Spellbinding, seafaring learning voyages
Ahoy there! Masters, Midshipmen and Mini Cabin Crew! It’s all aboard The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool this school year for an exciting range of Discovery Visits and curriculum-linked workshops, designed to engage and immerse students in our seafaring past and in the lives of people who have sailed our ships through the centuries. Discovery Visits are teacher-led visits including all the great activities and exhibitions here. They can be combined with workshops or booked separately. They offer pupils the chance to explore the mighty HMS Trincomalee, the oldest warship still afloat in Europe, along with the busy, recreated 18th century quayside. Groups can discover what life was really like for sailors in the Fighting Ships exhibit and enjoy wonderful fun and games on the Pirate Play Ship. A range of highly engaging, interactive workshops are offered for KS1 and KS2 (35 pupils per workshop maximum). Each covers Mmany different topics are covered within these workshops, and large groups can do multiple workshops throughout their visitand multiple classes can visit at once. Three new workshops have been introduced this year and bespoke sessions can be created for older students. Citizen sailors of World War II the Second World War – KS2 Why did ordinary people choose to join the Royal Navy and what was it like fighting on a ship in the Second World War? Pupils experience the extraordinary, everyday life of a sailor during this time. Exploration and Navigation across the ages – KS2 From the sun navigation of Viking explorers to modern GPS systems, children learn how navigation of the vast oceans of the world has changed through time. Young Nelsons to Star Captains – KS1 & KS2 Pupils are recruited as ship’s boys on board a warship. Can they work their way up to become Ship’s Captain? Or will they be scrubbing decks for ever? A fun, immersive experience. Pirates v The Navy! – KS1 & KS2 How did the Royal Navy handle pirates? Discover their tactics, hear the tall-ish tales of real pirates and learn how to handle a cutlass and flintlock pistol. All Hands on Deck – KS1 & KS2 Live a day in the life of a sailor in this action-packed experience, mixing fun activities with role play on the atmospheric lower deck of HMS Trincomalee. Ship Shape and a Square Meal! KS1 & KS2 Did sailors really eat maggots? What about their five a day? Discover grim details of sailors’ health and wellbeing on board Trincomalee. Discovery Visits are £4.50 per pupil, Workshops are an additional £50 (based on 35) More information at http://nmrn.org.uk/hartlepool
We must encourage young people’s curiosity in science and history
Beth Stone, Head of Learning and Audiences at the Natural History Museum, discusses with QA Education editor Victoria Galligan how the iconic venue inspires the next generation of STEM experts… Q&A with the Natural History Museum Can you give an example of a lesson/visit where a school surprised you? We’re constantly surprised by the students that attend our workshops. Recently we had KS1 students attend our Super Stegosaurus workshop, who had only recently transitioned from nursery. We were delighted to see how engaged they were on the concept of fossils and palaeontology and their use of the complex vocabulary at such a young age. This means the workshop experience often doubles as a summary of the unit they’ve just been taught, or it is used as a springboard to introduce a new unit. Similarly, the creation of pre and post-visit resources are hugely beneficial to students as it means our workshops can be used to support student’s project or as a knowledge testing exercise. What should schools be doing to ensure the scientists of the future are being challenged? Scientists of the future face numerous challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, food and water security and how to supply our global energy needs – all of which have been exacerbated by climate change and our growing populations. It’s therefore paramount that we encourage young people’s curiosity and interest in science and natural history as they’ll be the ones continuing to tackle these challenges in the future. Schools therefore have a huge role to play here and this is why we’re passionate about working with educators to instil what we call ‘scientific habits of mind’. This idea is about encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, visualising and modelling – skills that are essential in science but also crucial skills for the world of work. We see it as our job as a museum to empower educators and students to develop these behaviours and skills and broaden their understanding of science and the natural world. One of the ways in which schools can maintain this curiosity for science in their students, is through technology. For example, our partnership with Dell allows us to support and inspire younger generations with technology-supported learning. Our Dippy’s Naturenauts app helps spark curiosity about the past, present and future by setting them various explorative tasks that encourage