Scotland Unit Study - Homeschooling on a Shoestring

Scotland Unit Study

Learning Objectives:

Many parents and teachers will need to create their own goals. You can compare the goals at these sites to create your own goals depending on how stringent your requirements need to be. All links have several suggested activities for different ages.

Bible References:

Look up and compare scriptures at the sites below. In your journal note how the different translations and versions help you to have a fuller understanding of the text.

Early Christianity in Scotland https://www.thereformation.info/earlychristianity/
https://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/whithorn/priory.html
St Andrew patron saint of Scotland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_the_Apostle

Timeline

A Timeline of Scottish History
http://www.rampantscotland.com/timeline/timeline.htm
Timeline from Undiscovered Scotland https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usfeatures/timeline/index.html

Notable Figures

Mary, Queen of Scots

Queen of Scots Mary Biography https://www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-Mo/Mary-Queen-of-Scots.html
Mary, Queen of Scots Lesson Plan https://www.elephango.com/index.cfm/pg/k12learning/lcid/12364/Mary,_Queen_of_Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots Unit https://schoolhistory.co.uk/early-modern/mary-queen-of-scots/
https://www.homeschoolshare.com/mary-queen-of-scots-unit-study

Robert the Bruce

Robert I (r. 1306-1329) from the British Royal Family website https://www.royal.uk/robert-i-r-1306-1329
Wikipedia biography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Bruce
Objects Associated with Robert the Bruce https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/robert-the-bruce/
Brittanica biography https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-the-Bruce

Loch Ness Monster

Official Loch Ness Monster website Loch Ness monster legend http://www.nessie.co.uk/ The Legend of Nessie the Ultimate and Official Loch Ness Monster Site, with up-to-date information and photographs of new and past sightings. A must for all Nessie enthusiasts.
Wikipedia: Loch Ness Monster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness_Monster

Vocabulary

WordWeb free downloadable software to look up words. https://wordweb.info/free/
Online Dictionary https://www.dictionary.com/
Scottish Sayings https://www.myvoyagescotland.com/scottish-sayings
A Look at Scots Language https://www.wildernessscotland.com/blog/scots-language/
Gaelic in Scotland https://www.highland.gov.uk/site/gaelic-toolkit/toolkit/gaelic_history/index.html
Scottish Gaelic-English-Scottish Gaelic online dictionary https://www.freelang.net/online/scottish_gaelic.php

Book Resources

Book list about Scotland and inspired by Scotland for all ages, including The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith (a chapter book and made into a movie), and the Luck of the Loch Ness Monster by A.W. Flaherty and Scott Magoon (a picture book) https://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Scotland/scotland.htm
Project Gutenberg: A Short History of Scotland by Andrew Lang. Download the free eBook “A Short History of Scotland” by Andrew Lang http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15955
Book list by Scottish Authors https://booksfromscotland.com/book/childrens-hearings-in-scotland/

Scotland’s Queen: The Story of Mary Stuart by Marguerite Vance
Stone Age Farmers Beside the Sea: Scotland’s Prehistoric Village of Skara Brae by Caroline Arnold https://www.carolinearnoldbooks.com/stone.htm
The Story of Scotland Yard by Laurence Thompson (World Landmark Books #W-16)

The Mystery at Loch Ness by Rebecca Price Janney https://rebeccapricejanney.com/
Little House Martha Years books by Melissa Wiley https://melissawiley.com/series/little-house-books/martha/  The Martha Years books are a series of four novels written by Melissa Wiley about Laura Ingalls Wilder’s great-grandmother, Martha Morse Tucker.

