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Exploring Literacy through Museums

ELM.jpg

The ELM project (Exploring Literacy through Museums) is a regional initiative co-ordinated by the North East Regional Museums Hub which brings primary schools and museums together in partnership. Partners work together to develop cross-curricular schemes of work that focus on improving children's writing skills, unlocking museums' potential as inspirational and unique starting points for writing in all forms and genres.

 

ELM began in 2007 with 5 museums and 5 primary schools in Newcastle. Last year, Gateshead schools were invited to be involved, and now the project is entering its fourth phase. So far, over 1,000 pupils from twenty-nine schools have taken part, and this year ELM will be working with fifteen more schools across the region. The eleven schools in Newcastle and Gateshead who are taking part are:

 

  • Beech Hill Primary School
  • Benton Park Primary School
  • Kingston Park Primary School
  • North Fawdon Primary School
  • Waverley Primary School
  • Clover Hill Primary School
  • Fell Dyke Primary School
  • Kelvin Grove Primary School
  • St Augustine's RC Primary School
  • St Joseph's RC VA Primary School, Highfield
  • St Alban's RC Primary School (unfunded)

 

Read on to find out more about the project...

 

Each school will be paired with a museum in September, and all partners will attend an Inset day in November to begin planning their unit of work. Main delivery of the project will take place during the first half of the spring term, with each school visiting their partner museum and setting aside classroom time before and after the visit to support and build on new ideas for writing.

 

Writing samples taken from pupils before and after taking part in the project have shown that 70% have improved their writing by at least one sub-level. Pupils have become more engaged and enthusiastic writers, with more confidence in their own abilities. We will be tracking pupil progress again this year and expect to find similar results.

 

For more information on the ELM project, or to request a copy of the project booklet, please contact Melanie Burgess, Hub Literacy Officer, on (0191) 263 9860, or email melanie.burgess@twmuseums.org.uk .

Posted by H Mackay on July 28, 2010 4:38 PM |

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