Do history, heritage and museum collections have value in the school curriculum for enabling students to explore themes around social justice and global citizenship? This is a question we are experimenting with in our pioneering partnership with Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust.
Their innovative social action – based curriculum gives the perfect opportunity for creative freedom to research this question. Over the last 6 months, including during the exceptional state of lockdown, we have engaged with teaching staff and year 7 students to develop the World War 1 Explorer pilot resource.
Using our beta platform, which utilises Esri ArcGIS Online software, we have created ‘The Last Goodbye’ series of learning sessions, which will be trialled over the next few weeks and months. Rooted firmly in Gosport’s local history and identity, this programme will transport students virtually into arenas of conflict across Europe and the World, to explore diverse experiences of people living and dying during WW1.
Our aim is to encourage students to reflect on the personal experiences of war, rather than seeing it solely as a ‘challenge for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day’ (UK KS3 History National Curriculum). To consider how it impacted on the lives of people across the world, as well as how it affected their own families and home communities; and how this might influence their own thinking about war, conflict and peace in today’s global society. An ambitious aim, but one that explores whether and how surviving memories, objects and stories might spark emotion and empathy, as well as enhance critical thinking.
NB This resource requires the latest versions of most common desktop browsers, and works best with Chrome and Firefox. It also supports most common current iOS and Android mobile devices.
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