Timesliders resource hub
These resources are for schools who have enrolled in the 2025 Timesliders programme taking place at Drum Castle, Garden and Estate.
Timesliders is an exciting new programme for primary schools, developed by the National Trust for Scotland to connect pupils and teachers with Trust properties. It involves powerful storytelling, live theatre and innovative digital technology.
Timesliders tells the story of two heroic schoolchildren – Kyla and Eden – who are travelling through Scotland’s past, present and future to stop the dastardly Professor Curran from rewriting Scotland’s history! With the help of a time-travelling device called SUSIE, Kyla and Eden visit buildings and landscapes cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, and join real characters from history in repairing the fractured timeline.
We invite your class to join Kyla and Eden’s adventures through a range of different experiences and activities, both at your school and at Drum Castle itself.
Download the teachers’ pack below for more information about the programme. We can provide this in an accessible format – please get in touch with us.
Teachers’ pack
pdf (13.75 MB)
Download a copy of our teachers’ pack for the 2025 Timesliders programme, which contains more information about the various components.
Theatre show
The Timesliders programme begins with an exciting theatre show – The Complete Natural History of Scotland in 30 minutes – which will be delivered at your school.
The show is the starting point of the programme and introduces the pupils to some of the Timesliders characters, as well as the National Trust for Scotland and our role in caring for Scotland’s natural heritage. Two short films on glaciers and food chains, explained during the show, can be accessed below.
Transcript
12,000 years ago ...
the sun melted the glaciers
and formed the mountains.
Then ...
the melted water
turned into clouds
and the rain
made things grow.
Transcript
The food chain
Brussels sprouts grow in the ground.
Caterpillars eat the sprouts.
Birds eat the caterpillars.
Foxes eat the birds.
Audio stories and related activities
This series of audio stories will introduce classes to Kyla and Eden, school pupils who travel through time across various National Trust for Scotland places. As they travel, Kyla and Eden try to thwart the evil Professor Curran and her sidekick Thrace who are trying to change Scotland’s history and landscape. With the help of the Supremely Upgraded Subspace Information Engine (otherwise known as SUSIE) – a time-travelling device the children have met in the theatre show – Kyla and Eden meet some famous, not-so-famous and downright infamous Scots from history as they try to stop the Professor.
The episodes each feature a different National Trust for Scotland place, including Culzean Castle, Glencoe and Drum Castle. Each episode runs for around 15 minutes. You should listen to these episodes after the theatre show, but before your trip to Drum Castle.
Each audio story has an accompanying activity sheet. Your pupils can complete this whilst they listen or as a follow-on activity. These activities are optional, and we have created them to assist your pupils’ engagement with the audio stories.
You can print the activity sheets, use them on a digital device, or use as a prompt to create your own activities.
We’d love to see what you produce. Email them to us or bring on your visit to Drum!
Episode 1: Kyla and Eden
Transcript
6 voices: Eden; Kyla; Mr Mackenzie; Professor Curran; Thrace; SUSIE
Scene 1
EDEN: Kyla, Kyla!
KYLA: What do you want?
EDEN: Will you sit with me on the bus?
KYLA: We’ve talked about this, Eden. You’ve got to sit with kids your own age.
EDEN: But …
KYLA: No buts. Now, where’s your bag? Mum’ll be livid if you lose that. It’s got your lunch in it.
EDEN: Fine … it’s over by Mr Mackenzie.
KYLA: Well, go and get it. We’ll be leaving in any minute.
MR MACKENZIE – Right, children. I need you to line up now. The bus is here to take us to the castle. Those of you who’ve been before will need to pair up with someone who hasn’t, please.
EDEN: Please, Kyla. We’ve got to pair up. I haven’t been before.
KYLA: Fine. Just don’t annoy me, OK?
Scene 2
PROF. CURRAN: Thrace! Thrace! Where are you?
THRACE: Coming, Your Magnificence!
PROF. CURRAN: Thrace!
THRACE: Here, Your Magnificence.
PROF. CURRAN: Ah. There you are. Right. Have you calibrated the temporal stabilisers with the flux capacitor power crystals so we can action a shift in the continuum?
THRACE: Um. What?
PROF. CURRAN: Have you fixed the time machine?
THRACE: Oh, yes. The time machine is fixed.
PROF. CURRAN: Excellent. Now it’s time for us to put Operation Stopwatch into action.
THRACE: Brilliant! Just one quick question …
PROF. CURRAN: Yes?
THRACE: What is Operation Stopwatch?
