Clyde community

The people of Glasgow come from many places. 200 years ago there were less than 100,000 people in Glasgow.

The population peaked at 1,088,000 in the 1931 census and is now around 580,000 but growing once more. All of this involves migration of people to and from the towns and cities creating diverse and ever changing communities.

Clydebank was only created as a town in 1871 with the relocation of the J & G Thomson shipyard from Govan. Renfrew by comparison can trace its roots to the 11th century and became a Royal Burgh in 1313. Govan's history goes right back  to the 6th century as an early Christian settlement.

This theme looks at who lived and lives near the Clyde.

Lesson/project ideas

Title Short description Related curricular areas Age group
A letter from America Applying knowledge gained in Social Studies, learners research emigration, past and present, from the Clyde area - factors and impact - and produce a presentation of knowledge for parents and community. Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary
Advertising Clydeside living As an estate agent asks learners to create an advert which profiles the housing stock built as part of the regeneration of the Clyde Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary
Anti-smoking campaign Learners will research and organise an anti-smoking campaign in the school, creating a variety of resources which will reinforce the anti-smoking message Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, Technologies
Artwork - 150 years of River Clyde Through investigating artistic images of the Clyde over the last 150 years, learners will create an exhibition of their own artwork images of the Clyde today. Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary
Brochure of Clydeside visitor attractions Analyse availability of tourism and leisure facilities in order to produce a brochure for use by Glasgow's tourists/residents Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary
Capital punishment: the big debate Learners will prepare a speech which will convince people to vote for them to be the next American president on the argument for and against capital punishment. Languages, Religious and Moral Education Lower Secondary
Changes in land use on the Clyde Learners make a map of modern Clydeside with new developments highlighted and supporting information on how they will affect the local communities. Expressive Arts, Social Studies, Technologies
Clyde communities exhibition Learners plan, organise, publicise and host a 'Clyde communities' exhibition for invited guests. Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, Religious and Moral Education, Science, Social Studies Upper Primary
Community focused reporting Write a newspaper article on the developments of the Clyde Waterfront regeneration community. Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Create a study guide for the Five Pillars of Islam Young people will work in teams to research the Five Pillars of Islam and produce a study guide on the topic. Languages, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies Upper Secondary
CSI Glasgow Learners will be members of the 'CSI Glasgow' team, taking part in a set up investigation and provide a report for the police. Expressive Arts, Science, Social Studies Lower Secondary
Design a community housing project Plan an 'ideal' housing redevelopment project, based on subject learning and survey of their own community needs, and present to a panel of local community planning experts. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Design a kite Using 3D design processes and inspiration from Clyde waterfront, pupils will design and produce a 'windy city kite' which will be used as focus for a buddy challenge at primary induction day. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary
Designing an allotment Applying knowledge and understanding of geometry and finance in a project to design an allotment as landscaping companies with the task of designing an allotment in or nearby their school. Health and Wellbeing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Employment changes in the Clyde area Leanerrs chart links their family has with Clyde related industries, now and in the past and then present their findings at parents' evening. Social Studies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Exhibition of buildings for the 21st century Learners will critically evaluate new Clyde building designs and compare and contrast with buildings in their local community to produce a display/exhibition of their work on River Clyde buildings Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary
Exhibition on Glasgow's connections with the slave trade Pupils will create an art installation based on the theme of the slave trade for an exhibition to peers and local community. Expressive Arts, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies Lower Secondary
Exhibition on the Clydeside blitz The class will work individually and in groups to research, produce and present a display on the Clydeside blitz for an audience of parents and local community. Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary
Improving communities Learners will use their writing skills to make recommendations on how to improve local community to local MSP by letter. Languages, Social Studies Lower Secondary
Leisure fact file Produce a fact file on local area leisure facilities for use by other learners and their families using an enterprising approach in the project. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary
Local employment opportunities Research on job opportunities and preparation for mock interview with external 'panel members' which will culminate in developing an advice pack for school leavers to prepare them for the world of work. Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Social Studies Lower/Middle Scondary
Making a difference this Christmas Learners consider the true meaning of Christmas and the concept of giving by promoting a campaign to raise awareness and gathering resources for one of their choice. Languages, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies Upper Primary, All Secondary
Making a music CD and putting on a performance To apply both historical and musical knowledge in order to compose and record a piece of music which will be performed in the local community and a CD sold to fund raise Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary
Model making Learners study developments/regeneration in the city with input from developers, and present on how the changes will affect them and their communities. Expressive Arts, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
New Scots Exhibition on immigration patterns and influences for over 100 years on the areas surrounding the River Clyde. Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary, All Secondary
Our community Finding out about our local community and what this means for us now and in the future. Presentations from groups and display of work for community. Languages, Mathematics, Social Studies, Technologies Lower Secondary
Our local community around the Clyde Learners chart the changes in their local area through investigation by engaging with the local community and collate work to present at a community event Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Photographs of River Clyde 1858 - 2008 Investigate photographic images of the Clyde over the last 150 years. Create an exhibition of children's own images of the Clyde today. Expressive Arts, Languages, Technologies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Raising awareness of Clyde regeneration By using k/u of 2D design process to promote Clyde regeneration and taking inspiration from Clyde architecture, learners will produce a poster that will be judged by a panel of marketing experts. Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies, Technologies Lower/Middle Scondary
Scottish café Learners will apply their learning about local foods and traditional Scottish dishes and their ingredients, by serving traditional Scottish fayre in a Scottish-themed café event. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Technologies All Secondary
Scottish Christians Learners will work together as a whole class to organise and hold a fundraising event, in an attempt to contribute to continuing the valuable work of inspirational Scottish Christians. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies Middle Primary
Senior citizen concert Learners will learn how to perform and choose musical repertoire as part of content of the concert as well as project manage the event for local senior citizens involving cross curricular areas. Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies Upper Secondary
Shipbuilding: a drama performance Learners will produce a performance based on the rise and fall of shipbuilding in the Clyde. The performance will use music, drama and dance to convey powerful images of shipbuilding on the Clyde. Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary
Soup kitchen: helping others less fortunate Provide a service to benefit the community by creating, preparing and serving a nutritious soup, for which they seek sponsorship from supermarkets to make the soup, for homeless people near the Clydeside. Health and Wellbeing, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies Upper Secondary
Starting a Clydeside business Learners will identify a business idea and develop a business plan, including marketing strategies, in response to local housing demographic, and present these at a 'Dragon's Den' style finale. Expressive Arts, Languages, Social Studies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Story telling on history of local community Collaborative writing to tell a story about a set of characters based on images of Clydeside communities. Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Science, Social Studies, Technologies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Team building skills development Develop effective teams by setting a 'build a bridge' team building challenge - to enable effective teams to facilitate the primary induction day. Expressive Arts, Religious and Moral Education, Technologies Lower Secondary
The Tobacco Lords legacy Learners work in groups to find out how history has affected where we are today by looking at the legacy of the tobacco lords and present this as a display of work for parents. Social Studies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary
Waterfront regeneration and the economy Learners write an article for their school newspaper and website from their research in a social context into the local economy and how it affects people in the area. Languages, Social Studies Lower Secondary
You choose - it's your future! Pupils choose which career to pursue, where to live and what schools their children should attend. Expressive Arts, Languages, Mathematics, Social Studies Upper Primary, Lower Secondary

Also on this theme...
  • Clyde community support materials