Delivered by Fiona Imrie and Jo Gillam
The Project collected items to show how children in Essex schools have responded to this pandemic. The Project considers that these new restrictions on children, new emotions, bereavements and changes to way of life have not been seen since World War 2 and therefore needs documenting in as many ways as possible.
A PowerPoint was created for teachers to give ideas on ways to mark these events, from art to poetry. To be created and added to TES website as soon as possible for teachers to use before the summer holidays.
The collecting part of the project will centred around three schools in Essex and work with children across the Primary range. Pieces of rainbow related art from younger children and more English related activities from KS2 pupils including Kennings Poems about Lockdown and recount pieces showing experiences during this time. It also include any other items that children find significant.
Fiona’s project has connected schools with Thurrock Museum. Children donated art and poetry that confronted Coronavirus and found hope during lockdown. Teachers created funny and uplifting videos to send to their classes when children were missing their friends and school. Thanks to Fiona, schools also donated the colourful rainbow displays that were visible in their windows to families that took their daily walks during lockdown nearby. Colourful and creative displays like this certainly made people smile. Schools also benefitted from a free teaching resource that was aimed at classes returning in September – which was downloaded 129 times by teachers. In this project, Fiona wanted to create something for now and something for the future.
Jo’s project helped the Museum and the families and school children who would usually visit transition into the ‘new normal’ with this fun and educational digital resource. At the time class sizes were limited to 10 students, but households could meet – allowing children to play together again. This resource was published at just the right moment – it was downloaded 40 times and has been enjoyed by 100s of children. Although online this resource got children outside and seeing their local area in a new way, giving them a break from their computer screens. It included history, maths, English, science and craft tasks meaning that every child had something from their favourite school subject.
Thurrock Festival 