Edinburgh children learn about Capital's dramatic past during coronavirus lockdown

Witness Act of Union signing and join Jacobite Rising, youngsters urged
Mary Queen of Scots generated 60,000 social media engagementsMary Queen of Scots generated 60,000 social media engagements
Mary Queen of Scots generated 60,000 social media engagements

CHILDREN across the Capital are taking the chance to find out more about Edinburgh’s dramatic past while they are at home during the lockdown.

Edinburgh World Heritage says it has had a “huge” response after it decided to publish learning materials online for parents to help youngsters explore the city’s history.

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Last week, they were invited to take a closer look at what Edinburgh was like in the time of Mary Queen of Scots; this week, they are invited to witness the Act of Union, join the Jacobite Risings, see the construction of the New Town and learn about “a city of genius” which was home to some of the greatest thinkers of the time.

Edinburgh in the 1700s was known as a city of geniusEdinburgh in the 1700s was known as a city of genius
Edinburgh in the 1700s was known as a city of genius

Next week the focus will be on the Capital in the time of author and poet Robert Louis Stevenson.

Nick Hotham, head of external relations at Edinburgh World Heritage said there had been over 60,000 engagements on social media with the Mary Queen of Scots story.

And he estimated more than 1,000 people had used last week’s material at home.

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The learning packs, aimed ay P5-P7 pupils, were first produced last November but are being republished now because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Mr Hotham said: “We originally put together this material because primary school teachers said there was a gap in teaching about old Edinburgh.

“And there were three particular moments they wanted to teach - one was Mary Queen of Scots, then the 18th century looking at the Jacobite and the Georgians and then the Victorians, which we’ve described as the time of Robert Louis Stevenson.

“Originally the idea was to get kids to go out and explore the city and there are trails for each period and places to visit which bring those moments to life.

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“For the lockdown we’ve developed this which parents can do at home, looking at old maps, working out where the Castle is and where the Palace is on the old maps, looking at the population of the Old Town in the Victorian period and figuring out why the closes are called Fleshmarket Close and all the other colourful names they have. It’s ideal to do at home.”

Other activity ideas this week include pretending to be a TV reporter compiling a special report on Edinburgh in the late 1700s, the big changes since the building of the New Town and its effect on the Old Town.

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