Sea & Gower Key Stage 2

Rhossili to Worm’s Head

Education Resource Notes for Teachers Contents

Page

Information for Teachers 1 How to use this pack 1 Discuss and debate 1 Risk Assessment 1 Equipment List 2 Curriculum Links 2 Cross - curricular work 3 Before you go activities 4 After your visit activities 4

Activities 1. Coastwatch 5 2. Rhossili Shipwrecks 6 3. Worm’s Head 7 4. The Vile 8 5. Tears Point 9 6. Fall Bay - National Trust 10 7. St Mary’s Church 11 8. Recreation 12

The Vile trail leaﬂet 13

Credits

This education pack was written and designed by Audio Trails Ltd (www.audiotrails.co.uk) on behalf of Gower Landscape Partnership.

The Gower Landscape Project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and also from the Heritage Lottery Fund under its Landscape Partnership programme. Other funding partners include the City & County of Swansea, Natural Resources Wales and The National Trust.

Images were supplied and are copyright of the following individuals and organisations: Audio Trails Ltd © Copyright GGAT HER Charitable Trust © Crown Copyright (2014) Visit Wales National Trust Information for teachers

Gower has world-renowned beaches with dramatic scenery, wide tidal ranges and fascinating stories.

This part of the Gower app around Rhossili Bay and Worm’s Head explores the theme ‘Sea and Gower’. The trail has seven places of interest. At each one expert soundbites, stories, facts, photographs and information are used to reveal the area’s connection with the sea. There are eight ‘Activity Points’ where text is revealed which engages children in independent learning.

How to use this pack

This education pack can be used on its own or to complement the Gower app. It contains information and activity ideas at key points along the Rhossili to Worm’s Head trail around the theme of ‘Sea and Gower’.

The pack supports curriculum planning, highlighting how the activity suggestions are relevant to a range of learning outcomes in Key Stage 2. There are also additional activities that can be carried out before and after a visit to enrich your topic planning.

You may wish to follow the entire trail and carry out the suggested activities at each point of interest. However, the activities can be done in any order and you can take any safe route from one activity to the other. You may want to dip into the pack, picking and choosing particular activities and places along the trail. You may wish to come back on another day to carry out further activities in diferent places along the trail. The activities and app are completely ﬂexible, allowing you to adapt ideas and routes depending on your needs. A route map leaﬂet is appended to the back of this pack.

Discuss and debate

At each stop there is an opportunity for children to talk about key issues through discussion and debate. This pack provides guidance on what to talk about at each stop.

Risk Assessment Teachers and group leaders are responsible for carrying out their own risk assessments prior to the visit, in accordance with guidance issued by local authorities. We recommend teachers undertake a familiarisation visit in order to write the risk assessment and plan activities before bringing a group on the walk. It is essential a thorough risk assessment is carried out before the trip.

Please follow the Countryside Code and consider the impact your visit will have on the environment around you. For further information go to www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk.

1 Equipment List

iPads (running iOS7+ and preferably with GPS) with the Gower app downloaded

Binoculars and telescopes

Writing and drawing materials i.e. clipboard, paper, sketchbook, charcoal, pastels etc

Camera / video recorder – one can be found on the iPad

Compass – one can be downloaded for free on to your iPad

Curriculum Links

Geography Programme of Study

Skills

Locating places, environments and patterns: 1, 2, & 3 Understanding places, environments and processes: 2 & 3 Investigating: 1, 2 & 3 Communicating: 1, 2 & 3

Range

Study • living in Wales: their local area and an investigation of at least one aspect of the geography of the whole of Wales, e.g. AONB • living in my world: caring for places and environments and the importance of being a global citizen

Carry out • investigations of ‘geography in the news’, topical events and issues in the local area and the wider world • ﬁeldwork to observe and investigate real places and processes

Ask and answer questions • How have people afected a place/environment? How can I and others look after this

environment? 2 Cross - curricular work

The trail around Rhossili Bay to Worm’s Head links naturally to the geography curriculum but there are many ways in which it can support and enrich work in other curriculum areas.

