![Embedding Literacy and Numeracy
in the Curriculum
Plascrug Community School in Aberystwyth gave
learners the opportunity to apply the requirements
of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework [LNF]
in a meaningful way that had relevance to their
everyday lives.
Using Sustrans¡¯ LNF Education Resource for KS2,
teachers delivered a range of lessons and activities
all linked to the cross-curricular theme of active and
sustainable travel.
Over the 2013-14 academic year pupils in Plascrug
used the resource to develop their literacy and numeracy
skills and a large number have been able to apply their
learning outside the classroom. Many are deciding
to travel to school actively and are con?dent to talk
about how they get to school and why active travel
is important.
We visited the school to speak to teachers,
parents and pupils to ?nd out how the resource was
used to develop literacy and numeracy outcomes.
What is Sustrans¡¯ Resource?
Sustrans LNF resource for Key Stage 2 sees
each element of the framework covered at least
once throughout the 28 activities.
The resource, available in Welsh and English, is aimed
at years 5 and 6. Assessment for learning is integrated,
with assessment challenges re?ecting the format of
national tests, so that schools can develop assessment
strategies linked to the LNF.
For older learners, Sustrans has also produced a
resource to develop outcomes of the LNF at KS3
using a thematic approach - turn to p.4
for more information.
The development, production and staff
to support the resource have been
funded by the Welsh Government.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/801505b5-6dc0-4116-be44-e17c6bae1d23-161220163259/85/lnfexemplar-opt_0-2-320.jpg)
![Teacher Carol Macy at Plascrug used the resource
to give Year 6 learners a real-life context to integrate
numeracy. As Carol states, ¡°at Plascrug we have
found that numeracy outcomes can be challenging to
integrate, particularly around handling data, but the
lesson ideas here were used to create numeracy links
around the subject of active travel.¡± Activities in the
resource develop students¡¯ abilities to select, organise
and analyse numerical data. For example, students
conducted surveys about travel to school and used
this to create frequency graphs and determine mean,
median and mode averages. Carol adds that ¡°our Eco
Co-ordinator really appreciated the work created
and it has been used as exemplar evidence for
our Eco-School award.¡±
Integrating Literacy with Structured Writing
The resource was also used to develop new
opportunities for learners to produce extended writing.
Using maps of the school area and a checklist, Years
5 and 6 got out and about to analyse the suitability of
their immediate environment for walking, cycling and
scooting. Students collated their ?ndings by writing
reports for their headteacher. Combining images,
illustrations and text, students chose appropriate
vocabulary and implemented writing features and layout
to structure their research and ideas clearly. Carol
described this as ¡°providing a great writing opportunity
for our learners, which allowed teachers and pupils to be
creative with their ideas.¡±
Active Travel and Children¡¯s Rights
Travel choices affect how young people experience
their rights, as laid out in the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]. A community
supporting young people to walk and cycle is upholding
the best interests of the child (UNCRC Article 3): not
only does active travel enable young people to arrive
at school alert and ready to learn, it also affects young
people¡¯s right to healthy development (UNCRC Article 6)
and their right to play and leisure (UNCRC Article 31).
With a quarter of households in Wales having no
access to a car, supporting walking and cycling is a
solution from which every child in Wales can bene?t.
Giving families and children the ability to access their
local area, regardless of their ?nancial background,
is an important part of Sustrans¡¯ work in Wales.
Some responses to the activities
from the community in Plascrug
¡°You have to do some work but it¡¯s mostly
fun work.¡± Pupil
¡°¡they are standalone, hour lessons, short,
sweet, to the point, they¡¯re visual, they¡¯re fun,
they¡¯re a bit different.¡± Teacher
¡°It¡¯s always better to do stuff that they
can relate to on a practical basis.¡± Parent
¡°All the other times we¡¯ve done stuff like this it¡¯s all fake,
but this time it¡¯s actually the real thing.¡± Pupil
¡°Finding things that are speci?cally teaching
the objectives of the LNF is dif?cult¡but this
resource is catering for the LNF and is hitting
the targets that we need to hit.¡± Teacher
¡°There¡¯s more children scooting and cycling to school
and they¡¯re more aware of why it¡¯s a positive thing.¡±
Teacher
Developing Numeracy using Real Data](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/801505b5-6dc0-4116-be44-e17c6bae1d23-161220163259/85/lnfexemplar-opt_0-3-320.jpg)
lnfexemplar-opt_0
- 1. A Journey through Literacy and Numeracy ¡°Sustrans¡¯ resource provides a great approach for pupils to learn literacy and numeracy skills in a meaningful way¡± Carol Macy, Year 6 Teacher, Plascrug 96% of schools surveyed would recommend the resource to other schools A case study: how Plascrug School integrated the LNF using Sustrans¡¯ Education Resource for KS2
- 2. Embedding Literacy and Numeracy in the Curriculum Plascrug Community School in Aberystwyth gave learners the opportunity to apply the requirements of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework [LNF] in a meaningful way that had relevance to their everyday lives. Using Sustrans¡¯ LNF Education Resource for KS2, teachers delivered a range of lessons and activities all linked to the cross-curricular theme of active and sustainable travel. Over the 2013-14 academic year pupils in Plascrug used the resource to develop their literacy and numeracy skills and a large number have been able to apply their learning outside the classroom. Many are deciding to travel to school actively and are con?dent to talk about how they get to school and why active travel is important. We visited the school to speak to teachers, parents and pupils to ?nd out how the resource was used to develop literacy and numeracy outcomes. What is Sustrans¡¯ Resource? Sustrans LNF resource for Key Stage 2 sees each element of the framework covered at least once throughout the 28 activities. The resource, available in Welsh and English, is aimed at years 5 and 6. Assessment for learning is integrated, with assessment challenges re?ecting the format of national tests, so that schools can develop assessment strategies linked to the LNF. For older learners, Sustrans has also produced a resource to develop outcomes of the LNF at KS3 using a thematic approach - turn to p.4 for more information. The development, production and staff to support the resource have been funded by the Welsh Government.
