This educational day is an exploration of sound through ears of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and consists of interlinked bridge tour and workshop sessions. During the course of the day, we will explore the history of the Clifton Suspension Bridge through sound, developing an appreciation of the world of sound around us.
Over the course of the day, pupils will:
- Enjoy a unique tour in which they are invited to listen through nearly 200 years of history “through the ears of the bridge”.
- Explore how sound carries across the span of the Avon Gorge and through the bridge structure, and how this could solve communications problems in the days before radio.
- Experience what the insides of the bridge structure sound like using bespoke technology.
- Participate in a workshop, in which they are invited to build their own “sound bridge”, and use bespoke technology to look at visual representations of their sounds.
As a package, the day tackles problem-solving and physical principles, as well as encouraging active listening and an appreciation of the changing world through sound. The activities will also help develop vocabulary skills through the introduction of associated descriptive language.
Suitable for: Upper KS2, KS3.
Group size: Up to 30 pupils.
Duration: 2 x 1 hour activities with 1 hour museum time
Curriculum area: Science, History, English Language, Engineering and Design.
Additional Information
Groups will be split into 2 x 15 pupils and rotated through the day’s activities. During the workshop, group of 15 will be further split into working groups of roughly 4 pupils.
Recommended adult supervision: one adult per five pupils.