Embark on an Historical Journey with My Yarns – a new Ulster-Scots Educational Resource
Date Posted: April 12, 2024
RMS Titanic, World War One and life in Victorian Times all feature in a new Ulster-Scots learning resource created by local educational technology company Jetpack Learning and funded by Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund.
My Yarns weaves a narrative that brings history to life through the eyes of the McKee family – Molly McKee (née Carson), her husband Eddie and their son Billy. The resource extends beyond mere facts and dates; it is an invitation for young minds to experience the essence of day-to-day life in these historic times while fostering an appreciation for the Ulster-Scots language and written composition.
Available to all Northern Ireland schools via the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA) website, this digital treasure trove is designed to immerse Key Stage 2 students in the rich tapestry of our past by focusing on these three pivotal themes from a distinctive Ulster-Scots perspective.
Accompanying the online project is a downloadable educational package with interactive stories, a glossary of key Ulster-Scots words and a compelling picture gallery curated from the collections of National Museums Northern Ireland.
Understanding that teachers are the architects of learning, My Yarns also offers schools access to the Seedling Interactive Learning Authoring Platform. This cutting-edge tool from Jetpack Learning empowers educators to craft their own interactive writing projects tailored to inspire and engage their students.
“We are proud to support educators in bringing our shared heritage into the classroom in a way that resonates with the younger generation,” said Tony Woods, co-founder of Jetpack Learning. “My Yarns is not just a resource but a gateway to the past, fostering an educational experience that is both meaningful and captivating.”
“Jetpack Learning has done a fantastic job in connecting three core curriculum subjects in this innovative online resource,” added Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund Executive Heidi McAlpin. “Each shares a rich Ulster-Scots legacy that will be seen and heard by a new generation of schoolchildren.”
As well as via the CCEA website My Yarns | CCEA, My Yarns can also be accessed directly at www.myyarns.org. Educators across Northern Ireland are invited to explore this resource and discover the multitude of ways it can enrich their teaching and their students’ learning.
Jetpack Learning has also produced a short film showing the launch of RMS Titanic from Belfast Lough using images from the archive of National Museums NI. To view the image click here: Titanic Launch, Belfast, 31 May, 1911 – features actual archive images (youtube.com).
