Our Trawling from Hull experience had a makeover in February to make it a more hands on learning experience and I was the first to lead it.
We want all of the children on our experiences to be "ACE" (A for raising aspiration, C for increasing confidence and E for promoting engagement) and we have been working hard behind the scenes to improve our existing offer; the new format certainly didn't disappoint!
The day started with what trawling actually means and brief history of the important role Hull played as a major port. We then split the children into small groups and they did some research using transcripts on the life experiences of real-life, retired Hull trawlermen. They each had a different trawlerman to read and had to conclude on their viewpoints about life at sea, before presenting their findings to the rest of the class. This helped them to build their understanding on the importance of using many sources as historians in order to build an accurate picture of people's lived experiences.
Next was the tragic events of 1968, when three Hull trawlers sank in the North Sea resulting in the loss of 58 lives. Rather than just discuss the Triple Trawler Tragedy, the children re-enacted the story in dramatic fashion. All the children took part, playing the ships' crews, the ships' owners, the families of Hessle Road, the Headscarf Revolutionaries and Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. Armed with costumes and props, it was very well-received by both children and adults as a memorable activity.
Just before lunch, the children put their new-found knowledge to the test by interviewing members of the public. This took a lot of confidence but was a great opportunity to share what they had learnt widely.
After lunch, we took them on a tour of Hull city centre looking for clues to Hull's maritime past. We saw the fish trail, discussed the significance of the mural on the old BHS building and how Queen's Gardens used to be a dock, before going down to the River Hull to see the heads of the Inuits and telling the story of the two that visited on the whaling vessel "Truelove" to raise money for their community.
Finally, it was time for the coach ride back to school. It really was an "ACE" day in many aspects and one that the children will hopefully remember for many years to come!
Alan, Learning Experience Lead
