ACTIVITIES Treasure Hunt Off To ScotlandFact file Surnames

Over the SeaAll About Me

GAMES Memory Word Search Snap


LIBRARY Word ListPicture Word List Book Of NumbersA Trip To ScotlandOor Wee Scuil

This booklet introduces the topic of surnames, including such things as first names, maiden names and family names. It familiarises pupils with official documents and public records, such as their own birth certificate. The booklet focuses on the origins of names investigating how they are derived from places, professions, and landmarks. It considers the closeness of Scotland to Ulster and the impact this has had on local names, many of which originate from Scotland . It encourages pupils to investigate where names of other pupils in their class originate from, representing results through graphs. It investigates prefixes and suffixes given to names in the Ulster-Scots and Irish traditions.

The booklet is based around a pupil managed research task about pupils' own (or a famous person's) surname, involving learning about the family history, constructing a family tree, investigating the coat of arms, and researching the family tartan. Pupils are encouraged to use a range of research techniques such as interviewing relatives, internet and library research, and collecting evidence from official documents, newspapers, and photographs for their project.

The booklet allows for expansion by pupils or teachers in a variety of ways, for example; Pupils could look at the use and significance of prefixes and suffixes in other countries around the world (e.g. Von, Van, De in Europe, or Al in the Middle East); Pupils could add relatives' occupations to the family tree and note social and economic changes through time; Pupils could undertake a historical investigation of a famous family (e.g. the British royal family), uncovering historical facts along the way; Pupils could consider the Family Tree as a concise, shorthand way of conveying information, and consider other ways of representing information, which could be useful as a revision tool and method of presenting complex information.

The 'Memory' game section of the website also relates to Ulster-Scots surnames, which could be used as a fun introduction to the topic.

Pupils are learning to: Understand the origins of surnames and how we are given our name. Understand that surnames can provide us with information about the past. Read and construct diagrams such as a family tree. Develop and practice research techniques e.g. interviews. Search for information using a range of sources e.g. the internet. Manage, sort and organise information. Plan and carry out an investigation, managing their own learning. Read and understand official documentation e.g. a birth certificate. Learn where local names, their own name and names of others come from. Understand the meaning of surnames and coats of arms. Learn about tartans and clans. Understand the term 'patronymics' and various forms of these. Communicate their knowledge in a variety of formats (e.g. text, diagrams, graphs, pictures). Download The Ulster-Scots surnames PDF. Right-click this link and choose the "Save Target As..." option to download this great interactive word document. Ulster-Scots Surnames Or download the PDF version Download PDF Download Workbook PDF

AT A GLANCE Class Year: P5 to P7 Curriculum Areas & Skills: •  The Arts •  Language and Literacy •  Mathematics and Numeracy •  Personal Development •  The World Around Us •  Managing Information •  Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making •  Being Creative •  Working With Others •  Self Management •  ICT Skills How did you use this section in the class room? Let us know by clicking the feedback button below.