In Autumn 2017, The Floating Classroom ran a pilot Literacy project with Hallfield Primary School, funded by Reckless Giving in W2. We developed Time Afloat for Year 2 pupils targeting the key literacy skills of speaking & listening and reading & writing. Pupils entered a time-travelling barge that took them back to learn more about key events in the history of the canals locally and the people that lived and worked on them. This provided the spark for a range of creative learning activities, during which children produced several written pieces. They finished with their own booklet bringing together all that they learned and created over the six weeks of the project.
Literacy Project
“It was beneficial…, we’ve talked ourselves about how much we don’t have those opportunities in the classroom for them to really explore talk and use that language and I think it really did benefit those particular children to have that opportunity to do that. Especially in a different setting.”
Leader of Learning at Hallfield Primary
“I got better at being more creative and helping some children if they don’t understand when you’re [teacher] trying to explain to them…”
Year 2 child
“(The project) enhanced learning for the EAL children. They enjoyed all the characters that visited, because that brought it so alive for them, they were able to talk about it and write about it really well. Definitely for the children who are very new to English. ”
Hallfield Primary Year 2 class teacher
“I was excited the first time because I never been on a boat and when it was time travelling I was surprised!...I felt happy coming every single day.”
Year 2 child