PROF. CURRAN: For the thousandth time, Operation Stopwatch is my masterplan to move through time, changing the course of Scotland’s history, forever!
THRACE: Ah, that Operation Stopwatch.
Scene 3
EDEN: So, where are we going then? What’s this castle?
KYLA: This is the annual school trip to Culzean Castle. You only get to go if you’re in certain years.
EDEN: What’s so interesting about a boring old castle?
KYLA: It’s not boring! There’s lots to do there.
EDEN: I’d rather be back at school playing football.
KYLA: Well, that’s probably better. I wouldn’t want you to get scared.
EDEN: I wouldn’t get scared! Scared of what?
KYLA: Oh, just the ghosts.
EDEN: Ghosts? You never said there were ghosts!
KYLA: You’re more interested in football, so I didn’t think you’d be up for meeting any ghosts.
EDEN: I am SO up for meeting ghosts. I love ghosts. I’ve always loved ghosts.
KYLA: Well, if you’re quiet for the rest of the journey, you may get to meet some when we get to the castle!
EDEN: But … !
KYLA: But only if you’re quiet.
EDEN: Mmmmmmm.
KYLA: That’s better. Now, don’t say anything until we get there.
Scene 4
THRACE: Trouble! There’s trouble, Your Magnificence. Trouble! Trouble!
PROF. CURRAN: What are you talking about, you fool?
THRACE: Trouble!
PROF. CURRAN: Where?
THRACE: There.
PROF. CURRAN: Where?
THRACE: There!
PROF. CURRAN: What? Thrace …
THRACE: Yes, Your Supreme Wonderfulness.
PROF. CURRAN: What is the trouble?
THRACE: Well, there appears to be – and I’m only trying to give you the heads-up here – a bus full of …
PROF. CURRAN: Yes?
THRACE: Well, what are they called? Those small things …
PROF. CURRAN: (gasps) Elves!
THRACE: No, not shelves. You know, the little things. They’re really annoying. They go to school, eat sweets …
PROF. CURRAN: Children!
THRACE: That’s it, Your Splendiferousness. Children! You really are clever. That’s why you’re the boss.
PROF. CURRAN: Thrace, there are not meant to be any children at the castle today. It is meant to be closed.
THRACE: Well, according to the schedule they’ve opened especially for the school. That’s why I came running up and shouting ‘Trouble! Trouble! Trouble!’
PROF. CURRAN: Yes, yes, well, well. This means we will have to step up our plans for Operation Stopwatch.
THRACE: Excellent! Now, what was that again?
PROF. CURRAN: (tuts) Fool.
Scene 5
EDEN: Woah! This place is so cool. Look at it, Kyla – it’s huge!
KYLA: Better than playing football?
EDEN: Much better.
MR MACKENZIE – Right, children – don’t wander too far away. We’ll be meeting our guide soon.
KYLA: Make sure you’ve … Eden? Eden! Eden! Come back here!
Scene 6
PROF. CURRAN: Thrace!
THRACE: Yes, Your Majesticals?
PROF. CURRAN: Are we up to full power yet?
THRACE: Very nearly.
PROF. CURRAN: Well, hurry up. We’re going to be late.
THRACE: How can we be late? We’re going back in time.
PROF. CURRAN: Are you arguing with me?
THRACE: (gulps) Absolutely not.
PROF. CURRAN: I didn’t think you would be. Now, give the machine as much power as you can.
THRACE: Which machine?
PROF. CURRAN: The time machine, you fool!
THRACE: Oh yes, that machine.
Scene 7
KYLA: Eden? Eden? Where are you? You’re in so much trouble when I find you.
EDEN: Boo!
KYLA: Argh! Eden, why did you run off like that?
EDEN: I wanted to see the castle.
KYLA: We’ve got to get back before the rest of them realise we’re not there.
EDEN: Or … we could go exploring on our own. Look! There’s a door.
KYLA: So?
EDEN: Doors are meant to be opened!
KYLA: No, Eden. Some doors are meant to be shut, locked, never opened and walked away from. This one especially.
EDEN: Why this one?
KYLA: Because it says ‘Do Not Open’ on it, in big red letters.
EDEN: Yeah, but grown-ups are always saying things like ‘Don’t do this’, ‘Don’t touch that’, ‘Stop playing with it, you’ll break it’. They don’t really mean it. Come on!
KYLA: They do mean it. Eden!
EDEN: Kyla, it’s a staircase.
KYLA: Great, a really old staircase. Let’s go!
EDEN: I’m going to have a look.
KYLA: Eden, no! Eden, you’re going to get us in so much trouble.