them to explore the natural world. We hope that through our workshops, museum experience and through our technology partnership, we can attract a wider diversity of students to STEM subjects and highlight just how many careers the world of science supports. After all, we don’t have a lot of time in which to make a difference, so there’s a real sense of urgency in tackling this now. Do you feel primary science should be tested at Years 2 and 6 like maths and English? The most important thing for us is that science, remains as important as key subjects such as English and maths. We want to help support all teachers, especially those that perhaps don’t have a specialism in science and are therefore less confident, so they can encourage their students to develop scientific habitats of mind and go on to be scientifically literate adults. By encouraging students to develop a healthy scepticism, and by giving them the ability to understand evidence and analyse its value, we can help them develop useful life skills. In order to do this, we’ve found that enquiry-based learning is great at building students’ confidence. However, students are still being put off science due to out of date stereotypes. Recent research from King’s College found that students can be put off by the brainy image of scientists as they don’t think they are clever enough to excel. We therefore need to challenge this typecast at a much earlier stage of development – as if we wait until secondary school, we’ll have already lost a great many potential scientists, researchers and experts. For more information on booking a trip to the Natural History Museum, see nhm.ac.uk
The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Co Ltd
A traditional steam train, taking passenger on a unique journey to the tip of Lake Windermere. The perfect addition to your Lake District adventure. Established in 1973 The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway is a family run business in the heart of the Lake District. The track which passengers travel upon today was a former Furness Railway branch line, initially used to transport coal and iron ore, bobbins, dye, gunpowder and much more, in and out of the Leven Valley, as well as a booming trade in tourist traffic to visit Windermere by Lake Steamer. The industry and tourist visitors declined and by the late 1960’s the railway was shut. The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Co Ltd was formed to re-open the line and with the help of many volunteers it succeeded and the line re-opened to tourist in May 1973. Today the company are very proud of their lovingly restored and maintained fleet of steam locomotives, which are available to view in the engine shed. Haverthwaite railway is home to a magnificently renovated and working Fairburn Class 4 MT tank engines, along with another under restoration as we speak – the only remaining locos of this type to survive. Different engines are used throughout the season to haul passengers through the tranquil scenery of the Leven Valley. The train heaves it’s passengers up the steeply graded line, leisurely transporting guests to Lakeside Station, where connections are available with Windermere Lake Cruises. Lakeside railway station neighbours the Lakeside pier making it an easy transition from the steam trains to the steam boats. You can also combine the steam train journey with other local attractions in the surrounding area, making it an exciting day to explore the Lake District. These include Windermere Lake Cruises, The World of Beatrix Potter, Lakeland Motor Museum, The Lakes Aquarium, Brockhole, Rydal Mount and Holker Hall. Escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life when you come to the railway, you are transported back in time to a place of nostalgia and calm. The beautiful surroundings at Haverthwaite Station entice guests to stop a while. At the Victorian Station visitors can spend a while in the comfortable and friendly surroundings of the Station Restaurant, serving quality home-cooked refreshments. They use local suppliers whenever possible and have their own speciality, the homemade fruit scone, served with freshly whipped cream and fruit jam. They really are scrumptious! The station is sheltered by British woodland, providing a beautiful canopy filled with wildlife, but also, nestled behind the gift shop is a children’s adventure playground. Adults can relax in the safe, peaceful environment while their children will love to discover the climbing structures, nets, slides and much more! From the playground is a magical short walk, winding through ancient trees, it’s a small climb to the summit but well worth it to experience the glorious vistas of the surrounding area. On a clear day views as far as the ‘Hoad Monument’ a local landmark of the closest town Ulverston can be seen. https://www.lakesiderailway.co.uk
Viking School Visits
