Pupils across Aberdeenshire now have the opportunity to learn about the impact of World War I on their north-east homes, thanks to a major new online resource.
Aberdeenshire Heritage Education Partnership has launched the Hard Vrocht Grun project to help secondary school students understand the war’s home front.
The learning pack, which is accessible online, covers everything from loss and commemoration to objections, exemptions and wartime poverty.
Last night councillor Isobel Davidson, chairwoman of Aberdeenshire Council’s education committee, said: “Hard Vrocht Grun brings two worlds together in an innovative way, linked by the stories of World War I and the toll it took on Aberdeenshire’s farming communities.
“I commend the project for its creativity as it really brings history to life and it will encourage learners to use different types of resources to increase their knowledge and build their skills of investigation.”
The Doric phrase Hard Vrocht Grun, meaning ‘hard wrought ground’, was chosen as a title as it was used by farmers at the time to describe working the land.
Organisers also believe it depicts the struggles faced by troops in battle.
David Atherton, an arts education officer with the local authority who helped put together the project, said: “The launch event included presentations by young people who had worked on themes contained in the resource with selected professional artists and class teachers.
“The work produced was both moving and memorable and there were many damp eyes in the audience following the display of shadow puppetry pieces that Inverurie pupils had produced with puppeteer Alison Monaghan.”
Using the supplied bundles of documents, newspaper cuttings and photos, teachers will encourage their students to do their own research with the materials and come back with a final report.
The project organisers have suggested pupils “get creative” with their reports, even suggesting role-playing a conscientious objection tribunal.
The project was created by the council’s cultural services team with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.