Children aged three to 11 from a Nottingham school who have been studying lesson plans created by a Nottingham teacher to help them learn about the coming of the tram were rewarded for their efforts when a tram came calling at a stop just by their school.
Pupils from 12 classes at Welbeck Primary and Nursery School got the chance show off posters they designed and to explore a new Citadis tram parked at the new Queen’s Walk tram stop on the NET Phase Two line as the climax of a school project in which they have been studying lessons sent to schools along the new tram routes.
The lesson plans, which are available online to all city and county schools, tie in with the broader curriculum and were created by Nottingham teacher and Specialist Leader in Education Samuel Mensah. They are designed to help keep children safe around the trams now being tested in their neighbourhoods and to support other lessons including geography, local history and science. They include information on using the tram, how it is built, the physics behind it and tram travel in the past.
Welbeck pupil Ayshah, 11, seemed to have taken it all in. “The lessons left us full of knowledge about the trams,” she said. “We learned about the history of the trams and how they used to look, and about the new electric ones.”
Joseph, 10, (pictured) responded to the safety messages within the lessons by producing a poster showing a pedestrian crossing tram tracks along with a slogan slick enough for any advertising agency – “SEE TRACKS? THINK TRAM”.
Councillor Jane Urquhart, with lead responsibility for NET at Nottingham City Council, said: “We wanted to make these useful lessons about the tram a stimulus for learning that takes in a whole range of subjects. I hope that getting the chance to explore the tram will ignite the children’s interest and bring the lesson plans to life. And when passenger services start running through the area, they will not only provide quick, easy, sustainable transport but will also contribute to the redevelopment of The Meadows.” Assistant Headteacher at Welbeck Primary and Nursery School Kayleigh Weatherall said: “It’s great for the children to see the tram up close and be a part of the project. The children have watched the developments taking place right outside school so it was necessary to involve them in this change to their community and re-promote road safety awareness. The lesson plans were an ideal resource for use across our Key Stage 2 year groups to raise awareness of trams and Nottingham’s tram history, as we draw closer to trams running regularly for passengers in our area. The pupils have produced some great work using the resource pack which also led to further art, design and Personal, Social, Health and Education (PSHE) activities to display in the school hall.”
Joining pupils on board the tram, lesson plans author Samuel Mensah lsaid he was looking forward to the opening of the new tram extension: “I think it’s fantastic for Nottingham. It’s going to really improve transport here. It’s cleaner, it’s safer and it’s more environmentally-friendly, and it’s going to improve access to universities and schools. The new tram routes will improve the quality of life for the citizens of Nottingham.
“I wanted the lessons pack to reflect the massive economic and cultural impact that the tram has had on Nottingham. It was very rewarding to get their feedback this morning. “I have tried to ensure pupils will understand why we have the tram, how it works, the science behind it, where it goes and the positive impact it has on life in Nottingham.
I wanted the pack to be teacher-friendly, with clear links to the new National Curriculum. I want the children to enjoy doing the tasks and to make them think about different issues.” The lesson plans can be downloaded at www.thetram.net/schools
To see a video clip of the children’s tram visit go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS31JEee4z4