Most schools these days are used to working with external musicians, sports coaches, and dance teachers. But what about using an external visitor to help with your history topic? If you want a WOW factor to your history topic, trips out of school are the obvious way to go; there are many excellent museums that cater to schools. However, trips can also be expensive, a logistical nightmare and you run the risk of losing children in the gift shop or having them run off to look at the Egyptians when they are supposed to be concentrating on Greeks. Using an external history visitor can really engage the children in a way a museum can’t. Children can handle the artefacts, try their hand at crafts, be immersed through role play and drama, and really get a feel for life in the period. The workshop will also cover more topics and at greater depth than you can in lessons. But how do you know you’re getting the best for your budget? The workshop leader should be an expert in their period. They should wear authentic period costume to present workshops and bring a variety of props, artefacts and activities for use throughout the day. Here’s five easy steps to follow when choosing a historical visitor: Read the website Thoroughly checking out their website should give you a feel for the level of professionalism and you should see some photographs of the person in costume. Ask for references Even if there are testimonials on their website, reputable history visitors will be more than happy to provide you with referees from schools they have previously worked with. 3 Check the details Is the visitor insured? Will they provide a risk assessment and invoice? At what point is your booking guaranteed? Do you have to pay a deposit? Is the visitor DBS checked? Be prepared to pay While there are a few people who will visit your school for free, most people will ask a fee plus expenses. As with all things in life, you gets what you pays for! Costumes, artefacts, and resources all take time and money to prepare and maintain, and overheads must be covered. Speak to or email the visitor personally If the visitor is part of an agency, speak to the person who will be visiting your school. It’s important to get a feel for who that person is and if they will be right for your group. Hopefully these tips will help you to choose the best history visitor for your topic. A good workshop can fire children’s imagination for weeks afterwards; a bad one can be dull, uninspiring and a waste of both time and money! https://vikingschoolvisits.com
Little Owl Farm
Little Owl Farm is a family run business owned by Mr John Beck and Miss Cindy Bramhall. We are located on Lower Ship Farm in Grains Bar, Oldham, OL1 4SX. We opened our doors in March 2016 offering our visitors the benefit of local access to the countryside and the opportunities we have to offer; a safe environment to engage in hands-on activities with exposure to the living environment. Our animals are housed both inside and outside and our friendly ducks, chickens, and peacocks roam freely about the area. We have a variety of animals to meet and feed including rabbits, pigs, goats, sheep, tortoises, fish, donkeys and owls. Tawny Owl Toilets provides the necessary hand washing facilities and is wheel chair and push chair accessible. Cindy’s Café serves locally sourced fresh food and drink options with indoor seating and our outdoor eating area boasts a picturesque view of the countryside. The view is equally impressive from our picnic area. The parking area has ample room for all vehicles (ie car, van, mini bus, coach, tractor) to negotiate safely. We advise for anyone with additional needs to please call ahead to arrange for safe vehicle access via the footpath. During term time we offer educational group visits to include curriculum based sessions lead by a qualified teacher. We work closely with teaching staff to ensure that the content relates to current topics and key learning outcomes are met. Our School Visitor’s Pack includes Risk Assessments and we provide additional topic related handouts for students to complete in review of their session at Little Owl Farm. Miss Bain (Reception Teacher, St Mary’s RC Primary, Littleborough) says; “We have been returning to Little Owl Farm for the last few years and find it the perfect setting for our annual Early Years trip & the children love it! The owners Cindy and John are extremely personable and always offer a warm welcome. They work closely with you to plan the details of your day and always offer a wide range of activities.” During the school holidays we offer themed activities and crafts, Forest School Taster Sessions and of course, the opportunity to meet all our farmyard friends! Please visit our Facebook page for our schedule of activities and events. Little Owl Farm aims to provide a safe, friendly and FUN opportunity for all ages and abilities to learn about the countryside, small animals, agriculture and the importance of sustainability of the local environment. Find out more
School Trips With LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
