INTRODUCTION An outdoor classroom 400 miles long: The waterways of London form a 400 mile network of potential! They are a fantastic outdoor classroom, waiting to be explored. Studies in geography, ecology, history and citizenship are fitting here, with boundless inspiration for art, literacy and the creative What we can offer you: curriculum. Thames21 has a variety of educational This pack will help you and your students opportunities for your school or college. explore your local waterways; The River Lea and Lee Navigation, in the area of the • This Resource Pack has been developed in new Lea River Park, stretching down the consultation with teachers and lecturers and River Lea from Stratford to the Thames. offers self-led activities linked to the waterways in the Lea River Park for Key Stage 1-4 to A-levels. Thames21: • Our Sticklebacks in the Classroom project gives students the opportunity to care for Although our waterways are a superb Sticklebacks during the spring term. Great for learning resource, some do need a any age student, there are many links to National helping hand to reach their potential. Curriculum studies and provides a superb Thames21 is a registered charity working stimulus for a creative curriculum approach. with over 8000 volunteers each year to improve the waterways, clean up grot • We can facilitate field visits and practical spots and improve wildlife habitats. volunteering activities for your students. Thames21 organise community events • We offer work experience placements for and activities to bring people to the students aged 15+ waterways for leisure and recreation, and • Information stalls or activities at your deliver educational projects for school and environmental days, green fairs etc. colleges. See www.thames21.org.uk for • Speakers for careers guidance, geography more information. lessons, citizenship sessions etc. • Activities for youth groups or parents attached In your area: to your school. Thames21 are working on the Lea River Park project, a new 2 mile long park extending along the River Lea from Stratford south to the Thames. This park is being developed by London Thames Gateway Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. It will be a superb green space for the area, linking to the Olympic Park and increasing access to the waterways for all. There are Introduction - 2 Page lots of opportunities for the community to be involved. Visit the website www.leariverpark.org for more details about the project. This Resource Pack: This Resource Pack has been This Pack will be continually developed in consultation with developed and improved. Your teachers and lecturers in Newham feedback would be appreciated. and Tower Hamlets. It aims to guide education professionals to We hope the pack will help to use the waterways in the Lea River introduce more people to the Park as an outdoor classroom. wonders of the waterways, and The Pack covers health and safety inspire young people to tackle the and includes information on negative and cherish the treasures. opportunities for additional follow up study and links. Suitable sites For more information on education are identified for each activity, in the Lea River Park or to give us such as Three Mills Island, accessed your feedback please call our East from Stratford or Bow, or East India London Office on 020 7515 3337 or Dock Basin on the Thames, close email [email protected] to Canning Town station. Some lesson plans are based in class, but of course a visit to the appropriate The pack has been site can bring this learning to life. developed with the kind All sites can be easily accessed by assistance of teachers public transport. from the following schools The lesson plans and activities are and colleges: linked to the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1-4 and appropriate Manorfield Primary School exam board syllabus for GCSE and Drew Primary School A-level study, covering science, Kaizen Primary School geography, history and citizenship. St Paul’s Way Community School Many excellent stimuli can be Tower Hamlets College found amongst this pack for those Newham College following a creative curriculum. Page 3 - Introduction - 3 Page Background The River Lea has shaped its valley Despite centuries of urbanisation and through the years, both in form and in industrial use a wide range of habitats, human use. The River is tidal. Now the plants and animals are to be found tides flow in and out of the Lea up to here. The canal and river provide an Three Mills Island, where a lock today excellent place for a bird watching. creates permanent high water north Herons, cormorants, gulls, ducks, coots, from there. The tidal River has provided moorhens and even kingfishers abound. water to power the mills on Three Mills The Lea is a migration route for birds, so