PROGRAMMES FOR 2007-2008
Introduction: Learning For
Life
Standard Fieldwork Sessions
Chiswick
Isleworth
Strand On The Green
The City River And The Museum
of London
Southwark & The Golden
Hinde
Shadwell Basin, Tower Hamlets
Greenwich And The Royal Naval
College
Trinity Buoy Wharf
Thames Barrier, Woolwich
Learning for Life
The main aim of the following programmes
is to help young people gain a better understanding
of the River Thames and how we all affect
this environment. Through this, we hope
to stimulate debate on how the river can
be managed in a sustainable way for the
future.
One practical way your pupils can care
for the river is by recording the invertebrates
they find on a short River for Life survey
sheet. Hundreds of schools and local communities
are already participating in the River for
Life project - the biodiversity information
collected is posted on our web site for
all the world to see and is also logged
on a national data base used by the scientific
community. Survey results are already building
up a picture of the health of river and
helping to monitor changes, both positive
and negative. The information is particularly
useful to the Environment Agency, who are
responsible for the river environment.
Our web site is continuously updated, so
pupils can view their survey results and
follow a very topical issue - the impact
of human processes on the environment and
biodiversity. The web site enables them
to keep in touch with river news after their
school topic has finished.
So not only will your visit help meet National
Curriculum targets - we hope it will also
have a long term positive impact.
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STANDARD FIELDWORK SESSIONS
Here are descriptions of our most popular fieldwork
sessions, which are available at most sites.
A. Rivers and Environmental
Issues (KS 2)
Geography with links to Citizenship
Fieldwork on the foreshore includes recording
river features; assessing and recording water
quality through water and invertebrate sampling
(river dipping) and assessing the impact of rubbish
on local wildlife. Where time permits, the information
on invertebrates collected by your group will
be recorded on a River of Life survey sheet. This
is followed by a river trail to investigate evidence
of past and present human use of the river and
to assess the impact of people on the natural
environment, including flood defences.
B. Rivers and Environmental
Issues (KS 3)
Geography with links to Citizenship
Environmental Impact trail gathers evidence of
how riverside settlements have adapted the river
for different purposes. Different types of flood
protection and main environmental impacts are
recorded. Fieldwork includes recording simple
abiotic data (water temperature, weather, state
of tide etc), assessing and recording water quality
through chemical tests of water and invertebrate
sampling (river dipping) and assessing the impact
of rubbish. Where time permits, the information
on invertebrates collected by your group will
be recorded on a River of Life survey sheet.
C. Life Processes and Living
Things (KS 2 & KS 3)
Science (Classification and Living Things)
Fieldwork on the foreshore includes identifying
and recording invertebrates, fish and birds within
a survey area and noting behaviour patterns. Invertebrate
data is logged on River for Life survey sheets.
Pupils complete a survey sheet on environmental
data (e.g. air and water temperature, state of
tide, weather). Water quality is assessed via
chemical analysis and invertebrate sampling. This
is followed by a river trail to identify local
factors that could affect the environment. Evidence
is recorded of how living things and the environment
are currently protected.
Work at the primary and secondary level is
differentiated through complexity of activities
and worksheets.
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CHISWICK
Our Thames Education Centre in Chiswick, west
London, is an excellent location for river fieldwork,
both on the riverside and foreshore, with access
to a range of human and natural features including
a public pier and an island. The island shows
evidence of erosion and deposition (hard to find
in London). Facilities include indoor classroom
and lunch area, disabled access and toilets.
This is our most popular site, so we only
accept bookings for a full day programme during
busy periods.
1. Getting to Know the River (KS 1)
Geography and Science (Living Things)
Session 1 Fieldwork includes identifying
basic river features, observing how people use
the river, simple pollution and wildlife surveys,
river dipping, assessing the river environment
and how it could be improved.
Session 2 Role play with the River of Life
floor game to investigate how people can harm
the river and its wildlife, and what can be done
to improve the environment.
2. Rivers and Environmental Issues (KS 2 &
KS 3)
Geography with links to Citizenship
Session 1 Standard fieldwork session A
or B (see above for details)
plus investigation of features of erosion, transportation
and deposition.
Session 2 Role play with the River of Life
floor game to investigate pollution and human
impact on the river environment. Includes revision
of geographic features and water cycle. Pupils
find "pollution solutions" to help devise
a sustainable future for the river.
3. River Landforms, Flooding and Environmental
Issues (KS 3)
Geography (Geomorphological processes)
Session 1 Activities start with introductory
slide talk on Thames landforms, human impact on
the river and causes and effects of flooding.
Outdoor activities include measuring and recording
activities (depth, speed, width, temperature,
pH, hardness) and recording and sketching key
features (meanders, erosion, deposition, transportation,
island formation and tides).
Session 2 Fieldwork on the foreshore includes
investigating causes of erosion, and assessing
water quality through river dipping to collect
indicator species.. A mapping exercise records
local flood protection. The session finishes with
a discussion on possible human responses to flooding.
4. River Landforms and Environmental Issues
(KS 2 & KS 3)
Geography with links to Citizenship
Please note that fieldwork does not take place
on the foreshore.
Session 1 Waterfront trail fieldwork gathers
evidence of how riverside settlements have adapted
the river for different purposes and of different
types of flood protection. Impact of change is
assessed. Physical geography fieldwork includes
recording and sketching key features such as meanders,
island formation and tides (plus erosion and deposition
if visible); measuring and recording activities
(depth, speed, width, temperature, pH, hardness).
