Year 3 pupils embarked on a captivating educational journey to London, immersing themselves in both the world of art at the Tate Modern and the historical wonders revealed through mudlarking on the River Thames.
Despite the capital experiencing one of the hottest days of the year, the girls’ excitement was palpable as they travelled by train into the heart of the city. Their first stop was the renowned Tate Modern, where they explored an exhibition focused on key artistic elements: colour, form, mark-making, and shape. Pupils had the remarkable opportunity to view works by influential artists such as Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and Picasso- sparking vibrant discussions and inspiring them to form their own interpretations.
The adventure then took a unique turn as pupils headed to the banks of the River Thames for an exciting mudlarking session. This hands-on activity offered rich, cross-curricular learning that directly linked to their classroom studies. In Geography, it deepened their understanding of river systems and the Thames’ tidal nature. In History, the discoveries provided insight into daily life in historical London. The experience also brought their class book, Thames and Tide Club, vividly to life-making their literary studies truly tangible.
The girls transformed into urban archaeologists, carefully sifting through the foreshore at low tide. Their efforts were generously rewarded with a diverse array of finds, including fragments of clay pipes, animal bones, ancient pottery, and even crabs.
“The combination of exploring world-class art and then actively unearthing history from the Thames provided an exceptionally rich and memorable learning experience. It was wonderful to see their classroom learning come alive in such a tangible way – especially with the direct links to their Thames and Tide Club book.”Mrs Kasza-Martin-Hicks, Year 3 Teacher