The children took part in five separate activities, taught by the Year 4 teachers, that were designed to illustrate how methods of communication have changed over the course of history.
The children first learnt about the importance of the development of the first alphabets through exploring why codes are important and what they can be used for or how they can be used. It was great fun, but be careful - the children could be sending out a code about you!
They then explored the different materials and methods people used to write with before paper. The children looked at and discussed the Chinese tradition of using slat books and created their own books with their stories and messages.
After that it was on to potato printing and what a potato printing day we have had! The children created their own stamps and, with a lot of mess and smiles, looked at how the printing press changed the way we communicated.
Following on from this, the children investigated how the invention of the telephone allowed people to communicate very quickly. To help them understand this concept, they experimented with string telephones and recorded the messages that were transferred along the line.
Finally the children arrived in the modern age and were asked the question ‘How has technology changed communication?’ They leant about the Internet, how it works and how we use it to communicate in a fast paced world.
The day was a great success. The children now have a much clearer understanding of chronology and how necessity drives innovation. All the children were fully engaged in the fun and exciting activities and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
- Nick Jones, Head of Year 4