Catch the Global Warming Swingometer: a New Programme for Schools
An exciting new educational programme is on offer at Englesea Brook this November that offers children theopportunity to travel back in time some 60 years for a post-war experience (1940s and early 1950s). The life of a child will also be viewed within the framework of ‘global warming’. The simple ‘life’ of the post-war London evacuee returning for a visit to the country will be compared and contrasted with the far more demanding and complex life of a child today. Through a series of participatory activities lessons will be learnt about the life of a child some 60 years ago. A journey of discovery will also be made about the consequences of life style today. The children will be challenged to ‘catch the global warming swingometer’ before it is too late.
This is a programme embracing many aspects of the curriculum with a 1940s experience plus strong citizenship and environmental themes. It links with the 70 year anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the exhibition currently on display at Manchester’s Imperial War Museum (which runs until 3 January 2010). It also links with the critical international ‘climate change’ conference due to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.
'Considering challenging questions enables children to develop social, moral, spiritual and cultural understanding. As their understanding grows, children become increasingly aware of the extent to which the actions and behaviours of themselves and others can change the world. This helps them to develop a sense of responsibility, and to experience how they can have influence, as informed and active citizens' University of Cumbria 'Review of Primary Curriculum' Sue Temple, 2009.
PROGRAMME:
9.30 a.m. or as soon after as practicable the children and their supervisors will be picked up from their school by a 72 seater London Transport Routemaster bus with open rear platform and the children will be brought to Englesea Brook. The bus will have a conductor for the platform. A full load could be two classes of up to 60 children plus supervising adults (history, geography). It should be noted that in common with modern public transport such a bus does not have seat belts. A careful risk assessment has already been worked out by the Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society and Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum. This will be further developed in relation to all aspects of the visit with the participating schools. For instance in relation to bus travel adults will be strategically seated at the rear of both the upper and lower deck to make sure that no child passes them while the bus is in motion.
On arrival there will be a brief introduction and the children will be divided into three or four groups (depending upon total numbers). They will then rotate around the following activities:
1) Epidiascope with early 20th century transport images (History and Local History): This could introduce themes such as: Exploration of bus and tram as a cheap and efficient method of travel for the masses. The environmental benefits of public transport as against the mass use of the motor car will be explored.
2) Viewing of farm animals: pigs, chickens, sheep which are now in the paddock to the rear of the Englesea Brook Chapel graveyard, or a short nature walk if the animals are not available (Science).
3) Bicycles and tricycles on the car park: Tricycles from late Victorian times with a focus on the 1940s as well as some more modern ones will be available. This will be an opportunity to learn about the environmental and health benefits of the bicycle and tricycle. There will be an opportunity to ride some of the exhibits. Children with cycle safety helmets should bring them with them (Physical Education, Science).
4) Clockwork trains: Hornby clockwork railway (1940s and earlier) to wind up and set going. This is an opportunity to learn about rail transport with an examination of various freight wagons, the different pre-war companies, and local rail travel used as long ago as the 1840s. The environmental benefits of rail will also be explored (History, Science, Design and Technology).
5) Visit to a 1934 Austin 10: Lift the bonnet, sit on leather seats, fasten your trunk to the luggage rack. (History, Science, Design and Technology). The car will be located either at Autumn Rise, Englesea Brook which is the house immediately above the car park, or on the Englesea Brook car park itself. If the car is at Autumn Rise it will only be visited by a safe route (e.g. from the car park through the field to the rear garden gate of Autumn Rise).
6) Transport and chapel life: Hugh Bourne's boot and walking stick (from the 1840s) - Hugh Bourne would walk from Englesea Brook to the halt at Chorlton to catch the train.
Herbert Booth's bicycle: This was used from the end of the First World War until the 1970s and may have travelled as far as Hugh Bourne’s boot!
Chapel life in the 1940s: The impact of the war upon society in general and upon Englesea Brook in particular. There will be reference to the Nissen huts on Snape Lane and the war time use to which they were put. Accelerated change within society as an outcome of war will be noted. Black out blinds will be pulled and there will be a ‘flannel-graph’ treat for children (Religious Education, History, Geography).
7) Keeping clean in the 1940s: Wash day is Monday! The air will be cleaner for hanging out to dry. Bath night is Saturday! We will be smart and clean for chapel on Sunday. Appropriate 1940s equipment will be to hand (Physical Social Health and Emotional).
8) Toilets and shop: Every attempt will be made to obtain at least one or two items for sale in the shop which relate to the period. The above eight sessions will be taken over a period of approximately 2 hours with the children rotating in 3 or 4 groups.
There will be a break for lunch in the region of 12.00-12.15p.m.- 12.45p.m. followed by:
Catch the global warming ‘swingometer’: 60 years on in the year 2069 - what will it be like then? Will many species be extinct? Will extensive flooding have taken place? The day will conclude with an opportunity to look at the needs of the planet and use imagination creatively. The points about carbon dioxide emissions and changing life-style will be illustrated with a ‘swingometer’ (Science, Geography, R.E.).
1.30 p.m. Depart.
The cost for the day is as follows: The cost for the London Transport Routemaster bus is £200. This will be invoiced by the Reliance Bus Works. The cost to Englesea Brook is £2 per child. his should be paid to Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum. The programme will be available for 15 school days beginning on Monday 9 November 2 until Friday 27 November 2009. Bookings will be taken from Monday 21 September 2009. Please contact Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum to whom a £50 deposit should be paid when a booking is placed.
For more information or for a preliminary discussion you can contact Englesea Brook or Stephen Hatcher whenever you like:
Englesea Brook 01270 820836; engleseabrook-methodist-museum@supanet.com
Stephen Hatcher 01782 810109
Notes
The period for the programme is Monday 9 November - Friday 27 November 2009. This concludes before the Victorian Christmas programme begins from Monday 30 November. If the programme is successful it is anticipated that it could be repeated as a further slot of (say) three weeks in a subsequent term. The schools should also note that a number a aspects of the programme could run independently, apart from the use of the double-decker Routemaster bus. Schools are welcome to make their own transport arrangement with a modern coach to Englesea Brook if they wish - but this should be outside of the 3 week November period.
Careful risk assessment, parental permission and warm clothes for travel on a double-decker bus without internal heating and for a programme which is partly outside are all required. Englesea Brook will only confirm a booking when it is assured that an adequate risk assessment is in place. Schools must also understand that if the weather is very wet a shorter indoor programme will be run including as many activities as possible but some outdoor activities such as riding a tricycle or viewing farm animals may not be possible. Promotion for this programme, but in an assembly that will also be independent in itself, will be done by Stephen Hatcher visiting schools for assemblies during September and October 2009 - using clockwork trains (the 1940s) and a folding bicycle (the future). S
Summary: Main curriculum themes covered:
History: a 1940s experience which touches the Second World War, society and chapel life.
Science and Geography: from an environmental perspective - carbon dioxide emissions, global warming, exploration of the countryside, farm animals, wild life, the development of transport from foot - to bicycle- to train, bus and car, Wash day - personal hygiene.
Local history: transport in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire, farming and the countryside, village and chapel life.
Citizenship and RE: Creation and human responsibility, changing patterns in life and leisure – cultural, social, and spiritual.
Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum is a fully accredited museum with MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives) and an educational project within the Methodist Church at national level. In 2007 it presented an educational programme to HRH the Princess Royal and the received the South Cheshire Chamber of Trade Best Visitor Attraction award. It has featured in a number programmes made by BBC radio and television the most recent being the ‘Victorian working-class funeral’ for Midlands Today television.
Pictures on this page are provided courtesy of the London Transport Museum
