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All
children love to make things. Give them a cardboard box, a length
of string, sellotape … and some wonderful creation will emerge.
The
Making Place, North Kensington's unique education centre, uses this
natural enthusiasm to create, as the basis of its innovative approach
to the teaching of science and technology. Its hands-on projects
guarantee a high level of involvement from all the children who
visit, regardless of their educational background.
Since
it opened less than five years ago, thousands have passed through
the doors of the Making Place to take part in a whole range of different
projects. As a result of its growing reputation for innovative and
effective teaching, schools now travel to use its facilities from
all over London and the South of England.
Family
Days at the Making Place offer children the chance to come along
with an adult and for a very low cost, take part in an exciting
project. Today the theme (specifically for 8-12 year old children)
is 'Feel the Force : catapult challenge, pneumatics and balloon
power'. In one of the well-equipped working spaces in the Making
Place's impressive purpose built wooden building, fifteen children
and ten adults are all hard at work around tables piled high with
balls of string, strips of wood, glue and card. All around is a
buzz of concentrated activity.
During
the day, each child will complete three projects designed to get
them to think about different forms of propulsion. Demonstrations
are given by facilitator Roger Vipond, who then helps people individually
to bring life to their own ideas by offering practical assistance.
The brief is the same for everyone, but as the finished models demonstrate
each child manages to inject their own personality into their work.
Jung
Mclean has brought along her eight year old son Ross and her daughter
Kirsty.
'I've
brought Ross here before and he hasn't stopped talking about what
he did when he was here last time. I know that at the end of the
day he won't want to go home. I'm sure that a lot of learning goes
on but the main thing is that I can see that he is really enjoying
himself. My daughter is having a really good time too.'
The
adults who accompany the children on Family Days are encouraged
to take part in the activities as much as possible, either helping
their children with their models or even building their own. The
challenge to design and build something from start to finish seems
to be a challenge equally fascinating to both adults and children.
Roger tells me that the grown up members of the class get so involved
with their projects that in the 'catapult challenge' that ends the
day, they have to have their own competition!
Peter
Kanssen and his son Izaak are crouching on the floor experimenting
with a complex catapault mechanism that they have constructed out
of cardboard tubes, strips of wood and string. Peter tells me that
they are both regulars to the Making Place having first come along
two years ago.
'My
son makes stuff at home but its much better fun to take part in
a project with lots of other people around. I really enjoy having
the opportunity to take part in the project with Izaak too. That's
what makes these Family Days so special.'
Family
Days are inexpensive, and open to all. Boys and girls enjoy the
projects equally. There are separate days for children of different
ages. Details of upcoming events can be received by contacting Sue
Brumpton, Centre Manager atThe
Making Place at the following address and phone number.
The
Making Place
3 Exmoor Street
North Kensington
London W10 6BE
0208 964 2684
The
Making Place have an interesting website which contains event information
as well as interactive online projects based on their projects.
www.the-making-place.co.uk
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