Art and Poems
Library visits
The children visited their local library where they heard stories from people's lives from biographies, diaries and poems. They played memory games and looked at quilts which can be full of memories. Each piece of cloth in a patchwork quilt can have a story to tell; it could be part of a special dress, your favourite team's colours, a well worn pair of jeans or a baby blanket. Each patch could have special memories.
Poems
Poet Roz Goddard came to the libraries and visited each school. She talked to the children about her memories and encouraged the children to explore ways of describing theirs. Here are some of the memories from class 3 at St Lawrence's in Preston on the Weald Moors:
At Dothill Junior School the children described their favourite playground games:
On this spot there used to be an evil wizard
When the sun comes out we sprint to the football pitch whilst weaving in and out of the little lambs.
In this place I hang from the Monkey Bars
On a warm sunny day I go out and play "Octopus Octopus Race".
At Newport Junior School the children learned about "kennings" - two word phrases which say something about you.
What words describe you?
Students at Burton Borough thought about memories of sounds, smells and tastes, and containers to keep them in.
At Wrockwardine Wood Art College, a group of students wrote postcard poems about their local area and memories of places they had visited.
The white sky shines above the fun hungry park. I have the urge to go and play, but at my age ... Nah, I do and don't want to leave.
I'm looking towards the school through the dark green spiky fence. I can see all the multi-coloured cars of the busy people inside. I can see the silvery grey fence outside the huge gymnasium
Art
Artist Johnny O'Hanlon worked with the children to create a piece of art for each of their schools. They used their memories, poems and descriptions to develop the art work.
In the hall at Preston School there is a tree; it is a memorial to the work of class 3. Within the texture of its bark and the leaves on its branches there are clues to the children who took part.
At Dothill School children can leap from colourful stepping stones, adding to their memories of playground games.
The children at Newport Junior created shield pictures with tissue and string. The finished work is a display to celebrate the achievements of the children at the school.
A giant fish leaps in the courtyard at Burton Borough and represents one of the historic symbols of Newport.
At Wrockwardine Wood the school motto "Students have a right to learn... Teachers have a right to teach" is recorded on a mosaic topped obelisk.