Thinking Space promotes dialogue and enquiry. We work in schools and communities, creating space for people to talk and think together. Through their involvement in the Creative Partnerships scheme, Rodillian wanted to understand better how PLTS and Learning to Learn programmes could be embedded in a Year 7 curriculum through project based work in the Humanities and Performing Arts. Extensive consultation and discussion between Creative Partnerships, key members of the SLT and Governors resulted in a radical initiative to transform Year 7 curriculum. After a positive start in the first year of the project the school set out to deepen and develop this work the following year with a view to this approach being more widely adopted within other curriculum areas. As part of this work a core of eight teaching staff led by Lisa Singleton, collaborated with a filmmaker, Dawn Feather, a theatre director, Dan Mallaghan and philosophers Grace Robinson and Amber D'Albert . Their role was to challenge and initiate reflection through their various interventions. The Creative Partnerships Agent, Tim Appelbee was also very much involved in the project's inception. The project developed around a 'wide game' scenario entitled 'Operation: New Planet'. The children began the new term with a video briefing during which they were presented with the premise of the project. Planet Earth, they were told, would not be able to sustain human life beyond 2030 so Children from Rodillian had been chosen to undertake an experimental project. 'The Ministry of Security and Defence' had identified, in a nearby constellation, eight planets whose environment is capable of sustaining human life. The atmosphere, climate, land, sea and wildlife were broadly similar to Planet Earth, but with the important distinction that they had so far been untouched by human hands. Each class would be allocated to a planet and required to establish an identity for it. The aim of the project was to establish the best model of society that would allow humanity to be preserved. To prepare the young people they would receive visits from the Ministry by 'specialists', however the direction of the planet communities would be determined by the young people themselves. Philosophical enquiry was used to give the young people every fortnight an opportunity to engage with the project's many philosophically challenging themes including basic needs, and religious freedom. The challenging nature of these sessions was intensified by planned dramatic interventions by Dan and colleagues from his company Lost Dog Theatre. Philosophical reflection was supported by video dairies and film footage made by Dawn and colleagues from InspirEd.
Educational Object Link