Objectives: To complete a poster about Brunel describing his achievements.
Extension: To take on the role of Brunel in a 'hot-seat' situation.
National Curriculum: Make comparisons across time, 'now and then'; recall some details about a famous person; identify some of the effects of events; describe what significant contributions were made by a famous person.
Resources required: Online story of Brunel; pictures of different bridges and forms of transport, past and present; activity sheet 1;
Teaching Activities: Introduction: Remind children about Brunel by showing them a picture of the man. Discuss with the children the different ways they could get from one side of a river to the other; travel from their school to London; from this country to America. Discuss the differences between now and then.
Activities: The teacher records children's suggestions about forms of transport, the differences between 'now' and 'then'. Explain to the children that together they are going to organise a class exhibition about transport and that Brunel and his achievements in the area of transport will feature in this exhibition. The children are to produce a poster about Brunel that will describe his achievements. What is a poster? What needs to go on a poster? Some children can have a partially prepared poster - activity sheet 1.
As an extension activity, children could take on the role of Brunel at the exhibition, being 'hot-seated' in the role whilst children from other classes ask questions.
Plenary: The children compare their posters. What do the posters 'say' about Brunel's achievements? The children decide which posters will be used around the school to advertise their class exhibition.