In PSE children will be: • Taking an active interest in the world around them • Understanding aspects of the cultural heritage and diversity of Wales • Using ICT safely • Understanding the range of jobs carried out by people in their community • Understanding that our actions have consequences

In Maths children In Cwricwlwm Cymreig children will be: will be: • Solving mathematical • Developing and applying their problems knowledge and understanding of • Collecting, using, the cultural, economic, presenting and environmental and historical interpreting data characteristics of Wales

In English children will be: • Responding to visual, audio and written material • Speaking and listening in pairs and in groups as well as individually • Gathering information about Rhossili and it’s connection to the sea from a range of sources • Using the visit as a stimuli for various writing projects

In ICT children will be: • Using the Gower app on a mobile device independently and collaboratively • Using the app to explore Rhossili and Worm’s Head across a variety of subjects • Communicating with image and sound editing software

In Science In Art and Design children will be: children • Stimulated and inspired by the will be: natural environment • Studying • Investigating the natural how some environment materials • Developing their ideas and feelings are formed in a sketchbook

3 Before you go activities After your visit activities

Research beach Use the photographs and sketches you made hazards and during your visit to create a map that charts create an eye- your visit and the route you took. catching poster with advice for Research the life of Dylan Thomas, Vernon visitors on how to Watkins, Cyril Gwynn or other Gower poets avoid them. and write a biography of their life and work.

The poet Dylan Provide information for visitors and tourists Thomas was inspired by a with a ‘Welcome to Rhossili Bay’ brochure, visit to Worm’s Head. Find out leaflet or poster. what he wrote about it. Debate the impact of tourism on Rhossili Bay. Explore the route you will take to Rhossili What are the benefits and drawbacks? using digital maps. Work out how far away it is and how long it will take you to get there. It is the year 1898 and coconuts have just Research the modes of transport you could washed ashore at Rhossili Bay. Imagine you use to get there and how much each will cost. are a journalist, write a newspaper report about the unusual event and include a catchy Research the process of coastal erosion and headline. the efect it has had on the Gower coast. Find out about landslides that have occurred. How What do the coastwatch team do? Research were they caused? What impact have they their roles and responsibilities. Write a job had? advertisement detailing the personal qualities and skills required to carry out the Research the methods used to prevent job. You could even apply for the job by coastal erosion. Would they work in Gower? writing a formal letter of application in response to the job advertisement. Together Think about an investigation you would like read the letters of application and shortlist to carry out during your visit. E.g. is littering a candidates. Conduct an interview and choose problem here? Is noise a problem here? Is the new class coastwatch team. trafc a problem here? Is tourism a problem here? Research the Gower dialect. Collect words Devise a plan with details of how you will and compile a ‘dialect carry out the investigation during your visit. dictionary’. Can your Carry out the investigation and report your friends and family findings back to the class. add words they know? The Rhossili coastline is famous for its shipwrecks. Research some of them and write a report, fact file or page from a non-fiction text or website.

Investigate what is distinctive about the language in Gower.

4 1. Coastwatch

To ﬁnd out more information about the When you get National Coastwatch Institution Worm’s Head back to class use read the app text. the materials you collected to make Discuss: Would you work well in the a journey stick or coastwatch team? What skills would you journey collage to need? remember your walk. The objects should be glued onto a long piece App text and activity of card or bound onto a long stick with diferent coloured wool. The colours English: Developing oral skills by hearing could represent your mood as you walk along diferent people talking. Writing in a range of the trail. forms. English: Choosing and using appropriate If you have an opportunity to do so ask one of vocabulary. Writing in response to a wide the coastwatch team on duty questions about range of stimuli. the jobs they do. If that is not possible write ﬁve questions that you would like to ask the As you follow the trail your senses will feed Worm’s Head Coastwatch team and put them you information. in an email or letter to send when you get Go on a ‘Sensory Scavenger Hunt’ and collect back to school. words and phrases that best describe what you can see, hear, feel and smell along the trail. Share your collection of words and ideas at each stop. Take photographs of objects or Further activities landscapes that emphasise your words. Back in the classroom you could use your collec- Art and design: Using personal tion to write a sensory poem about Rhossili. experiences to inspire practical art projects.

Collect objects that interest you as you walk the trail. As you collect the materials along your journey make a record of where they were found, the conditions in which they were found and include a short description of how the place made you feel – warm, unsafe, inspired etc. You could collect feathers, wool, seeds, blossom or shells.

