“I’m having so much fun!”
Our popular floating classroom school visits provide primary school children the opportunity to jump aboard our research vessel, Silurian, experiencing what it’s like to live and work as a marine mammal scientist.
This September, our floating classroom went north to visit school children and communities in Ullapool and Lochinver.
“We might live close to the ocean, but a lot of our kids might not have the opportunity or means to go on dolphin cruises, so to have this opportunity to imagine ‘sightings’ has been great fun to watch.”
At the beginning of the ‘floating classroom’ week, seven classes visited from Ullapool Primary school ranging from P4-P7 - including both English and Gaelic medium classes. After a safety briefing and all kitted up in their lifejackets, pupils wasted no time getting stuck into their first activity – the Silurian scavenger hunt! Children used prompt sheets to work cooperatively to find all the items listed and even had a go at some more challenging questions such as finding their location on the map. It was brilliant to see some of the Gaelic medium students making use of the Gaelic question sheets, even teaching the crew a thing or two!
“ The provision of the Gaelic medium resources demonstrated a commitment to inclusive practice where language learning in Scotland is concerned. The vocab specific to the boats gave the opportunity to see/use words in their correct context.”
“The maps and charts were quite cool. In the future I might volunteer”
“I liked being on deck and spotting the creatures”
“When I’m older I’d like to try helping”
After a successful first day of floating classroom sessions, Silurian remained open into the evening to welcome members of the community aboard for our Open Boat event. It was great to talk to lots of different people interested in HWDT, including the parents of some of our school children and some local boat operators.
In addition to Ullapool Primary School, we were also visited by Scoraig Primary and Achiltibuie Primary. Both schools travelled some distance to be with us, including by boat in the case of Scoraig - but made it worth the journey by bringing their whole schools along! The crew enjoyed adapting the sessions to deliver to children as young as nursery all the way up to P7. There were lots of great discussions about baleen whales and echolocation, as well as the renaming of our heads as a ‘sh-oilet’ which everyone loved.
“You have a sh-oilet!”
“I felt the seal noise underwater was very interesting.”
“I would come back every day, I wish I lived on the boat!”
The last school of the week was Lochinver Primary, which gave the crew the opportunity to collect acoustic and casual sightings data as they made their way up the coast. Alongside towing the hydrophone to collect acoustic data, the team were treated to 4 sightings of common dolphins, which were logged and photographed. Every recorded sighting helps to build a picture of marine life in Hebridean waters, allowing us to better understand and protect these creatures.
Safely in Lochinver, the crew welcomed their final two groups of the week from Lochinver Primary school. After a morning downpour, the hardy school children took part in the full floating classroom session; learning how to estimate distances, calculate the bearing and heading using degrees of a compass and practised this with trusty mascot Paddy the Porpoise! This was a highlight for most pupils and helped to connect the sightings on deck with the information they were recording in the science station, which is what real survey volunteers would do!
“I was quite surprised about the sounds the porpoise made”
“Is this your main steering wheel? So even when it’s ‘brrr’, you have to...” (turning the wheel)”
“I enjoyed learning how the whales use echolocation”
“A very enjoyable session with patient, experienced and knowledgeable crew who encouraged all learners, even less confident ones. Thank you!”
During the final session, Lochinver pupils were thrilled as first mate Zoë called in a real sighting, a bottling seal at 270°, with one pupil then commenting, “When I'm older I think I'll work here!” What a great way to round off a successful week of floating classrooms.
“Fantastic trip that all pupils thoroughly enjoyed and were included in. Staff presented information in an age-appropriate way and pupils could confidently express their learning at the end. ”
The week was concluded in Lochinver with another Open Boat session. Silurian was again visited by some interested members of the public, some familiar faces and some returning school children with their families. We even received a thank you card from pupil, Nathan, who had taken the time to draw a baleen whale and a toothed whale, showing us how much he had learned from the morning session! Perhaps we have a future marine scientist in the making? It’s always wonderful to speak to members of the community about what we do, to hear their own stories of whales and dolphins and learn about their relationships with the sea as members of coastal communities.
We would like to extend a warm thanks to Ullapool Harbour and Lochinver Harbour for hosting us.
A big thanks to everyone else who made it possible, including our fantastic crew, Laura, Zoë, Andy, Sadie and Ashleigh.