A Temple to Water: Papplewick Water Education Interdisciplinary Curriculum Map and Activities

Introduction to the Resources

Welcome to our online Water Education resource site

The resources here are published by Dragon Breath Theatre as part of the A Temple to Water project (2018 onwards). This is a teacher led, interpreter supported, day-long visit to Papplewick Pumping Station Museum, Nottinghamshire.

The Curriculum Map and 26 PowerPoints accessible here also offer a standalone interdisciplinary curriculum resource to help schools develop a water curriculum.

They are intended to work alongside the principles and practice of the University of Nottingham’s 2018 Learning About Water Curriculum Toolkit, Papplewick ISBN-13 9780853583226.

Our Resources also draw from, and extend, two previous Papplewick education projects. First, the Get WET action research project at the Centre for Advanced Studies in the Education Department at the University of Nottingham (2011-13) (www.getwet.org.uk), which has a wide range of helpful documentary films. And secondly, Dragon Breath Theatre’s Award Winning A Crack in Time performance projects at Papplewick 2013-2015. see video:

Thanks to our lead teacher colleagues Marie Gallagher and Lisa Brown for their contributions reviewing this Resource at different stages, and to all the artists, teachers, academics and children whose investigative work into the nature and wonder of water is represented here.

Nettie Scriven and
Peter Rumney

Artistic Directors,
Dragon Breath Theatre

www.dragonbreaththeatre.com
Curriculum Resources & Activities

Curriculum Map

The activities and resources are grouped on the downloadable Curriculum Map according to their curriculum areas, and are linked by key disciplinary concepts.

The PowerPoints include links across the curriculum map, connections to national curriculum objectives. curriculum extensions, and links to some of the films on the Get WET site.

We recommend that you begin by investigating the activity What Am I Curious About?, which is located under The Big Idea - an understanding of the importance water to life. It enables children’s’ curiosity to be at the heart of the project. (See PowerPoint 1)

We have added a short list of vocabulary that might be useful for pupils to make the most of their visit to Papplewick.

Please let us know what you think about the activities, so we can develop shared practice, via the blog and/or by emailing us at

CLICK HERE for the A Temple to Water – PREPARING FOR YOUR SCHOOL VISIT

CLICK HERE for the CURRICULUM MAP

CLICK HERE to go to the RESOURCES POWERPOINT LIST & DESCRIPTIONS OF CONTENT

CLICK HERE to go to the RESOURCES POWERPOINTS

CLICK HERE for THE A TEMPLE TO WATER LEAFLET

CLICK HERE for UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM LEARNING ABOUT WATER CURRICULUM TOOLKIT

Our recent promotional material:

Thoughts from our lead teacher

It’s good to have an idea as to where you would like the children to go in their learning, but don’t be afraid if during a lesson they steer it in a completely different direction… always embrace their passion for a certain area and then look back AFTER the session on the learning that has taken place. It will usually be far greater when you have allowed them to take control of the work themselves than if you would have stuck to your plan.

Although we are wanting the children to initiate the areas of learning and areas they want to know more about - e.g. waterfalls or waterproof materials, it is okay at times to introduce them to an area that they are unlikely to think of, as they may not have been exposed to it previously (e.g. virtual water, water management in other countries, or political areas such as water charities).

Whilst on this discovery with the children, the most important thing to remember is that it may also be a time of discovery for you, and that it is okay not to know all the answers but have an idea as to how we can find the answers.

Each time you investigate a topic it will be completely different because the children will come with different experiences and interests.

Marie Gallagher,

Lead Teacher, Dunkirk Primary School

Get WET Action Research Project and A Crack in Time Project