met renowned Army poet, Lieutenant Colonel J B Brown, Commanding Officer 7 Royal Logistics Corps. JB has served in many operational tours, including Northern Ireland and Iraq, and was featured in the Sunday Times in 2008 as one of a new generation of ‘soldier-poets.’

Poppyscotland Chief Executive Ian McGregor said: “The response from schools across Scotland last year was extremely positive and we are delighted to be expanding on the project this year. It is vital that young people know about conflicts, remembrance and the role of veterans in their communities. The new film, additional materials and the poetry competition will enable pupils to learn in a way that is both creative and engaging.”

Sowing the Poppy seed was developed by Poppyscotland and Learning and Teaching Scotland in conjunction with Determined to Succeed, Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory and the Royal British Legion Scotland. The materials include new planning documents, challenges, posters, poppy seeds and teachers’ notes. In addition, there will be additional archive footage and subtitles for all films, as well as activity guides and research activities to support teachers.

Anne Jardine from Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS), who spoke at today’s event, said: “The fantastic new materials available through Poppyscotland in conjunction with LTS and Determined to Succeed support the values, principles and practice of Curriculum for Excellence by offering children engaging and motivating learning opportunities linked to the world around them.

“The pupils who attended the launch today will be able to take their new knowledge back to school and share their experience with their fellow pupils from P4 up to S3, further broadening the reach of these innovative learning materials. There will also be opportunities for them to take responsibility for involving, organising and perhaps mentoring their school in the Poppy Poetry competition.”