EDEN: It’s really dark.
KYLA: Well, what does that tell you?
EDEN: That the lights aren’t on?
KYLA: No, it means that we’re not meant to be in here.
EDEN: Hang on, I think I can see some light. It’s right down at the bottom.
KYLA: Eden, can you hear that?
EDEN: What?
KYLA: I’m not sure. It sounds like some sort of machine.
EDEN: Oh yeah, I can hear it too. Maybe it’s the ghosts!
KYLA: Don’t be silly! There’s no such thing as ghosts.
EDEN: But you said …
KYLA: Shhhhhh! Look!
EDEN: What?
KYLA: Woah! Look at that! It’s like some sort of secret underground lair. Whose do you think it is?
EDEN: Maybe Batman’s?
KYLA: Batman isn’t Scottish! And anyway, he lives in Gotham.
EDEN: Oh yeah.
KYLA: Look, there’s somebody coming. Quick, hide!
EDEN: Where?
KYLA: Anywhere! Just hide. Look, there’s a desk. Let’s hide under there.
THRACE: So, remind me why are we travelling back in time again?
PROF. CURRAN: I shall explain this only once more to you, Thrace. We are travelling back in time to a number of different locations to alter the course of Scottish history. I have a fool-proof plan to bring about changes that will make me the ruler of all of Scotland. If I have to explain it to you once more, I shall take you so far back in time you’ll meet the dinosaurs.
THRACE: Does Scotland have dinosaurs?
KYLA: Of course Scotland had dinosaurs! Didn’t you learn that in school?
THRACE: Argh!
EDEN: Kyla, what are you doing?
PROF. CURRAN: Children! Thrace! Grab them!
THRACE: Come here!
EDEN: Argh!
PROF. CURRAN: Grab them, Thrace!
THRACE: They’re so fast! I can’t catch up with them!
KYLA: Stop it! Let us go!
EDEN: Let us go immediately.
THRACE: Or what?
KYLA: Or we’ll tell our teacher about all the horrible things you’re doing.
THRACE: Um, boss?
PROF. CURRAN: What?
THRACE: Should I let them go? They said they would tell if I didn’t.
PROF. CURRAN: Of course not, you fool.
THRACE: But I don’t want to get in any trouble with a teacher.
PROF. CURRAN: Thrace, you can get into trouble with a teacher or you can get into trouble with me.
THRACE: Fair enough. You two are going nowhere.
PROF. CURRAN: How did you two get in?
KYLA: We came down the stairs.
PROF. CURRAN: [mocking repeat] What? Through the door that says ‘Do Not Open’?
EDEN: Yes.
THRACE: I told you we should have put a lock on it.
PROF. CURRAN: Silence, you fool!
THRACE: Sorry.
PROF. CURRAN: Tell me, how much of my plan did you hear?
KYLA and EDEN: Nothing!
THRACE: So, you’re saying that you didn’t hear anything about the plan for the Professor to go back to various points in Scotland’s history using our time machine device, and change the course of events so that eventually the Professor could rule all of Scotland?
KYLA and EDEN: Um, no?
THRACE: Phew! No problem then, boss – they don’t know anything.
PROF. CURRAN: Thrace?
THRACE: Yep?
PROF. CURRAN: Shut up!
THRACE: Righto.
PROF. CURRAN: I don’t have time to deal with you two now. I need to make a start on Operation Stopwatch.
THRACE: Careful, boss – you don’t want to give away the plan!
PROF. CURRAN: So, you two will stay here until we get back. Then I will transport you back in time and leave you stranded where you can do no harm. Ha ha ha ha!
THRACE: Ha ha ha ha ha!
PROF. CURRAN: Thrace, what are you doing?
THRACE: Joining in in the evil villain laughter?
PROF. CURRAN: Well, don’t!
THRACE: Sorry.
PROF. CURRAN: Fetch me the time machine remotes. One for me and one for you.
THRACE: Time machine remotes. On it!
PROF. CURRAN: I will make the final preparations and then nothing can stop us. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
KYLA: [whispers] Eden?
EDEN: Yes?
KYLA: I think I can get free. We’ve got to stop these two from changing history. If we don’t, then all my homework will be wrong!
EDEN: How are we going to stop them?
KYLA: I’m going to steal the remotes so they can’t use the machine.
EDEN: OK, can you untie me as well, please?
KYLA: Yes, but don’t look like you’re free. Hold still.
THRACE: Right, I’ve got the remote, boss. How do they work?
