Sporan is a service we offer Scottish primary schools learning Gaelic as an additional language. Sporan productions are delivered through Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s education service Fèisgoil which is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Sporan 2022/2023: Tilley Tales
This year primary school pupils who are learning Gaelic as an additional language (L2 or L3) were given the opportunity to watch a performance of Tilley Tales, when it went on tour with actors Fergus Munro and Peter MacPherson between 7 and 18 November. The play, based on traditional Gaelic stories, taught key vocabulary to children relating to the stories, and the play was very well received!
“This is the best thing I have ever done in school.” – P6 pupil, Craighill Primary
School Resources
Links to educational resources relating to the play, suitable for pupils P5-7, can be found below:
- Tilley Tales | Words & Phrases
- Tilley Tales | The Stories
- Tilley Tales | The Songs
- Tilley Tales | The Actors
Sporan 2021/ 2022: Mo Bheannachd Ort!
2021/22’s Sporan project was based on the life of Saint Columba. Mo Bheannachd Ort!, a Gaelic language film about the Saint, was produced this year through our Gaelic medium theatre-in-education project and in 2022 a version of the film with English subtitles was offered to school groups learning Gaelic as an additional language. A drama workshop based on Saint Columba was also offered to participating schools.
Links to educational resources linked to the film and resources about Saint Columba produced by Twinkl have been listed below.
For more information about Sporan contact Angus Macleod at Fèisean nan Gàidheal on angus@feisean.scot.
School Resources
- MBO! – Words and Phrases | Faclan agus Abairtean
- MBO! – Hotseating | Anns a’ Chathair Theth
- MBO! – Who am I? | Cò Mì?
- MBO! – Characters | Cunntas air Caractaran
- MBO! – Matching Cards (Vocabulary) | Cairtean-maidsidh (Briathrachas)
- MBO! – Columba & Gemman’s Ditty
Twinkl Resources for Schools related to Saint Columba
- Saint Columba | Naomh Calum Cille
- Saint Columba Time Line | Loidhne Tìde Chaluim Chille
- Highland Saints – Colouring in pages | Naoimh Ghàidhealach – Duilleagan Cur-dath
- Saint Columba Word Search | Naomh Calum Cille – Faclan-falaichte
Sporan 2018/ 2019: Fuadach nan Gàidheal (The Highland Clearances)
Interactive workshop ‘Fuadach nan Gàidheal’ (The Highland Clearances) was aimed at primary school pupils between P5 and P7 learning Gaelic as an additional language.
Drama Officer Angus MacLeod developed and toured the workshop in primary schools in the Inverness and Ross-shire area during September 2018. In the workshop the pupils learned about the impact of the Clearances on the people of the Highlands and the Gaelic language and culture and while doing so they had the opportunity to learn some Gaelic words and phrases.
The workshop featured a beautiful handmade tapestry especially made for the tour. The colourful tapestry combines a variety of references to the Highland Clearances and was created by Lizzie McDougall of The Highland Story Quilts.
The tour was delivered through Fèisean nan Gaidheal’s Fèisgoil education service and featured as part of the Blas Festival’s Schools and Communities Programme.
Sporan 2017/ 2018: Coinneach Odhar (The Brahan Seer)
In September 2017 ‘Coinneach Odhar’ was toured in Ross-shire and Inverness. The tour featured as part of the Blas music festivals education programme.
Drama Officer Angus Macleod developed and delivered the interactive workshop about the life of the seer, which was aimed primary school pupils between P5 and P7 learning Gaelic as an additional language.
Over an 11 day period between the 4th and 21st of September Angus visited 14 primary schools where the workshop was delivered to 34 school groups. Approximately 880 pupils attended these workshops. In March 2018 the workshop was peformed for a further three schools in the Loch Ness area.
Sporan 2014/ 2015: Obair Latha Tòiseachaidh (Getting Going)
Obair Latha Tòiseachaidh (Getting Going), was a dramatised workshop about the Great War, which toured schools in in Lochaber in 2015.
News about the Obair Latha Tòiseachaidh Tour
Languages in Curriculum for Excellence
Gaelic Learners: Experiences and Outcomes
Expressive Arts: Experiences and Outcomes
- I have experienced the energy and excitement of being part of an audience for other people’s performances
- My learning in, through and about the expressive arts is enhanced and enriched through partnerships with professional arts companies, creative adults and cultural organisations
Literacy: Experiences and Outcomes
I develop and extend my literacy skills when:
- I have opportunities to developing an understanding of what is special, vibrant and valuable about what is, for the majority of Highland pupils, their own culture and their language
- Extend and enrich my vocabulary through listening, talking, watching and reading.
