Bexley Borough Council, teacher Bright Okojie and literature consultant Sarah Butler partnered up to run the Engaging Places project, Erith marshes. As ‘marsh detectives’ the students are looking at the site’s history, ecology and Crossness Pumping Station in order to create a local guide for the community. Read their take on the project so far.
Bexley students on visit to Erith marshes © Alys Tomlinson
Written by Patrick Tanoh
During the Engaging Places project I have enjoyed spending time out of boring lessons and doing something fun. I enjoy working in the environment because I get to work with my friends. Most of the work we do involves talking, which I am good at. I’ve been coping well with the work we get as it is not too hard, even when it is I have the teacher and my friends that I can ask for help.
So far I have enjoyed making the myth the most because on the task you can make it anything you want and let your imagination write the story. It was fun going to the Belvedere marshes because we got to know more about them. Before I didn’t know we had a marshland in Belvedere but now that I went there I know a bit more about them.
We talked about the history of the river Thames and we talked about the big stink in London in 1868. I enjoyed creating a character with my group. Later we had to write a story on an event that happened near the river. I think the project has helped me learn more about river Thames and the history of the river. It also taught me more about nature in Belvedere and the nature reserve. I’m hoping we get to go there again because I liked learning with my friends, it makes me more confident in my work. If I do a story, since my friends are with me I can ask them and see what they think of my story and ask them to tell me what I can improve. The teachers are also helpful because if you don’t understand something they will come to you and give you an example of what you need to do.
Written by Jody Thompson
Well…to start off with the thing I enjoyed the most was the trip to the marshes. I really enjoyed that because, well, we got to actually see what we were learning about and also the day was fun and I learned more whilst having fun patting horses and looking at birds as well as other things we spotted on the way around the marshes.
One of the other things I enjoyed, were some of the things we did in our groups. The most fun task was describing the man when we were on the topic of the Thames. I especially liked the way he turned out, a big soft down to earth hippy bloke.
Another thing I found fun was when we had the science lesson on pumps, the types of pumps we may see on the marshes. I enjoyed the two practicals, even though I wasn’t very good at one of them and it took ages and ages for the can to finally squish together.
The last thing I really liked was when we were learning all about what effects the Thames being so disgusting had on people. Some of it was quite disgusting but I found it interesting because I kind of enjoyed it. A bit of homework we had when we were doing about the Thames was to write a story, where we had to pretend we had fallen into the Thames or had seen someone fall into the Thames. I really enjoyed that because I like writing stories and I think mine turned out really well.
I am glad I have been able to take part in the marshes and I have liked learning about Erith marshes as well as getting to know it better.
Student views wildlife in Erith marshes © Alys Tomlinson
Written by Hollie Runeckles
I have been taking part in the Engaging Places project and so far it’s really fun. I like being in the same group every week so I get to know them a little more. So far we have learnt about the sewage and how bad the river Thames was back in the day. It’s nice to learn more about the river that all I really knew about at first is that it was a river that ran through where I live. I have liked being able to even look at power points and pictures to improve my imagination.
I have enjoyed learning about myths and writing stories. The myth and making names for the dyke has been my favourite part so far. I like knowing that I’m being valued in this project and that my ideas are also being valued. I have also enjoyed reading information, and then using it and my imagination to create a character with my tutor group (four of us). It’s not all just writing and sitting at a table, it’s active as well. There was actually a trip to Erith marshes, unfortunately I did not go. However, people told me about it and said their favourite part was the horses. I also like the teachers and visitors that come to help us and educate us more. It’s a very interesting and welcoming project that I’m proud to be part of.
Written by Demi Cole
For a while now, a few select pupils – roughly five per tutor group – have been selected by Mr. Okojie, a top-set science teacher to take part in the Engaging Places Project: Belvedere marshes. A few times every month the selected pupils have been meeting during a lesson to do work on the project.
In our first few lessons, we learned about Belvedere marshes: its history, as well as the animals and plants it contains. We learned about many different types of creatures, from the small, furry Water Vole to the large, fearsome Peregrine Falcon. We learnt about deadly plants growing in the marshes that should be avoided. We learnt about how the marshes were connected to sickness and death caused by dirty water in the River Thames back in the 1800s.
After doing several pieces of work on it, we finally visited the marshes. We explored the terrain, looking out for the wild animals we had studied. We jotted down the characteristics of any birds we came across and petted the horses.
The project didn’t end after that trip, however. We continued on it, delving into it to a much deeper extent. As well as learning even more about its history and doing literary work surrounding the subject, we were asked by the visitors who worked at the marshes to suggest names for a dyke in the Marsh, as well as creating a myth to explain the name. The best name might be chosen and stand by the dyke for over thirty years. Trinity School, Belvedere, were asked to make history.
I, myself, chose to create a myth about a creature I had studied for homework; the magnificent Peregrine Falcon. Several other people chose their myth to centre on an animal in the Marshes, whilst others selected a historical event connected to the marshes, such as the river Thames incident or the tragic collision of the Princess Alice.
We haven’t quite finished the project yet, but that is not necessarily a bad thing; I look forward to continuing this interesting and engaging project.
The Engaging Places network
To find out about other partnerships and projects developing through the Engaging Places network visit the 2009/10 Engaging Places network article.