PROF. CURRAN: They’re pre-programmed with all the destinations and dates that we need to travel back to in order for my plan to work. And just for you, Thrace, I have loaded onto the device the entire knowledge of everything in history, to help you blend in. Just press that button and ask it a question. Watch. SUSIE, is Thrace unbelievably stupid?
SUSIE: Yes, Thrace is unbelievably stupid.
THRACE: Wow! This thing is good. I am unbelievably stupid. Why’s it called SUSIE?
PROF. CURRAN: It stands for Supremely Upgraded Subspace Information Engine. SUSIE for short. It knows everything there is to know about anything.
THRACE: So, which button do you press to time travel?
PROF. CURRAN: The big green one there.
THRACE: Ah! The one that says Time Travel on it?
PROF. CURRAN: I’ve made it so simple that a monkey can use it.
THRACE: I certainly can.
PROF. CURRAN: Right, you meddling children. I shall see you later on.
KYLA: Now, Eden!
THRACE: Hey! Give that back! It’s mine!
PROF. CURRAN: No, stop! Come on!
THRACE: Give it!
KYLA: Eden, come on. Let’s run!
PROF. CURRAN: After them!
Scene 8
EDEN: Kyla, we’ve got nowhere left to run. We’re trapped.
PROF. CURRAN: Ha! Indeed, you are. So, hand over the device and I might let you live.
KYLA: You’re wrong.
PROF. CURRAN: Oh really? And why is that then?
KYLA: Hold on tight to me, Eden.
EDEN: Why? What are you going to do?
KYLA: Either something really brave or really stupid. There’s one more place to go. We’re not entirely trapped.
PROF. CURRAN: And where do you think you can go then?
KYLA: The past!
PROF. CURRAN: What? …
THRACE: Where did they go?
PROF. CURRAN: They’ve gone back in time. I don’t believe it. This is why I hate children. They always ruin everything.
THRACE: What are we going to do, boss?
PROF. CURRAN: We are going to follow them through time and get that device back. Then we’re going to make them wish they’d never messed with us. Thrace, come here!
THRACE: Righto.
PROF. CURRAN: Hold on tight. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Your Timesliders team
pdf (58.837 KB)
Your class can draw their own Timesliders team to help defeat Professor Curran! Their team can be the full class or a smaller group of classmates.
Complete the crossword
pdf (20.399 KB)
Listen carefully to find out the names of the main Timesliders characters and complete the crossword. Pupils can also name their own Timesliders team and think about why they’re so good at working together.
Practicalities
Our schools coordinator will be in touch to arrange a date for your visit, which will take place in May–June 2025.
Parking
- If you’re arriving by coach, follow the signs to the car park beside the main car park.
- Coaches should park in the designated coach bays.
- Parking for schools taking part in Timesliders is free of charge.
- There is accessible parking in the main car park area.
Toilets
- There are toilets (including an accessible toilet) in the castle courtyard.
- There are no Changing Places toilets at Drum.
Lunches
- There is no indoor lunch space, but we have an outdoor shelter where classes can have their snack and lunch.
- We will provide large storage boxes where lunches can be stored whilst you’re undertaking activities.
- As these boxes are not secured, we’d advise against pupils bringing valuables with them.
Inclement weather
- Your session will take place indoors in the castle and outdoors on the Drum estate.
- During periods of inclement weather, the outdoor trails and play park can become muddy.
- Please dress appropriately for your visit.
Teacher familiarisation pre-visit
- All teaching staff participating in the Timesliders programme are encouraged to attend this event at Drum Castle. This will be a great opportunity to find out more about the programme, tour the spaces, meet some of the property staff and ask any questions.
- We will also provide information on how we can help support your pupils with additional support needs.
- Refreshments will be provided.
- Our schools coordinator will be in touch to confirm the date in due course.
Get in touch
Thank you so much for using these resources, and we hope you enjoy the adventures!
Accessible formats of all downloads are available on request.
If you have any questions, please contact our Schools Coordinator as below:
Email: drum@nts.org.uk
Tel: 01330 700334
Address: Drum Castle, Garden & Estate, Drumoak, Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 5EY
Credits
Created by Ben Humphrey for the National Trust for Scotland
Written by William Douglas, T G Hofman and Ben Humphrey
Kyla – Carys Jones
Eden – Hannah Beth Jackson
Professor Curran – Gillian Haye
Thrace – Jack Tait Anderson
SUSIE – Jonathan Darby
Other roles are played by members of the cast.
Director – Ben Humphrey
Sound Engineer – Richard Wood
Producer – Tortive Studios
Recorded at The Old Smithy Studios