Leonardo’s invention makes learning fun
Published at 13:12, Thursday, 08 January 2009
ENGINEER and artist Leonardo da Vinci was alive and well in Corbridge on Tuesday and presented an inspired invention of cogs, levers, gears and pulleys to children at Corbridge First School.
Physicist and actor Joseph Harriott was transformed into Da Vinci and, along with the Darlington-based CTC Theatre Company, left staff and children mesmerised as they transported the audience back to the 15th century with an educational performance based around the life and times of the historical figure.
As part of a fortnight focusing on the topic of inventors and inventions, children throughout the school watched an inter-active performance, during which a machine demonstrating various scientific forces and basic engineering techniques was assembled.
Created by Mr Harriott, the machine not only entranced the wide-eyed children with its sand wheel, rolling weights and system of water-filled containers which made music, but it also entertained by setting off party poppers as a grand finale.
And once their un-quenchable curiosity for invention had been sparked, it was back to the classroom for the children, who broke off into groups to write letters to the King of France, one of notable figures in Da Vinci’s life, about the invention they had just witnessed.
“It was amazing,” exclaimed seven-year-old Holly Wilson. “It was very clever how the machine all fitted together. I am writing to the king to see if he will buy it for entertainment.”
But the demands on the children’s imagination did not stop there as later the same day, with the help of the CTC actors, pupils were tasked with inventing a “waking-up machine”.
But in a time when ticking clocks had yet to be invented, and using only the technology from Da Vinci’s days, it called for a new way of counting time to be devised.
Head teacher Ali Barden explained: “The waking-up machine task is just one of a number of tasks the children will be set over the next fortnight.
“And the outlines for their inventions will all be judged at the end of the two weeks by a panel of local business people, with the winning concept being created for real by Mr Harriott.”
The Dragon’s Den-style finale will take place on January 16 with three Tynedale entrepreneurs and Mr Harriott lined up as judges.
Meanwhile, under the Government’s flagship creative learning programme Creative Partnerships, the key stage two children have spent the week working with the Haltwhistle Film Project to not only document events but to also look at the history of the camera.
Langley textile artist Katie Jackson has also been in school working with the key stage one children on the invention of paper, pens and ink. They have all spent time making their own paper and binding sheets into books to be used to document what they have learned.
And the Newcastle-based Bigfoot Theatre Company has also been in school working with the early years children, focusing on the history of water power and the inventions surrounding it.
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk
