Going Underground

The aim of this project was to engage primary school pupils with and improve their knowledge and understanding of local geodiversity, history and biodiversity.

The Going Underground project was designed to excite and inspire children in learning about their local environment, particularly local quarry sites. The focus for the learning were local quarry sites, one an active quarry, whereas the others were decommissioned at different times and are therefore at different stages of restoration. Eight different primary schools took part, each having a professional artist working with a class for a morning a week. The artists delivered the learning through their art forms and received support and training from local historical, geological and biodiversity specialists.

The art specialisms used were creative writing, photography, visual arts and performing arts.

Gallery

All photographs were taken for Tees Valley Arts. Creative Commons BY-NC-ND International 4.0 License.

The Films

Completed art works

2D, 3D, creative writing, photography and performances. A selection of the works were made into a book of images, and a DVD was created of drama performances, creative writing performances and slide show of images

  • Pupils & teachers interacted and worked with professional artist and local specialists
  • All participants had improved knowledge and understanding of local heritage / geography / biodiversity / history
  • Pupils had additional / alternate / more stimulating resources to access different elements of the national curriculum
  • Improved access to new and stimulating range of teaching materials and techniques that encouraged cross curricular learning
  • Artists and teachers received CPD training by geologist and industrial historian

The Funders

Borough Council Funders