This blog was written by one of our Archive Assistants.
Recently, staff from Northumberland Archives and Morpeth Road Academy, Blyth, teamed up and organised a local history walk complete with lesson plans and activities for Year 5 students. The day was divided up into two parts, a heritage walk with work sheets to complete and then lunch and activities at the Commissioners Building.
I arrived early on a bright Friday morning to an already bustling school. After signing in at reception, our team and myself were escorted to the classroom of some very lively and enthusiastic Year 5 students.
The group were instructed on the schedule of the day and reminded of the importance of manners and road safety while away from school. Coats, hats, activity sheets and packed lunches were gathered up and everyone set off. As we walked, we chattered and laughed. The children asked many questions!
The Blyth Heritage Walk activity sheet was to be filled in by the students at various planned stops along the route. Some of them being; the site of the former train station, the Wallaw Cinema which was renovated and is now a pub, the old fire station and Crofton Mill Park. Staff prompted for answers and ideas using visual aids that showed the buildings as they had once been.Â
On arrival at the Harbour Commissioners Office building, we were met by Clive Gray and Jane Stewart. They took us a tour of the building and explained its purpose in the past and enlightened us of its future of being transformed into an education centre/archive. The students particularly enjoyed sitting around the large table in the boardroom, pretending that they were taking part in an important meeting.
The next 30 minutes was lunchtime. This was a noisy event! We were all hungry and sat down together in groups to eat our lunch.
Once tidied away, it was time for our main lesson. Flip chart paper and pens were supplied to each group.
Students were asked to focus on the needs of different members of the community, e.g., the elderly, primary school child, teenagers, people with difficulties, young mothers etc. They were encouraged to understand and produce changes that can be made to meet the needs of these groups of people and therefore make the town better.
As I joined in, I noticed that the students were particularly good readers and even better at exchanging ideas and debating facts before deciding on their final ideas. Each group fed back their designs to the whole class who gave their opinion to the new town which was created.
The afternoon walk back to school was not as lively as it had been earlier on in the day! Students were tired out but soon perked up when we got back to school and were allowed 15 minutes out in the playground before home time.