Local History Loan Boxes
Local schools are offered an opportunity to boost their curriculums, enrich learning experiences and inspire a future generation of active historians.
Students in North East Lincolnshire can now benefit from unique learning experiences, as the sights and sounds of Grimsby and Cleethorpes past are brought into the classroom.
Local history loan boxes are available for primary schools to hire, enriching learning and inspiring a future generation of active historians.
Offered by Lincs Inspire Libraries, loan box themes include Grimsby’s fishing heritage, a day at the Victorian seaside, and the life of an evacuee during the second World War.
Pictured: Kim Rothman, project lead pictured with fishing loan box resources outside of Alfred Enderby on Grimsby Docks
The loan boxes were recently trialled by Littlecoates Primary Academy, teacher Lucy Howes said:
The resources have really engaged our students, to the extent that they’re still talking about the lesson a week later! They loved dressing up as a Victorian, helping them get into character and develop their historical understanding. Seeing historic photos of Cleethorpes has made the subject ‘real’ for them, as have the artefacts. It’s kick-started our topic and we’re really looking forward to history lessons. The children don’t want the topic to be over!
The immersive boxes are filled with everything schools need to meet their cross-curriculum targets including maths, literature, local history, music and drama. They also include sensory, audio and visual activities.
Lesson plans cater for many learning styles, helping teaching staff to deliver learning outcomes that meet the curriculum.
Each loan box has its own illustrated character to help children connect with the historical period, bursting to life with colour and sound when scanned through a smart phone or device with an augmented reality app.
This creative element was made possible thanks to funding from the LibraryOn grants programme, with the help of pupils from Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe who worked with artists from The Colour Foundry.
Loan boxes are available to hire for a termly fee.