5 2. Rhossili shipwrecks

Read the app text to find out more information At each stop use your compass to establish about the shipwrecks found along the Gower north, south, east and west. Write one coast. You will find shipwreck stories on the sentence to describe things you can see as Rhossili Bay and Helvetia Place pages. you look in each direction. E.g. In the north I can see wrecks protruding from the sand. Or, Discuss: If the shipwrecks could talk what if you look north you will see waves crashing. stories would they tell? Or, I look north, I can see birds, waves, rocks and clouds. Debate: Should we protect the shipwrecks in Gower or leave them to the elements. When you get back to class you can use these sentences to write a descriptive poem of Rhossili, the sea and coast. This can be App text and activity developed further with diferent groups of children concentrating on diferent senses. English: Writing in response to a wide range of E.g. In the north I can hear… When I look north stimuli. Writing for a range of it makes me feel… purposes and in a range of forms. Art and Design: Expressing imagination using The sand in Rhossili Bay hides many secrets diferent materials including and only some of them are revealed. The charcoal and digital-based media wrecks here are not always visible and the natural movement of the sea, sand and wind The ships wrecked on the beaches here will only leave the wrecks exposed for now. have created a very dramatic silhouette on One day they will have disappeared from view the Gower coastline. At low tide you may see for good and eventually from memory. the Helvetia. Use charcoal on grey paper or Imagine you witnessed the ships crashing in your sketchbooks to draw it. Capture the ashore. Write a record or diary entry of the moody and striking efect it creates. events as they unfolded. Take various photographs of the shipwreck from diferent angles and positions. Think about: portrait, landscape, close-up, focus, Further activities zoom, blur, colour, flash. Use your camera to capture the mood. Back in the class English: Choosing and using appropriate recreate your own shipwrecks as sculptures vocabulary. Writing in response to a wide with a variety of materials. Display your range of stimuli. shipwreck sculptures alongside the photographs taken during your trip.

6 3. Worm’s Head

Read the app text to ﬁnd out more Further activities information about Worm’s Head. Art and design: Recording observations from Discuss: Why do you think this island is named the natural world and using a sketchbook to Worm’s Head? experiment with process and media.

Sketch the landscape in your sketchbook. App text and activity Capture the mood of Worm’s Head on the day of your visit by thinking carefully about the English: Writing in response to a wide range of light and colours you use. When you are back stimuli. Writing for a range of in class you could sketch Worm’s Head again, purposes and in a range of forms. this time showing it in a diferent light, through diferent media and expressing a diferent Worm’s Head and the coastline here have mood. inspired artists, poets and writers for centuries. As you explore collect words and ideas Art and Design: Expressing imagination using inspired by Worms Head, the sea and the diferent materials and digital-based media. coast. ICT: Creating images using a range of software. Create a simple list poem with your collection of words. For example, Take lots of photographs of Worm’s Head from various angles. When you are back in Worm’s head is… class manipulate the images using an A storm dragon image-editing software. Think about how you A mermaid’s haven can brighten, contrast, crop, rotate, colour and A magical land focus to capture the mood of Worm’s Head on the day of your visit. The Sea is… A thrashing tail Print out your favourite photographs. Mount A galloping horse and frame them and exhibit them alongside A swirling storm your Worm’s Head poems. Invite other classes or parents to view you exhibition. The Coast is… A rugged friend A spectacular sight A craggy crop

7 4. The Vile

Select ‘Gower Dialect’ from the app Further activities sliding menu to ﬁnd out more information about the origins of the language unique to ICT: Communicating text and images using Gower. app software.

Discuss: What is special about the fields here? Select ‘Postcards from Gower’ from the app sliding menu. Follow the steps to create a virtual postcard to send to your friends or App text and activity family. Take a photograph, write a caption, add a message and share. History: Understanding why people in the past did the things they did. PSE: Working cooperatively to solve problems. The word ‘Vile’, means ‘field’. It is a word unique to Gower and originates from the old Farmers had to work in partnership to make Gower dialect. The Vile is very rare and shows the open field strip system work. Write a set of us how in medieval times farmers used the teamwork rules to guide them. open field strip system to farm here. All across Britain farmers were allocated strips of land to cultivate. In Rhossili, some of the land was good for growing and some of it was not as good. So each year the farmers’ swapped strips of land to make sure the good and bad growing land was shared equally.