Matilda of Scotland: A Study in Medieval Queenship by Lois L. Huneycutt
The Oxford Book of Scottish Short Stories
A History of Scotland: Look Behind the Mist and Myth of Scottish History
The Bruce Trilogy: A Superb Trilogy About Scotland’s Greatest Hero
The Story of Scotland by Richard Brassey and Stewart Ross
Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country, France, 1553 (The Royal Diaries)
This Is Edinburgh by Miroslav Sasek

Poetry & Music

Over 300 examples of Scottish poetry http://www.rampantscotland.com/poetry/blpoems_index.htm
Poet Robert Burns https://www.electricscotland.com/burns/
2009 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7849882.stm
Music of Scotland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Scotland

Bagpipes

Michigan Scottish Pipes and Drums https://michiganscottish.com/  Go listen to live pipe and drum music, or learn it
The Evolution of the Great Highland Bagpipe by Robert Worrall https://www.hendersongroupltd.com/resources/history-of-bagpipes/
Classical Sprouts: All About The Bagpipes https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/classical-sprouts/2022-07-25/classical-sprouts-all-about-the-bagpipes
Detroit Highlanders https://detroithighlanders.org/
Wonder cd of Scottish music! The Best of Scottish Pipes & Drums

Video Resources

PBS Secrets of Scotland Yard https://dptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/9d516a84-dc52-4748-969f-c504a03f363c/secrets-of-scotland-yard-part-1/

Games

Golf

Teaching Kids Golf: A Baffled Parent’s Guide by Bernadette Detty Moore
Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf by Ben Hogan and Herbert Warren
Wind
Golf for Kids!

History of Golf

The history of golf is traced from its origins in Scotland to its development into the modern game of golf. http://www.golfing-scotland.com/history.asp
History of Golf & Golf Equipment https://www.liveabout.com/history-of-golf-and-golf-equipment-1991851
Wikipedia: History of Golf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_golf
Scottish Golf History http://www.scottishgolfhistory.net/contents.htm
Historic U.K. History of Golf https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-History-of-Golf/
St Andrews Home of Golf History https://standrews.com/page/our_history
Timeline of Most Important Golf Dates https://linksmagazine.com/timeline-golf-important-dates/
History of the Old Course https://www.theexperiencestandrews.com/us/about/old-course-history/

Highland Games

Do your own Backyard Highland Games https://www.instructables.com/Backyard-Highland-Games/

Recipes

Scottish Recipes https://www.electricscotland.com/food/recipes/
Traditional Scottish Recipes http://www.rampantscotland.com/recipes/blrecipe_index.htm
Scottish food traditions https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/scottish-food-traditions
Scottish Shortbread https://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,scottish_shortbread,FF.html

Haggis

Haggis – A Food Timeline https://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpuddings.html#haggis
BBC Food https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/haggis_66072
Vegan Haggis https://thepeskyvegan.com/recipes/vegan-haggis/
Haggis Candy https://thescottishbutcher.com/chocolate-haggis/

Field Trips

The St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit, founded in 1849, is a benevolent organization dedicated to preserving Scottish heritage through its literature, customs, music, dance, and dress. Each year we proudly present North America’s Oldest Continuous Highland Games. 160th Games will be held July 31- August 1, 2009. It’s the longest continuous running Scottish festival of its kind in North America. Find Scottish items, find your tartan and crest, talk with members of St. Andrew’s Society who are a friendly bunch of people. www.highlandgames.com/
Looking forward to the 175th Highland Games! August 2 & 3, 2024!

The Association of Scottish Games and Festivals https://www.asgf.org/ Find Scottish Games near you

Art, Pictures & Craft Ideas

Country of Scotland Coloring Pages https://www.coloring.ws/scotland.htm
Scottish Artist John Duncan Fergusson biography and links to artwork https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/features/john-duncan-fergusson
Scottish Colourists learn what and who they were https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/glossary-terms/scottish-colourists

Activities and Lesson Plans

Electric Scotland Children’s Page. Here you will find games, stories, fairy tales, ghost stories, poems, the adventures of Hamish the Haggis, recipes, crafts (including ones to do with tartans and making your own Scottish family crest), online coloring books, music, and more. https://www.electricscotland.com/kids/index.htm

Time Warp Trio Medieval Scotland Lesson Plan https://timewarptrio.com/teachers-parents/lessons/

