London, the ultimate living classroom

There is arguably no better place than London to bring the national curriculum to life.

Framed by that iconic skyline, the UK capital is home to a fantastic mix of historic landmarks, world-class culture and entertainment, diverse communities and – of course - urban geography in action.

Imagine it through your student’s eyes…

What more engaging way to understand the real-life impact of currents, tides and pollution than by connecting it with the iconic River Thames that snakes its way through the city?

Or how about diving into your next drama class via the globally renowned theatres of London’s West End, getting to grips with its incredible music, dance and design?

Then, of course, there is the nearly nine million people that call London home, a vibrant mix of different communities that each bring their own traditions, cultures and religions.

What better platform with which to broaden students’ horizons and build up their empathy, knowledge and understanding of the world around them?

For schools located in or near to London, weaving the city through different subject areas is a sure-fire way to connect the curriculum to the boroughs, culture and communities that sit on student’s doorsteps. It can help turn them into active, engaged citizens, equipped with an understanding of how the city’s ecosystem works and how we each play a role.

But using London as a lens for learning isn’t limited to teachers based in and around the capital. The city can also create the perfect jumping off point for discussions about other local and regional communities. It can provide comparison and context for student’s local experiences and challenge them to apply learnings in their own neighbourhoods.

Wherever you’re based and whatever subject area you’re teaching, London can bring excitement, engagement and innovativeness.

 

The London Classroom: a toolkit for bringing the city to life

Feeling inspired but still a little unsure on how to incorporate London into your own lesson plans? We can help.  

To provide all the teaching ideas and practical support you’ll need to turn London into an educational asset, we’ve created The London Classroom, a new online programme designed to help teachers from KS1 to KS3 to embed the capital into their teaching with ease.

On our platform, you’ll find a huge collection of cross-curricular teacher resources, from one-off quick downloads to comprehensive assembly packs, digital lessons and even London-inspired mini projects.

Looking to get students interested in climate change and what makes a sustainable city? Then download our fact match-up exercise which connects the dots between famous London landmarks and their efforts to cut down on carbon.

Keen to inspire the next generation of architects? Then use our free tool to get students imagining how they’d design London’s next bridge.

Or get really creative and encourage students to think outside the box with this London Eye inspiration circle, which gives them free rein to jot down their thoughts, feelings and ideas, no matter how abstract.

Each activity has been carefully designed to inject a sense of fun and excitement into the classroom, while helping teachers align activities seamlessly with the national curriculum.

They’re the perfect way to help students build up a sense of connection to society and the world around them.

All aboard The London Eye, an immersive learning experience ‘in the sky’

Adding a school trip to the mix can be a great way to elevate that learning even further.

Research shows that immersive, outdoor learning can accelerate the pace at which young people absorb knowledge and develop skills. It can add value to classroom experiences and build up cultural capital that may otherwise be out of reach, particularly for students from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

The London Eye is a great addition to any itinerary. At 135m tall, the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel towers above the city, providing an unparalleled 360° view of its landmarks, all against the backdrop of that famous London skyline. It’s a unique way to help students appreciate the size and scale of the city, with a bird’s eye view of its maze of streets, buildings and inhabitants as a day unfolds in real time beneath them.

To make the most of this immersive classroom in the sky, don’t forget to maximise your 30-minute flight aboard one of our 32 pods by using one of our pod plans. Each plan includes learning objectives, impressive stats to share with students as they embark and a bank of helpful learning resources to support our suggested activities. The packs include both primary and secondary resources.  

Ask students to locate the famous London landmarks as they rotate, encourage them to note down all the various ways in which the River Thames is being used or even ask them to sketch and annotate their very own building designs. You can find all our pod plans here.

London is a living classroom like no other. It injects excitement and interest for students, boosting engagement and retention, and helping them feel connected to the world outside the window. So, what are you waiting for?