Project description
This project allowed students to develop a deeper knowledge of their local area and places that are easily identifiable in the local community: the church, the mill, new offices and a prominent local sculpture.
Student displays her work about Lower Darwen © A&M Photography Ltd
The main focus was to explore changes to Lower Darwen (a former mill town with lots of new housing) through art based work, historical evidence and intergenerational learning.
Successful neighbourhood partnerships developed in different ways during the project. The local community group visited the school and, as learners in the process too, worked on their own art pieces.
The adults discussed their community centre and their pride and love of the local area with the children from the after school club. Some parents were also involved in the research and art work, including a dad who is a photographer. The finale of the project was an exhibition for the wider school, parents, community members and local authority officers to visit, with students acting as guides.
Key stage
Key stages 1-2 (Reception to year 6)
Curriculum and whole school areas
- art
- history
- extended services
- healthy schools
Learning objectives
- for people of all ages to work co-operatively, respecting each other’s skills and knowledge
- to use the local monument and sculpture park to create a sense of pride and attachment to the local area
- to enable learners to use their locality as a source of learning and fun
- to explore a variety of art techniques to represent architectural features of the area and ensure learners appreciate attractive features of their locality
- for learners to understand that localities change and develop over time, and that they can make their views and ideas heard in the locality.
Teacher and student enjoy working togeather © A&M Photography Ltd
Length of project
After school club, ‘Happy Days’, December 2008 to March 2009.
What did the learning involve?
Teaching and learning activities
Activity 1
Students looked at and recorded, through drawing and photography, interesting features of local buildings - window frames, doors and features such as brickwork, stonework and local bridge design.
Activity 2
A parent photographer took photos for the children to reference – the children also went on ‘expeditions’ into the neighbourhood to supplement these and to look closely at the local farmhouse.
Activity 3
The children developed art work and tried out new techniques with the school’s art co-ordinator, using clay, modelling, collage and ICT imagery.
Activity 3
A local watercolour artist arranged for the school to receive the church banner made by the local group (many years earlier) and explained the panels to the children. He also came into school to paint with the children allowing them the freedom to consider how to represent their chosen art piece.
Activity 4
The children developed textile work and a new banner with a professional artist. This new banner was designed to sit alongside the existing community banner and to represent the area as it is now.
Activity 5
The children helped set up an exhibition in the school hall, deciding how to display the work, before acting as guides for visitors.
Resources used
- art materials – clay, textiles, canvases
- professional artists
- parents
- community members
Funding
£1,500 was received as a (CABE) educational grant.
Student presents his findings about his local community © A&M Photography Ltd
How well were the aims met?
Outcomes
Participants of all ages:
- feel secure in their knowledge of how the local area has developed over time
- have an understanding of shape and space around them and are able to talk about design and structure at an age appropriate level
- enjoyed the project and reflected their pride in their work through the exhibition
- are able to express opinions and be able to promote the locality to others.
What worked well
- good opportunity for learners of many ages share with each other
- children particularly enjoyed making the exhibition
- working with a professional artist raised the quality of art work produced
- the art co-ordinator was able to experiment with ideas and demonstrate her skills
- links with the Blackburn museum resulted – the work will be exhibited there and the school will work with a wider network of schools to explore cross-curricular links.
What didn’t work well
- Not all children could participate - the school plans to integrate the project into the main curriculum next year.
Comments from teachers/students
‘I drive past that (Arte et Labore sculpture) every day and I had no idea there was so much detail on it – I want to look more closely next time I pass it.’ Father of a student.
‘Every parent should come into the exhibition and see the standard of this work. It is secondary school quality. Art co-ordinators from secondary schools could see this and be amazed at the quality of work that such young children have achieved.’ Chair of Governors.
‘It makes you really look at the local area. I’ve loved looking at this work and I will be finding these features around the place now.’ Local resident.
Further information
Read the 2008/09 grant winning projects here on Engaging Places:
A BSF design think tank at Sittingbourne Community College
Constructing a straw bale building at Dr Thomlinson Middle School.
Exploring regeneration at Archbishop Blanch School
School grounds design at Chesham Bois CE Combined School
Playground canopies at Orleton CE Primary School
