Sea 4 Life
Abbottsham, Appledore and St Margarets (Northam) Primary Schools and Bideford College are taking part in an ambitious arts and science programme called Sea 4 Life.
This innovative cross-curriculum project enhances awareness and understanding of the students' local coastal and marine environments. With the help of local artists, the heritage, beauty, biology and geology of the area are brought together with 'creative interpretation'. The Real Ideas Organisation (RIO), together with the Biosphere Reserve Team and Appledore Arts are working on this project.
Between April and July 2009, pupils and teachers from the schools visited local beaches and worked closely together and with environmental educators, marine scientists and artists. Bideford College pupils investigated estuary, sandy beach and rocky shore environments (pupils from each primary schools visited only one of them) and acted as peer educators for the primary school pupils.
Teacher resources for key stage 2 Rocky Shores and Sand Dune fieldwork.
The Marine Biology Association from Plymouth, ran a series of marine science workshops using high-powered microscopes so that pupils could learn about the plankton- the life they couldn't see as well as the animals and plants they saw on their field trips. Artists were involved throughout the project encouraging the pupils to collect images and ideas. The last stage of the project gave each class time to work with an artist to create work in response to what they had learnt and experienced.
The project finale took place on June 13th 2009. Pupils shared their experiences and exhibited their art work.
Visit the blog-site and see artwork from Sea4Life at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. The project will be shared internationally through the UNESCO schools network and throughout Devon and the UK.
The Government's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority have appointed an advisor to work with the schools, as they are particularly interested in the peer review and creative interpretation aspects
For further information: 07900 212747 or info@appledorearts.
