The Learning Story - Floating ideas for an Ellesmere Port library pack
The Story Shared project has given us the time, resources and expertise with a dedicated Learning Officer to really develop what we can offer to primary schools in Cheshire.
Teams in Cheshire Libraries had responded positively to our plan to create resource packs for libraries hosting class visits – it was now time to test it out!
Our aim for the packs was for students to develop a better understanding and appreciation of their local history. We also wanted to produce ready-to-go sessions so that any member of a library team could pick up the pack and deliver a fun experience for students. We reached out to Ellesmere Port Library to get working on their pack. Being Irish and relatively new to living in Cheshire, I had a limited knowledge about the rich history of Ellesmere Port - from canals to industries and everything in between. I was about to get to know it very well indeed.
When Paulette from Ellesmere Port Library kindly offered us an opportunity to pilot our Key Stage 2 pack (for 7 to 11 year olds) with a local primary school, we jumped at the opportunity. I took my folders, copies of trade directories, and miscellaneous objects in my teaching bag and headed off to Little Sutton Library. The class were so engaged and receptive and got stuck into the activities. The highlight of the pilot for me was seeing the resources I created being used by enthusiastic students. They were having a great time reading through the trade directories and discussing what jobs they’d like to do – ‘fried fish dealer’ was quite a popular choice!
Little Sutton and Ellesmere Port Libraries were delighted with the session and were happy to deliver it in future after some training. Their sentiments were echoed by the class teacher, who told me ‘we loved this session and gained so much from it. The session gave the children a hands-on experience and vastly improved their understanding of analysing sources. Your session helped me tick off a number of curriculum objectives too.’
We are so looking forward to working with further libraries to develop more packs and piloting more sessions as the learning programme progresses. I think I’ve already spotted some young archivists in the making!
By Chloe Kennedy, Learning Officer
