The ‘Why Shipping Matters: An Introduction for Schools’ programme was been initiated by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) to provide an insight into shipping for primary school aged children, specifically those in Key Stage 2. The programme has been designed with a dual purpose: firstly to begin to build an interest in our shipping industry at an early age and to grow their understanding of its impact on UK, and specifically the region these young people live in.
The programme has been carefully developed in consultation with classroom teachers to ensure that it provides real world learning experiences directly linked to the National Curriculum in English, Science, History, Maths, Art, PE and Geography. There are 6 lessons that make up the core of the programme, with a further 4 lessons as an extension to the programme, culminating in an optional trip to one of the recommended locations. Each lesson lasts approximately 60 minutes and they are designed so that they could be taught in sequence over one day or as one lesson per week across a term.
Detailed plans and resources for each of the lessons have been created including worksheets and PowerPoint presentations to support teachers in the delivery of the content. A number of topics are covered by each lesson including;
– Trade and commodities
– Import and Export: Global Trade
– Vessels and their cargoes they carry
– Navigation and technology
– Letter to a Ship and other creative writing
– London as a Maritime Port/ The history of maritime Sussex/ etc based on region
Students will have the opportunity to participate in activities and experiments which will teach them about imports and exports, how vessels float, different forms of navigation, life on board a ship and the unique maritime history of their local region or port.
If you would like your school to be involved in the Why Shipping Matters programme, please get in touch with ICS at schools@ics.org
