Dalmuir Canal Project - Hands On Environmental Education

Dalmuir Canal Project took place through February and March 2009 involving 123 children from Dalmuir Early Education and Care Centre

Introduction to the Dalmuir Schools Project The grounds of both the school and nursery back dircetly on to the canal which makes the canal towpath a useful education and recreation resource for the children of the area. The project provided valuable opportunity for children from the nursery and primary school to work together in the four sessions which covered canal safety, history and recreation and worked from direct experience of the natural environment as inspiration for personal and group artwork. Session one - In school Took place in the school over a couple of days where children, in mixed groups took part in storytelling, watched a short video and learned the Rosie & Jim Stay Safe Song. The session explained why the canal was built, its historical transport value and present day recreational wildlife importance. It used British Waterways WOW resources 'Rosie & Jim Stay Safe video and wildlife poster at its core, together with other props such as Rosie & Jim dolls, a model canal and boat, examples of materials transported by canal and dangerous rubbish to introduce children to the project and use of canal. The session looked at the risks associated with using the canal for walking and children learned a song to remind them how to stay safe on the canal paths. Session two - Canal side Provided an opportunity for children to gain first hand experience of the canal environment and practice their stay safe code. Groups of 12 children with 6 adult helpers, group leader and other supporting staff made 10 visits to the canal bank over 4 days. Each group carried out activities focussing on canal sounds, colours and shapes, completed a recording sheet and also recorded their favourite views with the help of digital cameras. This data was then used as inspiration for the development of the artwork part of the project. Despite the very cold weather and challenging travel due to snow all the sessions went ahead according to plan and were greatly enjoyed by all participants. Session three Provided an opportunity for all the children involved in the project to produce a piece of artwork to take home to remind them of their visit to the canal. Art workshops took place in small groups made up of approximately 6 nursery children and 6 primary children in the school over 2 days. The artist made up stencils of the shapes the children had seen on their walk and these were used with glue and coloured sand to make simple but eye catching folk art style calenders for the children to take home. Session four Saw all the children involved in the project working in small groups with staff and the artist to paint the metal motifs designed by the artist using inspiration and observational recordings from the canal walk sessions and created by a blacksmith. These metal pieces were then stored in the school and the artist will liase with the fencing contractor later in the year to incorporate the motifs into the metal fence that will surround the new playground in Jellicoe street. In conclusion The Dalmuir Canal Project provided children with the opportunity to gain first hand experience of the canal environment, learn about it's history, wildlife and recreational uses and how to stay safe when using the canal towpath. Images from the canal were used in the children's own personal artwork which will remind them of the project through the coming year and in the development of motifs for the new playground fence which will remind them of the project for years to come. Our thanks go to the staff of Our Lady of Lorrette School and Dalmuir Early Education and Care Centre without who's help and commitment to the project in providing suitable adult/child ratios and positive attitude whatever the weather this work could not have taken place and to British Waterways (WOW team) who's help in providing resources was invaluable. thanks must also be extended to older school children who spent a morning kindly litter picking the area of the canal near the school just prior to the canal visit. Report written by Espeth English - Hands On Environmental Education Why not join the Dalmuir children in learning the Rosie & Jim Canal Safety Song: Canal Safety Song Let's stay safe in water, Let's take one step back, Let's stay safe in water, With Rosie, Jim and Duck. Clap, clap take one step back, Clap, clap take one step back, Clap, clap take one step back, Let's take one step back. Let's stay safe on our walk, Let's leave litter alone, Let's stay safe on our walk, With Rosie, Jim and Duck. Clap, clap leave litter alone, Clap, clap leave litter alone, Clap, clap leave litter alone, Let's leave litter alone. Let's stay safe on our walk, Let's hold someone's hand, Let's stay safe on our walk, With Rosie, Jim and Duck. Clap, clap hold someone's hand, Clap, clap hold someone's hand, Clap, clap hold someone's hand, Let's hold someone's hand. Or if you have visited the local waterway with your school, write in to the WOW team at tell us all about it. Don’t forget to send a photograph of your class or group and we will put both your text and photo on the website. Have fun and stay SAFE!