Looking to Learn

Project: A cross curricular project with primary and secondary schools inspired by displays at Tullie House Museum in Carlisle.


Who: Cumbria Arts in Education co-ordinated the project in collaboration with Cumbria County Council's (CCC) Children's Services and involved a professional writer, Janni Howker, staff from Tullie House Museum and CCC's Music service.

Background
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle has a long established and highly regarded Educational Service which provides teachers with information and support to develop children’s learning. The displays and collections that have been used with schools have mainly helped children explore social history and historical events.

The Freshwater Life Millennium Gallery was opened in 2006 and, as it focused largely on the development of the Lake District and current environmental and conservation issues, its potential as a source of cross-curricular learning for young people was obvious.

This new gallery coincided with the move towards a more cross curricular approach to the curriculum at both primary and secondary levels and the development of the revised Literacy and Citizenship frameworks.


What happened?
Initially children and young people from a primary school near Carlisle and a secondary school in South Cumbria worked with a professional author in the gallery to explore the displays as a stimulus for creative writing. This was followed up with further sessions in the schools. In the primary school staff from the music service also helped children develop compositions linked to their writing.

The result?
Artists, teachers and museum staff collaborated so effectively and the project resulted in a wealth of teaching and learning resources that can be used by schools not only visiting the Freshwater Life Gallery at Tullie House but any museum or gallery.

Looking to Learn Resources
The following lesson plans can be downloaded individually as PDF documents:
Introduction
Art & Design
Creative Writing & sample poems created by young people
Science
Music

Project Partners:
Ann Kirk: Kirkbride Primary School and Key Stage 2 pupils.
Stephen Burrowes: Settlebeck High School and Key Stage 3 pupils.
Janni Howker: Professional Writer
Sarah Barkway: Cumbria County Council Music Service:
Heather Tipler: Cultural Development Officer, Cumbria County Council
Margaret Riches: Cumbria Arts in Education

For more information: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Margaret Riches T: 015394 30259