- 3. Teacher Carol Macy at Plascrug used the resource to give Year 6 learners a real-life context to integrate numeracy. As Carol states, ¡°at Plascrug we have found that numeracy outcomes can be challenging to integrate, particularly around handling data, but the lesson ideas here were used to create numeracy links around the subject of active travel.¡± Activities in the resource develop students¡¯ abilities to select, organise and analyse numerical data. For example, students conducted surveys about travel to school and used this to create frequency graphs and determine mean, median and mode averages. Carol adds that ¡°our Eco Co-ordinator really appreciated the work created and it has been used as exemplar evidence for our Eco-School award.¡± Integrating Literacy with Structured Writing The resource was also used to develop new opportunities for learners to produce extended writing. Using maps of the school area and a checklist, Years 5 and 6 got out and about to analyse the suitability of their immediate environment for walking, cycling and scooting. Students collated their ?ndings by writing reports for their headteacher. Combining images, illustrations and text, students chose appropriate vocabulary and implemented writing features and layout to structure their research and ideas clearly. Carol described this as ¡°providing a great writing opportunity for our learners, which allowed teachers and pupils to be creative with their ideas.¡± Active Travel and Children¡¯s Rights Travel choices affect how young people experience their rights, as laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]. A community supporting young people to walk and cycle is upholding the best interests of the child (UNCRC Article 3): not only does active travel enable young people to arrive at school alert and ready to learn, it also affects young people¡¯s right to healthy development (UNCRC Article 6) and their right to play and leisure (UNCRC Article 31). With a quarter of households in Wales having no access to a car, supporting walking and cycling is a solution from which every child in Wales can bene?t. Giving families and children the ability to access their local area, regardless of their ?nancial background, is an important part of Sustrans¡¯ work in Wales. Some responses to the activities from the community in Plascrug ¡°You have to do some work but it¡¯s mostly fun work.¡± Pupil ¡°¡they are standalone, hour lessons, short, sweet, to the point, they¡¯re visual, they¡¯re fun, they¡¯re a bit different.¡± Teacher ¡°It¡¯s always better to do stuff that they can relate to on a practical basis.¡± Parent ¡°All the other times we¡¯ve done stuff like this it¡¯s all fake, but this time it¡¯s actually the real thing.¡± Pupil ¡°Finding things that are speci?cally teaching the objectives of the LNF is dif?cult¡but this resource is catering for the LNF and is hitting the targets that we need to hit.¡± Teacher ¡°There¡¯s more children scooting and cycling to school and they¡¯re more aware of why it¡¯s a positive thing.¡± Teacher Developing Numeracy using Real Data
- 4. What have other teachers in Wales said about Sustrans¡¯ KS2 resource: ¡°A very useful resource to ?re the pupils¡¯ imagination.¡± ¡°Interesting and fun, real-life situations.¡± ¡°Great to have a resource that so clearly allows us to link health, ?tness and well-being to LNF objectives.¡± ¡°Great links to the LNF ensured that teachers felt they were covering the skills whilst taking part in alternative activities.¡± ¡°The resource was easy to dip into and link with other areas of the curriculum.¡± ¡°Great way of providing numeracy/literacy activities to environmental impact. Involves the pupils and shows how they impact the world around them.¡± ¡°The resources were very clear to follow and were very interesting and made learning ¡®real¡¯ for the children.¡± ¡°Tied in nicely with Eco-Schools and Healthy Schools objectives.¡± 149 schools in Wales evaluated Sustrans¡¯ KS2 resource. 91% said the activities had changed pupils¡¯ attitudes to travel. Also available Sustrans¡¯ FREE LNF resource for KS3 uses ?lms, images, short texts and interactive activities to develop all the oracy outcomes for Year 8 through a cross-curricular project about the school journey. All classroom resources included. Order your FREE copies of our LNF resources for KS2 and KS3 at: www.sustrans.org.uk/wales/curriculum Sustrans Cymru Sustrans is the charity that¡¯s enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. Our work makes it possible for people to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with better places and spaces to move through and live in. Our curricular-linked resources are designed by teachers to enable young people to form considered opinions and make informed choices about the way they travel. Find out more about our work with schools and young people in Wales at www.sustrans.org.uk/wales Contact us: Sustrans Cymru, 123, Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 5AE Tel: 029 2065 0602 Email: schoolswales@sustrans.org.uk