A CHALLENGE TO MORAY’S school-age children has been laid by PoppyScotland to explore their design skills as part of remembrance and reflection.
The PoppyScotland Learning Competition calls on designs under the theme ‘Poppy Places and Spaces’, and has been split into two age groups – P4-P7 and S1-S3.
The inspiration is that 2018 will be the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1 – and supports the question “Why is it important to remember?”
Dr Derek Patrick, the Learning Officer at PoppyScotland, said: “We want you to design a Poppy Place and Space – an area for remembrance and reflection.
“Designs can be produced by hand, by computer or using appropriate mixed media. It could be an outdoor or indoor space and we’re asking pupils to be as creative as possible. We want the youngsters to work together to submit an entry as a class.
“Remembrance can be controversial, and there is a recurring debate over the alleged politicisation of the Poppy. Consequently, it is more important than ever that young people are well informed and able to contribute to this ongoing dialogue.
“PoppyScotland does not seek to lead this debate in one direction or another; rather we facilitate as broad an understanding of the subject as possible among our nation’s young people.”
Last year’s competition, which set pupils the task of writing a letter home from the front-line of battle, proved hugely popular throughout the country with more than 1000 entries submitted.
Head of the judging panel in 2016/17 was television presenter and journalist Kirsty Wark – whose great uncle, Sergeant James Wark, served with the 47th Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery.
He survived the First World War, only to die in France of Spanish flu on November 29, 1918 – 18 days after the Armistice.
There will be one overall winner picked from a public vote of a shortlist of three in the primary school age category (P4-P7) and three in the secondary school age category (S1-S3). The overall winner will have the opportunity to build their Poppy Place or Space. This will be limited to a maximum cost budget of £1000. Runners-up will receive book tokens.
For more information on the competition, which runs until Friday, December 8, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/learning, or telephone Derek Patrick on 0141 338 6587. Winners will be announced in April 2018.