SNH launches new Gaelic natural history packs

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has launched a new series of Gaelic educational
materials celebrating some of Scotland's most interesting species. The Mu
Dheadhinn packs feature worksheets, games and full colour posters for free
distribution to schools throughout Scotland. The packs provide teachers and
students with a ready made set of educational projects and activities exploring
natural history through the Gaelic language.

Mu Dheadhinn is aimed at Gaelic speakers and non-speakers alike. The posters
and worksheets tell the story of each species through images, fact boxes, poems,
art activities and drama. Pupils of Sgoil Gaidhlig Inbhir Nis, one of
Scotland’s two Gaelic medium schools were the first to try out the new
worksheets as they searched for Fungi in the woodland landscape around their
school grounds.

SNH’s Gaelic communications officer Shona Sloan, from South Uist and a native
Gaelic speaker led the youngsters on a seasonal hunt for Fungasan in the
Culduthel woods near the school. She said:

“The Mu Dheadhinn series has been developed to bring nature alive in the
classroom and to encourage children to observe and understand nature in the
outdoors. We have tried to put together an entertaining educational package
which will inspire the children’s imagination to explore the natural world
around them and learn about the life cycles of some of Scotland’s species such
as Water Voles, Red Squirrels, Great Crested Newts, Fungi, Freshwater Pearl
Mussels and Bumblebees.”

“Each pack is designed to bring students in close to the life and habitat of
the species using Gaelic language games and fun exercises. The worksheets also
highlight how much the traditional Gaelic names and terms add to our
understanding of the natural world through their colourful descriptions of
particular species.”

The complete Mu Dheidhinn series is also available for free download from
Scottish Natural Heritage’s website www.snh.org.uk