Session 2 Role play with the River of Life
floor game to investigate pollution and human
impact on the river environment. Includes revision
of geographic features and water cycle. Pupils
find "pollution solutions" to help devise
a sustainable future for the river. Key Stage
3 activities also include a slide presentation
highlighting major environmental threats to the
Thames.
5. Life Processes and Living Things (KS 2
& KS 3)
Science (Classification and Living Things)
Session 1 Standard fieldwork session C
(see above for details) plus
collection of invertebrates for further identification
and examination.
Session 2 Indoor activities and games include
logging data collected on computer; observation
and recording of live specimens; adaptation to
different habitats; use of microscopes; food chains
and webs; impact of pollution; use of different
types of key for identification. KS3 activities
include investigation of factors affecting size
of populations (predation and competition).
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ISLEWORTH
This half day programme investigates natural
and manmade features on the foreshore and riverside
around Isleworth Ait (island) at this historic
riverside settlement.
6. Investigating a typical riverside settlement
(KS 1 & KS 2)
Geography (Rivers and Environmental Issues),
Science (Living Things) and Local History
Standard fieldwork session A (see above
for details) plus a river trail gathering historic
evidence of the development of Isleworth as a
river settlement.
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STRAND ON THE GREEN
This programme is offered in partnership with
the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, once a pumping station
for London and home to a large collection of working
steam engines.
7. Rivers and Water Supply (KS 2)
Geography (Rivers), Science (Living Things
and Water Cycle) and History (Victorians)
Session 1 Standard fieldwork session A
(see above for details) plus
a river trail gathering historic evidence of the
development of the area as a river settlement.
Session 2 Work takes place at the Kew Bridge
Steam Museum with a visit to the steam engines
and the interactive Water for Life Gallery. Investigations
focus on the importance of Victorian engineers,
water supply past and present and water pollution.
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VAUXHALL
This half day programme investigates natural
and manmade features on the foreshore and riverside
around Vauxhall.
10. Rivers and Environmental Issues (KS 2)
Geography (Rivers and Environmental Issues)
with links to Local History Study.
Standard fieldwork session A (see above
for details) plus collecting historic artefacts
as evidence of past river use.
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THE CITY RIVER AND
THE MUSEUM OF LONDON
Discover the hidden treasures of the Thames and
explore London's links with the river past and
present.
11. The Thames: A Bridge through Time (KS
2)
Geography (Rivers and Settlement) and Local
History
Session 1 Fieldwork on the riverside near
St Paul's and on the Millennium Bridge includes
recording river features and evidence of human
use. Work on the foreshore involves collecting
and identifying historic artefacts (some may date
back to Roman times!) as evidence of past river
use. Water quality is also assessed through water
and invertebrate sampling.
Session 2 Indoor activities at the Museum
of London are led by an archaeologist and include
a hands-on workshop with artefacts found on the
foreshore, investigating how artefacts found around
the Thames help us build up a picture of London's
settlement.
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SOUTHWARK & THE
GOLDEN HINDE
This programme is offered in partnership with
the Golden Hinde Educational Museum and combines
river fieldwork with the chance to explore the
full scale replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship
which circumnavigated the globe from 1577-80.
12. The Thames and Tudor Life Afloat (KS 2)
Geography (Rivers and Environmental Issues)
and History (Local and the Tudors)
Session 1 Standard fieldwork session A
(see above for details) plus
collecting historic artefacts as evidence of past
river use.
Session 2 The Golden Hinde visit offers
a unique and memorable opportunity to investigate
life afloat in Tudor times. The tour starts with
a professionally acted video of Drake's voyage,
then crew members in 16th century costume lead
an exploration of the ship, taking students back
in time to the Elizabethan era. This provides
an excellent way to kick off a Tudor History topic
and a teachers' pack is available free of charge.
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SHADWELL BASIN, TOWER
HAMLETS
This programme is offered in partnership with
the Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre, one
of Britain's most go-ahead inner city watersports
centres.
13. The Thames Past and Present (KS 2)
Geography (Rivers, Environmental Issues
and Settlement) and Local History
Session 1 Fieldwork on the riverside includes
recording river features and evidence of human
use. Work on the foreshore involves collecting
and identifying historic artefacts as evidence
of past river use. Water quality is also assessed
through water and invertebrate sampling.
Session 2 Artefact handling activities
at the Centre help to reveal the river's past.
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GREENWICH AND THE ROYAL
NAVAL COLLEGE
This programme offers the opportunity to investigate
both the river and the historic Greenwich waterfront.
It has been developed in partnership with the
Greenwich Foundation who care for the beautiful
Old Royal Naval College.
14. Rivers and Environmental Issues (KS 2
& KS 3)
Geography (Rivers, Settlement and Environmental
Issues) with links to Local History Study.
Session 1 Standard fieldwork session A
or B (see above for details)
plus collecting historic artefacts as evidence
of past river use.
Session 2 either Artefact handling
activities in the Royal Naval College investigate
Greenwich's past followed by a walk around the
College grounds.
or Activity trail led by Greenwich Foundation
staff, investigating the rich past of the College.
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TRINITY BUOY WHARF
This new programme is offered in partnership
with the Lea Rivers Trust, an environmental charity
working in the waterway environment of East London
and the Lea Valley.
15. Investigating Rivers (KS 2 & 3)
Geography (Rivers and Environmental Issues)
with links to Local History Study.
Standard fieldwork session A (see above
for details) plus collecting historic artefacts
as evidence of past river use and the history
of East London.
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THAMES BARRIER,
WOOLWICH
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For Thames Barrier visits,
please book by calling the Thames Barrier
Learning Centre on 020 8305 4188
or email them at
learningcentre@environment.gov.uk
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