Do you know any other words unique to Gower? Tell your partner what they are and what they mean.

8 5. Tears Point

Read the app text to ﬁnd out more information about Tears Point.

Discuss: How is the coastline shaped?

Debate: Should we try to stop coastal erosion here?

App text and activity

Science: Investigating how some materials are formed.

Here is a great place to discover the abundant fossils that can found in the limestone rocks. The dry stonewall along the Gower Coastal Path was built with limestone quarried locally. It is teeming with fossils that show Gower was once under warm shallow seas, like the Bahamas is today. It gives you a good idea of what can be found in the limestone rocks at Tears Point.

With a magnifying glass in hand, sketch or photograph the fossil examples found. Choose a favourite, describe it and research it when you get back to school.

Further activity

Geography: Studying two contrasting locations.

Compare this place to where you live.

Rhossili Where I live

What I can see here?

What is the same/diferent?

Is this area pleasant to be in? Why?

What could be done to improve it?

What will it look like in 50 years time?

100 years time?

9 6. Fall Bay - National Trust

Read the app text to ﬁnd out more In the classroom information about Fall Bay. edit your sound ﬁle(s) and add sea Discuss: Who do you think looks after Rhossili sound efects and Bay? What do they do to manage it? music. Publish your sound recordings Debate: Should Gower keep its ‘Area of as a podcast on the Outstanding Natural Beauty’ title? school website.

Art and Design: App text and activity Investigating natural objects and environments and keeping a sketchbook to Art and Design: Recording observations from develop ideas. the natural world and keeping a sketchbook to develop ideas and feelings. The dry stone wall was built by prisoners of the Napoleonic War and is 6 miles long. It is Find a safe spot to draw the landscape. Frame covered with interesting lichens. Search for your artwork with vivid words and phrases that unusual lichen shapes on the wall. Can you describe it. Include words to describe what ﬁnd any that look like something else? you can see, smell, touch and hear and words that express your emotions. Use a magnifying glass to look at one lichen in detail. Fill a page in your sketchbook with detailed observations of their patterns and Further activities colours.

ICT: Creating and communicating information in the form of sound. Sharing information safely.

Use your digital device to record your voices talking about the sea and the coast.

In groups record your observations of the sea and coastline and create sound ﬁles. Tell each other your experiences or memories of the sea. This may be a holiday, school trip or a day at the beach. Record the sound of the waves and sea birds.

10 7. St Mary’s Church

Read the app text to find out more Signs and symbols can be found all around information about St Mary’s Church. the churchyard. Walk around and collect symbols that interest you or mean something Find: Scratch dial, ‘leper window’, lichens, the to you. Collect your favourites by drawing oldest headstone inscription, the most unusual detailed sketches in your sketchbook. What headstone inscription and the most unusual do you think the symbols mean? Invent a shaped headstone. How many graves have symbol that represents your personality and symbols related to the sea? values. Sketch your ideas in the churchyard, then refine and create your symbol back in the classroom using your chosen media. App text and activity How many graves have symbols linked to the History: Identifying significant people and sea? What are they? using churches and memorials as a source of historical evidence. Maths: Solving maths problems Investigate one or all of the following. Research the life of a person buried or remembered in the churchyard or church. Investigate one or all of the following. Identify their contributions to the community of Gower or the wider world. Begin by reading In which decade did most deaths occur? the inscriptions on headstones or memorials for clues. Collect names, dates and any Does one year in that decade stand out? additional information. Back in the classroom or library continue your research and create a What is the average age of people buried in a biography of your chosen local. given decade?

What is the most commonly used stone or Further Activities monument shape?

Art and design: Developing ideas through observations of churches and churchyards. Keeping a sketchbook to develop ideas and feelings.

11 8. Recreation

Discuss: How do people use coastal areas? You could develop your survey further by asking people their views and opinions. You Debate: What is the impact of tourism on this could ask questions like: Why did you come area? Good or bad? here today? How often do you visit here? What do you think about Rhossili Bay? What do you do when you get here? How far have App text and activity you come? How did you travel to Rhossili?

PSE: Exploring personal values and What have you found out about why people expressing views and ideas in diferent ways. visit Rhossili?

