Developed as an exciting new learning programme, in association with Cahoots NI, the children’s theatre company, this new trail engages both children and adults through an emigrant’s journey punctuated by interactive activities. The Magic of Time trail, rather than being a teaching tool, is a fun way to approach the curriculum generating an eagerness to learn while retaining a strong focus on the Northern Ireland Curriculum.
Learning at the Ulster American Folk Park
National Museums Northern Ireland has a strong learning ethos and continues to develop projects in line with the Executive’s Programme for Government STEM Strategy. The aim is to empower the younger generation through the study and understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, promoting a dynamic, creative and innovative economy.
That story of emigration is brought to life spectacularly at the Ulster American Folk Park. Visitors experience first-hand the journey from the farmsteads of rural Ulster to the log cabins of the pioneers in Frontier America. The museum is the ultimate in living history with original, authentic buildings restored, relocated and populated by a cast of colourful, costumed characters going about their day to day business as they might have done 150 years ago.
The impetus driving all learning projects is one of inspiration and enjoyment: the Museum aims to inspire and encourage children’s natural curiosity and eagerness to learn more through its many learning programmes.
Origins of The Magic of TIme
Following the success of the Maths Across the Ocean programme, the Ulster American Folk Park wanted to develop a new and exciting project that would offer all visitors, but especially Key Stage 2 pupils, a new approach to maths and history. Impressed by Cahoots children theatre’s mathematics magic programme, the museum drew on their expertise to put together a ‘Magic Effect’ trail based on mathematical tricks and complementing the National Curriculum. Cahoots developed magic effects in keeping with the historical background of each building and trained the museum guides in delivering the maths/ magic tricks in a fun, educational and engaging way. At the Mellon House where traditional baking is demonstrated, the visitor guides use eggs to encourage the children to solve mathematical puzzles; at the blacksmith’s forge, horse shoes are used to entice children to solve maths problems. Two new exhibit buildings have just been added to the trail: Murray’s Drapery and W.G. O’Doherty’s pub grocers where pupils will hear about the families who ran the businesses, the people who used the shops and participate in a magic puzzle.
The Story so Far
The project, led by Catherine McCullough, Head of Learning and Partnership at the Ulster American Folk Park, was piloted on 1 March and has had a fantastic response to date with over 500 children having already taken part in the trail. Twelve members of staff have been trained to perform magic tricks, engaging the children’s attention as they guide them through the history of an emigrant’s journey from Ireland to America using up to ten of the museum’s exhibit buildings. Children are encouraged to dress up in 19th century style clothing as well to complete this extraordinary experience. At the end of their visit, each child is presented with The Magic of Time booklet, designed to look like a spell book, which explains the maths and magic behind each effect.
During the first week of the new programme’s delivery, the Trail was evaluated using the UK Museum standard, “Inspiring Learning for All”. Feedback from both teachers and pupils has been very positive. One teacher commented: “The problem solving and interest in finding the solution has made maths interesting and fun…the history and maths blended together…a really wonderful experience”. Another wrote that “(the visit) has inspired the pupils – they are fascinated with the problems and keen to work out the solutions”. A nine year old pupil from a local school said “I liked finding out the magic tricks so I can trick my big brother, and it was fun”.
Although developed with a focus on pupils in P5 to P7, the Ulster American Folk Park Museum has developed the trail to give it a broad appeal, ensuring that families and children of all ages can enjoy a fun-packed adventure. The extraordinary feats of mathematics, mind reading and illusion add another dimension to the visitor’s experience whilst exploring the unique exhibit buildings and learning more about an emigrant’s journey from the Old to the New World.
Catherine McCullough, Head of Learning and Partnership at the Ulster American Folk Park is delighted with the results of a very exciting collaboration with Cahoots NI: “Whilst the trail is designed for people of all ages who enjoy a challenge and a good puzzle, the Magic of Time trail focuses on the Northern Ireland Curriculum and offers a complementary, relevant and fun way to approach a variety of topics from mathematics to literacy to personal development. We are inviting trail adventurers, of all ages, to come and take the challenge in the unique setting of the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh.”