Island, and to transport goods. Food was in spring and autumn you might spot produced here, and London’s drinking a rarity, such as an osprey taking the water came from reservoirs in the valley. chance for a quick meal on the fish that inhabit the river. The River Lea was vital to the health and wealth of the city. The city was not so Water birds should beware of the pike, giving in return. The Lea’s location has a huge fierce predator. Fishermen are also meant that it has been the place for content with Perch, Carp, and Bream, and London to dispose of its waste products, rare Eels have been given special passes out of sight and smell. The direction of to help their movements up the canal the prevailing wind has dictated that and river through the locks. Fish come the east of London has always been the here to breed, and in the early summer place for undesirable, noxious activities, the canal is teaming; you can see shoals so industry became the main land use of tiny fish. here. Factories made glass, paints, dyes, alcohol and matches. The reed beds on the canal are a great place for investigating water mini-beasts. With this industry came also an Dragonfly nymphs, newts, hoglouse, extraordinary culture of innovation. From shrimp, water boatman and a host of the invention of synthetic plastic, to the other creatures can be caught in a net. gasworks that powered East London, and Joseph Bazalgette’s creation of the The River Lea and Lee Navigation canal first city-wide sewage system, pumped provide a wealth of stimuli for discovery, through Abbey Mills. Faraday pioneered and for students learning more about electric lighting at Trinity Buoy Wharf, their community, its history, and the keeping our seafaring nation safe with place in which they live. lighthouses. Culture-creating new goods Background - 4 Page came into the East India Docks from India and China, such as our beloved tea, and the Virginian settlers left from here on a dramatic voyage across the Atlantic. OVERVIEW OF STUDY SITES Site Good for….. Organisation/ Nearest public Website transport for site The House Mill Local history study The River Lea Tidal Mill Bromley by Bow station Three Mills Lane Sustainability study Trust Ltd on District line Bromley by Bow Has a classroom facility www.housemill.org.uk E3 3DU Café and toilets 020 8980 4626 Viewing River Lea Group visits by prior Viewing Lee Navigation arrangement Short walk to Bow Lock Tour guides available for school parties Three Mills Green Large open space for Lee Valley Park Bromley by Bow station Three Mills Lane lunches/letting off www.leevalleypark.org.uk on District line Bromley by Bow steam! E3 3DU Games 08456 770 600 Minibeast hunts Viewing Lee Navigation and Three Mills Lock Bow Creek Ecology/wildlife study Lee Valley Park Canning Town station Ecology Park Peace and quiet www.leevalleypark.org.uk on Jubilee line and DLR Bidder St Has outdoor shelter E16 4ST Viewing River Lea 08456 770 600 East India Dock Local history study Lee Valley Park East India Dock DLR Basin Ecology/wildlife study www.leevalleypark.org.uk Orchard Place Peace and quiet E14 9QS Viewing River Thames 08456 770 600 Trinity Buoy Wharf Local history study Urban Space East India Dock DLR 64 Orchard Place Study of Michael Management Ltd E14 0JW Faraday www.trinitybuoywharf. 020 7515 7153 Interesting com Group visits by prior architecture arrangement Artists workshops Café and toilets Sites of Overview - 5 Page Viewing River Thames Map Three Mills Green The House Mill Bow Creek Ecology Park East India Dock Basin Page 6 - Map - 6 Page Trinity Buoy Wharf HEALTH+SAFETY Naturally there can be some Take a look at the sample risk assessment. Here we aim to provide comprehensive trepidation amongst teachers when information on health and safety considering waterway activities for considerations when taking pupils out to the their class. waterways. We don’t want to scare, but do include all possible risks, however unlikely to Certainly there are some added hazards when occur, so you have the full information with exploring the river or canal compared with which to plan your visit and fill out your own other school trips. With some prior research risk assessments. and by using simple safety measures risk can be greatly reduced, along with concern, If you require any more information or allowing a safe and fun day for all. training on waterway safety, please contact Thames21 and we will be happy to assist. Page 7 - Health and Safety and Health - 7 Page The Risk Assessment can be found in Appendix 1 at the end of this document or downloaded here GEOGRAPHY LESSON PLANS Unit/Section Catalyst/Stimuli Questions Learning Outcomes Activity Unit 1: Around our school Do you see a waterway on Learning river words from Site visit: Three Mills, - the local area your way to School? maps.