The Princess and the Golden Shoes: A Scottish Cinderella Variant

Scottish Animals

Scottish Fold Cat https://www.thesprucepets.com/scottish-fold-profile-551898
Scottish Dog Breeds https://www.scottish-at-heart.com/scottish-dog-breeds.html
DLTK Kids https://www.dltk-kids.com/world/scotland/index.htm
Scottish Terrier Coloring Page https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/dog/Scotty.shtml
West Highland and Scottish Terrier Coloring Page https://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/scottish-and-west-highland-terriers
Wild Scotland: 10 Magnificent Animals to Spot in the Highlands https://www.kilcamblodge.co.uk/blog/around-scotland/wild-scotland-10-magnificent-animals-to-spot-in-the-highlands
Wild animals taken in Scotland, in their natural environment https://www.flickr.com/groups/scotlandsnatureanimals/
Use the pictures of animals of certain countries to make flashcards with facts on them that you find for the kids. Helps them understand the environment and habitat. What animals would survive in what environment.

Nature

Nature, Plants and Wildlife in Scotland https://www.electricscotland.com/nature/index.htm

History

Castles in Scotland https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/castles/great-scottish-castles
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government and is charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment and promoting its understanding and enjoyment on behalf of Scottish Ministers. https://www.historicenvironment.scot/
Viking Raids on Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/early_scotland/viking_raids_on_scotland/
Tracing Scotland’s unique place in the Roman world https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65388673
BBC History Scottish History interactive https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/media_museum/media_museum_index1_sections_1to3.shtml

Fishing

Scottish Fishing Families https://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/uncategorized/gutted-filmmaker-notes-meet-director-david-peat/443/

Surnames

How Surnames Came to Be in Countries such as Scotland (Grades 3-5) https://web.archive.org/web/20100404003854/http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=480

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/guides/research-guides/surnames
Interactive Scottish History http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/index.shtml

Scotland Yard

Scotland Yard https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/scotland-yard-established

Textiles, Clothing, Tartan and Plaid

Tartan

Tartan: the Fabric of a Nation https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/features/tartan-the-fabric-of-a-nation
Find your clan’s tartan at Scottish Register of Tartans https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/index
Peat Bog Yields Oldest Known Scottish Tartan Fabric https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/tartan-0018142
Create your own tartan weaving https://www.bakerross.co.uk/craft-ideas/kids/tartan-weaving/
Tartan Paper Weaving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX3Mk_p7yxY
Wikipedia: Tartan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan
When is a Plaid a Tartan https://handwovenmagazine.com/whats-the-difference-between-tartan-and-plaid/
History of Tartan and Highland dress https://www.kinlochanderson.com/highland-dress/history-of-tartan/
Nat Geo’s The real history of tartan, from the Scottish Highlands to the streets of Tokyo https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/scotland-tartan-plaid-real-history
Crayola Scotland’s Perfect Plaids Lesson Plan. Create an original tartan plaid, and craft a kilt or scarf with the fabric. https://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/scotland’s-perfect-plaids-lesson-plan/
National Tartan Day is celebrated on April 6 https://www.scotland.org/events/tartan-day/tartan-day-in-the-usa
Council of Scottish Clans & Associations Tartan Day Events – you might find an event near you https://www.cosca.scot/tartan-day
New York City Tartan Day Parade – Saturday, 6th April, 2024 https://www.nyctartanweek.org/
History of National Tartan Day https://www.nationalcapitaltartanday.com/history-of-tartan-day/
4/6 (Saturday) Tartan Day Cèildh at Kilgour Scottish Centre https://detroitscots.com/events/

Tweed

How tweed became a symbol of Scottish culture. In Scotland’s hills and islands, textile traditions touch on sustainability and local pride while making a mark in high fashion.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/tweed-weaves-tales-of-scottish-history-and-landscapes

Weaving

Jacquard Loom. What is the connection to computer programming? Find out!
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/science-and-technology/jacquard-loom/

Evaluation Ideas:

Assemble a three ring binder and please include:

Your Lapbook created for the unit (K-8 Students)
Lapbook ElementsSome items in Frog Went A-Courtin’ for a lapbook on Scotland https://www.homeschoolshare.com/frog-went-a-courtin-unit-study
Items in Choose-a-Country lapbook at Homeschool Share that you can use for Scotland or any country https://www.homeschoolshare.com/country-lapbook/

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