Services for Schools
Services for Schools
The Declaration of Arbroath: An illustrated activity booklet
Investigating the sealants of the Declaration of Arbroath
Go Forth! Digital learning resources
Scottish Archive Network Education modules
School workshops
We provide a flexible service that is designed to support a wide range of Scottish Curriculum areas and National Qualifications. From September to March within the school year we can deliver workshops in General Register House in Edinburgh to Scottish primary and secondary school pupils. For information on school visits and workshops, please contact: [email protected].
The Declaration of Arbroath: An illustrated activity booklet
A partnership project between National Records of Scotland (NRS) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES), this booklet, featuring illustrations by the writer and artist Andrew Redmond Barr, commemorates the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath.
Aimed at primary school age pupils and other young learners, this resource helps them understand the link between the Declaration of Arbroath and Arbroath Abbey, and the role they play in Scottish history and identity.
In this downloadable activity booklet, learners can find out about the Declaration and use their imaginations to draw, design and create. They can also colour in the illustrations.
The Declaration of Arbroath: An illustrated activity booklet (English) (5.8 MB PDF)
Gairm Obar Bhrothaig: Leabhran obrach le dealbhan (5.8 MB PDF)
The Declaration of Arbroath: An illustrated activity booklet Teachers' Notes (187 KB PDF)
Investigating the Sealants of the Declaration of Arbroath
This resource, produced jointly with HES, with original research provided by University of Strathclyde’s genealogical postgraduate programme, allows P7/S1 pupils studying the Scottish Wars of Independence to investigate the individuals who attached their seals to the Declaration of Arbroath. The resource comprises: information about the Declaration, teachers’ notes, a set of sealants' information sheets, and a student task sheet.
Information about the Declaration of Arbroath (799 KB PDF)
Investigating the sealants of the Declaration of Arbroath Teachers' Notes (819 KB PDF)
Declaration of Arbroath sealants' information sheets (3.7 MB PDF)
Declaration of Arbroath sealants' student task sheet (1.5 MB Word document)
For those who wish to explore the history of the Declaration further, visit our Declaration page. Here you can read about its history, read a transcription and translation of the text and view other illustrations showing how the document changed over time.
Go Forth! Digital learning resources
Designed to raise awareness and knowledge of the three Forth Bridges and their place in Scotland’s history, these educational resources utilise 3D digital documentation of the bridges to support the teaching of STEM subjects and the Curriculum for Excellence.
The teaching packages incorporate lesson packs, practical resources and games and are available to Scottish schools through the Glow network. They can be accessed by all teachers and learners via the Forth Bridges website.
These resources were created by the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation LLP (a partnership between Historic Environment Scotland and The Glasgow School of Art), with the assistance of a digital learning consultant from Dundee City Council and National Records of Scotland.
Scottish Archives for Schools
Scottish Archives for Schools (SAfS) is our education website where teachers, parents and learners of all ages, can access and engage with online resources created from our unique primary sources. We offer opportunities for interdisciplinary learning at different levels across a variety of themes and topics, such as Scottish identity, letters and diaries, Victorian life and the world wars.
Scottish Archive Network education modules
NRS is a partner in the Scottish Archive Network (SCAN) which links more than 50 participating archives across the country. Together we have produced an education micro-site that features the following modules:
- Using Sources
- Coal Mining in Scotland
- Public Health and Housing
- Women's Suffrage in Scotland
Classroom resources
Use statistical and census data about Scotland’s people in your classroom – these resources can help you get started. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
DataShine:Scotland interactive map
Explore Scotland’s Census 2011 data with our interactive map. See how people travel to school or work in your area. Search for different languages, religions, and ethnic groups. Make comparisons between urban and rural areas
Population projections
Learn how the population of the whole of Scotland or your area is projected to change. What changes are projected to happen by 2041? What impact does migration, life expectancy and fertility have? How are different age groups projected to change?
Population change at neighbourhood level
Type in your postcode to see how the population is changing in your neighbourhood. Are some age groups increasing and others decreasing?
Council Area Profiles
Understand how your council area compares with others. How many people are born or married in your area? How has migration and life expectancy changed over time? Download the data and create a report of your own.
Baby Names
See how many babies were given your name each year. This fun interactive app demonstrates how a range of different factors influence the popularity of names, and provides a good introduction to line charts. Can you see the impact of popular culture such as TV, music, and books?
Other Infographics and Visualisations
This is our collection of visual summaries and interactive apps covering a range of topics about the people of Scotland.