Lindow schoolchildren’s Voyage of Discovery

For its annual journey for Mantle of the Expert (MoE) week, Lindow Primary School is transformed into 13 historical locations.

At the start of the week, all 150 children were put into ten teams, each with children aged 4 – 11 years. Following an introductory lecture from Headteacher “Timetraveller” Darren Morgan and his assistant Dr Who, describing their challenge in visiting the historical locations to repair the ‘fabric of the past’ using the skills of today.

The children travelled through a time vortex (like Dr Who) to visit each location, completing their ‘time passport’, and learn about what happened at that point in time and how today’s knowledge could fix things.

MoE provides an imaginative, inquiry approach to learning via creation of a fictional world where pupils assume the roles of experts in a designated field. MoE is based on the premise that treating children as responsible experts increases their engagement and confidence. They can perceive a real purpose for learning and discovering together in an interactive and proactive way – providing them with skills and knowledge they can apply to their everyday lives. MoE encourages creativity, improves teamwork, communication skills, critical thought and decision-making.

The children are involved in a wide range of activities such as recounting the Battle of Hastings in the Bayeux Tapestry, reviving portraiture to combat the introduction of photography, solving the theft of the Crown Jewels, early use of medicine in treating an ailing King, helping Samuel Pepys record the Fire of London and visiting a Victorian schoolroom to make the school’s entry to the Wilmslow scarecrow competition (now to be seen in Hoopers’ window!).

All the participants are empowered by giving them an opportunity to assume responsible roles and make decisions in guiding the outcomes. Instead of the children relying on the teacher’s energy to drive the work and evaluate achievement, teacher and pupils share the responsibility for the quality of work.

Headteacher Darren Morgan said “This is the third year we have organised a MoE week. The impact on the school is fantastic. Staff and children have all been enthused by this way of working and much more engaged with learning. They work together as a team valuing the contribution of each individual, it is real, meaningful and relevant!”

This is a member post by Richard Norris.

Tags:
Lindow Community Primary School
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement