Patrons of Reading Activities: Great Scottish Scientists Project

This year, as Patrons of Reading at Northfield Academy, we had the pleasure of working on an exciting project, organised by librarian extraordinaire Mandy Wilson.

The project involved art and science teachers, and S1 pupils were set the task of creating comics about Great Scottish Scientists. Scotland has a rich history of invention and, for a small country, a surprisingly large number of famous discoveries to its name.

Allan Burnett (author of “Invented in Scotland”) delivered a talk to inspire the pupils, who then each gathered information on a scientist, engineer or mathematician of their choice.

We then delivered sessions with groups of pupils to help them get started on researching and developing their own comic, which they later finished working with the art department.

The pupils were encouraged to use photographs as reference or even for use as part of a collage, mixed in with their own drawings.

Mandy has created this excellent film about the project.

We then selected three of the best comics which where photographed to create the three short videos below. The soundtracks were produced by S1 pupils.

The whole project was made possible thanks to the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Fund.