‘Engaging’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘fantastic’: just three of the words teachers have used to describe their school trip experiences at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort’s ethos is all about allowing pupils of all ages to engage and explore through creative and imaginative play. The Resort’s offer of theme park rides and attractions combined with interactive educational workshops makes it a strong contender for school teachers seeking somewhere engaging to take a school trip. The resort is an exciting venue for learning outside the classroom and most suitable for Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4 pupils – although there are experiences available for pre-school and younger school pupils (particularly in the DUPLO® Valley area where children can enjoy Brickville, where the landscape is designed for exploring and playing). Schools can use a National Curriculum Map to navigate their way around the resort, making sure they tie in all of their learning objectives whilst they enjoy over 55 rides and attractions. Other top attractions for visiting school groups at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort include Miniland, where model scenes feature nearly 40 million LEGO® Bricks, and the LEGO® 4D Movie Theatre – a 4D film with wind, snow, fire and lighting effects. A LEGO® Brick Submarine underwater adventure ride is also bound to attract the attention of pupils, so don’t miss experiencing the Atlantis Submarine Voyage. Educational offerings Pupils visiting the park can also partake in one of 12 curriculum focused workshops where hands-on learning is key. All of the workshops are led by the LEGO® Education Academy Certified Education Team. This means that all workshops are finely tuned to complement the National Curriculum – with a LEGO® twist. Pupils can learn about STEM, English, Art, Geography and History to name but a few. The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort also provides a number of resources on its website to help teachers prepare for their school trip. Teachers can download permission slips to send home to parents and access a Risk Assessment form. There is also information regarding Teacher to Student Ratios and Ride Height & Age Restrictions to assist in pre-planning for the day. 2019: What’s in store for pupils? English, Geography History, Business Studies and the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) will be covered in the 12 National Curriculum workshops available to school groups next year. New will be the LEGO® EcoPower workshop, available to Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils. This workshop ties in to Science and Geography. At 45 minutes long, pupils will explore the benefits and negatives of renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Pupils will then get to build a LEGO® Wind Turbine which when activated will actually create electricity! Other examples of workshops that are suitable for Primary school pupils include: The Dragon’s Tale: A Design & Technology workshop for Key Stage 1 that sees pupils design and construct a LEGO® Brick castle for Ollie the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort Dragon! Computer Design and Control: Students will build and programme their very own interactive Robot using the state of the art LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0 Sets and Software. LEGO® Robotics: Pupils complete a series of challenges with the LEGO Education MINDSTORMS® robots. LEGO® Forces:This Science workshop investigates how forces such as Gravity and Friction can affect the movement of a Balloon Powered LEGO® model car. LEGO® Gears and Pulleys: This session focuses on how gears and pulleys work together to move objects including fairground themed LEGO® models. LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort: Jamie Lawrence – Schools Executive 01753 626236 activelearning@legoland.co.uk www.LEGOLAND.co.uk/Schools
Learn By Doing At Kidzania London
Bring the school curriculum to life with a school trip to KidZania London in 2019 KidZania London – the indoor city run by kids at Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush – is excited to announce its action packed 2019 programme, boasting a series of special events for schools who visit KidZania, helping to bring the school curriculum to life. Activities include: Careers Fair (Wednesday 23rd – Friday 25th January) A three-day event where industry professionals run a series of talks to provide valuable insight into a whole host of careers. The fair will develop the experience of learning by allowing school children to discover ‘a day in the life of’ individuals from a range of brands, including leading partners such as British Airways, Ryman National Enterprise Challenge, The Alan Turing Institute and Fire Education Department. The fair includes: Free workshops around the city Meet and greets with real-life professionals Goodies and information to take away World Book Day (Wednesday 6th March – Sunday 10th March) A three-day celebration of literature, reading and writing, World Book Day will feature discussions, workshops and challenges that include cover design, story-writing, and character building workshops. Promoting a love of reading and various literature-based activities and challenges based around Key Stage 1 and 2 of the English curriculum, the World Book Day programme covers various topics including distinguishing between fact and fiction. Science Week (Wednesday 13th – Sunday 17th March) Dedicated to bringing Science to life, Science Week features a variety of activities designed with Key Stage 1-3 Science National Curriculum in mind. Children can become experts in veterinary care at the Pet Wellbeing Centre, where they will learn to identify and address animal welfare needs, as well as good pet nutrition in Lily’s Kitchen and even perform surgery on a patient in PDSA’s Pet Hospital. Surgeons at the KidZania Hospital will learn how to save a life in the operating theatre. Using specialist medical equipment and tools, the team of young doctors will play an important role in helping patients work towards a quick and healthy recovery. Whilst learning the function of different body parts, organs, survival needs and good health, students will become an expert of the human body. Maths Celebration: It All Adds Up! (May 2019) Preparing children to manage finances in later life, Math Month focuses on teaching children how to earn, spend and save their KidZo currency, plus special Geometry Degrees are available at the KidZania National University. Children who visit the city are given 50 KidZos upon entry and can work various jobs to earn and spend as they pleas, teaching them money management. STEM Fair (June 2019) In collaboration with leading Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths organisations and businesses, STEM week offers a four day programme of activities designed to support key skills needed for Key Stage 1-3 learning.
Bank of England Museum
Saving and spending money and the prices that we pay for goods and services are such a key part of all our lives that it is never too soon for young people to learn about them. The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 to its modern role in the economy. Learn through a variety of interactive exhibits such as banknote jigsaw, a roller ball game and a virtual boat to set monetary policy to keep inflation on a stable course. Other activities include some safe cracking and a genuine gold bar which can be held! The Bank of England Museum’s education programme is designed to support aspects of teaching in several curriculum areas for key stages 2 and above. It includes free cinema presentations tailored to suit the age and interests of the group (booking essential). Pounds & Pence (60 minutes) Key stage 2 and 3 – Encourages pupils to think about the value of money and prices, and their spending and saving decisions. Keeping on an even keel (60 minutes) Key stage 4 and above – Explains what the Bank does to keep inflation low, maintain trust in its banknotes and keep the financial system stable. All presentations are free of charge and must be booked in advance by emailing education@bankofengland.co.uk or calling 0203 461 5545. For more information visit www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
Birmingham Botanical Gardens – an urban oasis! Be inspired by nature!
Why is white chocolate white, but milk chocolate brown? How do pineapples grow? Why is biofuel so important? From which plant can both houses and clothing be made? Why do cactus plants look so strange? What is a tenrec? Find out the answer to these questions and many more, as you explore our 4 spectacular glasshouses and 15 acres of flourishing gardens. Here at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, we offer an educational visit like no other. You can explore our unique Glasshouses and experience an authentic rainforest adventure! Then, walk straight from experiencing hot and humid tropical conditions into a desert climate and observe the changes to plants due to the seasons. Then, wander down to the Alpine Yard and Rock Garden to marvel at the beautiful flora found on the Tundra. The Gardens contain over 7,000 different plants from all around the world. Experience the humidity and smells of the Tropical House, look (but don’t touch!) with wonder at the carnivorous plants in the Subtropical House, admire the fruits and flowers of the Mediterranean House, and marvel at the bizarre and fascinating ways that cacti have developed to protect themselves in the harsh environment of the world’s deserts (Arid House). Don’t forget to allow plenty of time, in addition, to wander around the stunning grounds seeing the giant Koi Carp and Victorian Cascade in the Rock Garden, be amazed by the National Bonsai Collection in our Japanese Garden, stop and smell the many herbs in our Herb Garden, be fascinated by our exotic bird collection from all over the world, play on our amazing new Treetops Adventure playground and, you never know, bump into our free-roaming peacocks! Allow us to share the knowledge and experience we have gained over nearly 200 years in our expertly-taught, cross-curricular teaching sessions that will be tailor-made to your age group and topic. Or opt for a self-guided visit where group leaders can lead their own activities. Find out more here