130 students at 3 local schools have been busy researching the history of the Island by rummaging through museum collections to create a digital map of their discoveries. Pupils aged 5-11 from St Helens, Barton and Nettlestone Primary Schools have taken part in helping to build the Big History Map for the Island. They dove deep into artefacts from shipwrecks around the coast at the Shipwreck Centre and Museum; studied delicate prehistoric, Roman and Anglo-Saxon artefacts from the Guildhall Museum of Island History; uncovered fascinating fossils from Dinosaur Isle and imagined life on water with ship models at the Classic Boat Museum. After visiting the museums and studying digital resources online to select their favourite object, the children sketched it. Finally, they pinned their object onto a digital map of the Island, linking it back to a place where it was found or once used. Sarah Maloney of St Helens Primary says:
“The completed map brings together all their work into 1 place and provides a flavour of heritage stories capturing the imagination of our young learners. “As well as learning about local history, visiting museums and having an opportunity to work on their creative drawing, our pupils have also engaged with computers, spreadsheets, Geographic Information systems and digital Earth Observation imagery in a fun and engaging way”.
This project has been funded and supported by the Isle of Wight Museums and Schools programme which is funded by the Department for Education and Arts Council England. Estelle Baker, Heritage Education Officer for the Isle of Wight Council, adds:
“Museum and Schools partners were delighted to work with the Earth Museum and the local schools on the Big History Map project. Museums can provide such inspiration for learning across many different subjects, It has been wonderful to work on a project that brings together elements of IT, Geography and History in such a creative way. Students have been amazed to discover that so many wonderful things are linked to the Isle of Wight. “The maps are a great way to connect our collections to the wider world”.
How nice that for once, local history and culture and awareness is being explored and taught rather than young children being indoctrinated with PC agenda focused semi brainwashing.
Almost makes one feel there is a glimmer of hope.
Well done all