Think about the diferent groups of people Present your research as a report and send it who use Rhossili Bay. Create a code of to the National Trust using the address below. conduct for one group of people with tips and advice about how they should look after the South Pilton Green Farm, area they enjoy using. You may want to plan a Pilton Green, poster to complete back in the classroom. Rhossili, Gower. Swansea. Further activities SA3 1PQ.

Geography: Asking questions about a place and drawing conclusions.

Conduct a survey to ﬁnd out why people visit Rhossili.

How many people can you see? What are they doing?

Gather the information and record it in a table with a tally.

12 The Vile, Rhossili Route directions Trail info 1 Walk downhill, past the large car park and National Trust shop and go Distance: 5.25km (7.25km if crossing through a gate. Follow this track alongside The Vile for about 1.5km over to Worms Head) until you reach the Coastguard Lookout overlooking Worm’s Head. You may like to cross the causeway to reach Worm’s Head but please Allow: 2 hours check the relevant information at the Lookout. There is only a 2.5 hour window either side of low tide to cross and return. Start: The trail begins at Rhossili bus 2 To continue the trail turn left and rejoin the Wales Coast Path along the Saving Gower – stop. The car park (fee on entry) is top of the clifs, keeping the wall on your left. After a while the path For All It’s Worth descends quite steeply and then follows the wall sharpy round to the situated at the end of the village. left at Tears Point (at this point you could descend down to Fall Bay). Gower Landscape Partnership Terrain: The surface varies from ﬁrm Follow the upper (left hand) path ascending through the gorse, taking and level to soft and uneven. Be www.thisisgower.co.uk care along this section as the stones can be slippery. aware of the clifs along the walk. 3 Continue to follow the Coast Path waymark signs along the clifs. Public Transport Information: 4 After passing the old lime kiln (you may have noticed a smaller one a short distance before) climb a short ascent and continue to follow the 0871 200 22 33 (Calls cost 10p per Coast Path. Mewslade Bay (not accessible at high tide) is down to your minute plus any charges your right with Thurba Head (the ﬁrst property owned by the National Trust network provider makes), on Gower) beyond. Continue along the path, hugging the wall on your www.traveline-cymru.info or left, and follow it as it veers left though a small National Trust gate download the free Traveline Cymru between hedges, which leads to the road in Middleton. app. 5 Turn left (proceed with caution - no footpath for 25 metres) and then bear left to pick up the track between Rhossili Village Hall and the stone farm buildings.

6 Bear right where the lane forks and right again at the next fork. When you reach the road, with St Mary’s Church on your right, turn left to return back to the start.

Safety First! Take in dramatic scenery and learn about Gower’s close links with the West Country • The rough causeway is tidal, cutting of Worm’s Head from the mainland as the tide rises - we strongly advise that of England. you check with the Coastguard Lookout before attempting to walk across to Worm’s Head. • Wear appropriate clothing and footwear • Take extra care in windy and/or wet conditions Distance: 5.25km Grade: moderate • Always supervise children and dogs • Leave gates and property as you ﬁnd them

Cover image: © Crown copyright: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales © Hawlfraint y Goron: Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru Coastwatch The Vile St Mary’s Church ‘Gower’ app

Download our The volunteers at the Worm’s Head This remarkable medieval open The tower was also once used as ‘Gower’ app to lookout provide tidal information so ﬁeld system is known as the Vile a landmark for passing ships and your iOS or Android walkers know if and when it is safe (or Viel). This arable area is divided indeed the bell is said to have been device and discover to cross the causeway to Worm’s into strips about 200 metres long. salvaged from a wrecked Spanish more about Gower. Head. They also report to the Each bundle of strips is arranged in ship. coastguard in an emergency or if roughly square blocks, each having thisisgower.co.uk people become stranded. distinctive names.

5 6

2 3

Worm’s Head Tears Point

Fall Bay

Historically named ‘Wurm’ On some old maps this area is meaning ‘dragon’ by Viking recorded as Tiers Point, perhaps invaders, this half-tide island is in reference to the tiers of stone. Only accessible by foot this shaped like a giant sea-serpent Was it later changed to Tears secluded bay has a ﬁne example and marks the most westerly tip Point to reﬂect the tears wept at of a raised beach that formed of Gower. those lost in wrecks? when Woolly Mammoths roamed PLEASE OBSERVE TIDE TIMES Britain.