This innovative trail is available to all visitors to the Ulster American Folk Park. For group bookings please contact Breege O’Sullivan on (+44) (0)28 8225 6320 or email [email protected] or visit the website further information.Back to top
Ilianzishwa kama mpango mpya wa kujifunza, kwa kushirikiana na Cahoots NI, kampuni ya ukumbi wa michezo ya watoto, njia hii mpya inashiriki watoto na watu wazima kupitia safari ya wahamiaji iliyo na shughuli za maingiliano. The Magic of Time Trail ni njia ya kufurahisha ya kukaribia mtaala wa masomo na kuunda hamu ya kujifunza wakati wa kudumisha umakini mkubwa juu ya Mtaala wa Ireland Kaskazini. Ulster American Folk Park National Museums (U.I.M.) ni kituo cha elimu cha Ireland Kaskazini ambacho kinaendelea kuendeleza miradi ya elimu ya juu kulingana na Mkakati wa Serikali wa STEM. Lengo ni kuwezesha kizazi kipya kupitia utafiti na uelewa wa Sayansi, Teknolojia, Uhandisi na Hisabati, kukuza uchumi wenye nguvu, ubunifu na ubunifu. Hadithi hiyo ya uhamiaji hufufuliwa kwa njia yenye kuvutia katika Hifadhi ya Wananchi wa Marekani ya Ulster. Wageni huona kwa macho yao wenyewe safari kutoka mashamba ya mashambani ya Ulster hadi kwenye vibanda vya mbao vya mapainia katika Frontier America. Jumba la makumbusho ni bora katika historia ya kuishi na majengo ya awali, halisi, kurejeshwa, kuhamishwa na kukaliwa na waigizaji wa rangi, wahusika wa mavazi wanaofanya kazi zao za kila siku kama vile wangeweza kufanya miaka 150 iliyopita. Msukumo wa kuendesha miradi yote ya kujifunza ni moja ya msukumo na kufurahia: Makumbusho ina lengo la kuhamasisha na kuhamasisha udadisi wa asili wa watoto na hamu ya kujifunza zaidi kupitia programu zake nyingi za kujifunza. Kufuatia mafanikio ya programu ya Maths Across the Ocean, Ulster American Folk Park ilitaka kuendeleza mradi mpya na wa kusisimua ambao ungewapa wageni wote, lakini hasa wanafunzi wa Key Stage 2, mbinu mpya ya hesabu na historia. Kuvutiwa na Cahoots watoto ukumbi wa michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo ya michezo. Cahoots ilitengeneza athari za kichawi kulingana na historia ya kila jengo na kuwafundisha viongozi wa makumbusho kutoa ujanja wa hisabati na uchawi kwa njia ya kufurahisha, ya kielimu na ya kuvutia. Katika nyumba ya Mellon, ambapo upishi wa jadi unaonyeshwa, viongozi wa wageni hutumia mayai kuhamasisha watoto kutatua mafumbo ya hisabati; katika forge ya fundi wa chuma, viatu vya farasi hutumiwa kuwashawishi watoto kutatua matatizo ya hisabati. Majengo mawili mapya ya maonyesho yameongezwa tu kwenye njia: Murray's Drapery na W.G. O'Doherty's pub grocers ambapo wanafunzi watasikia kuhusu familia ambazo ziliendesha biashara, watu ambao walitumia maduka na kushiriki katika fumbo la uchawi. Mradi huo, ulioongozwa na Catherine McCullough, Mkuu wa Mafunzo na Ushirikiano katika Ulster American Folk Park, ulijaribiwa mnamo Machi 1 na umepata majibu mazuri hadi sasa na watoto zaidi ya 500 tayari wamejiunga na njia hiyo. Twelve wafanyakazi wamekuwa mafunzo ya kufanya ujanja wa uchawi, kuvutia watoto wakati wao kuongoza yao kwa njia ya historia ya safari ya wahamiaji kutoka Ireland kwa Amerika kwa kutumia hadi kumi ya makumbusho ya makumbusho ya makumbusho. Watoto wanaombwa kuvaa mavazi ya karne ya 19 ili kufurahisha. Mwisho wa ziara, kila mtoto hupewa kitabu cha Uchawi wa Wakati, ambacho kimeundwa kuonekana kama kitabu cha uchawi, ambacho kinaelezea hesabu na uchawi nyuma ya kila athari. Katika wiki ya kwanza ya utoaji wa programu mpya, Trail ilichunguzwa kwa kutumia kiwango cha Makumbusho ya Uingereza, <unk>Inspiring Learning for All<unk>. Maoni kutoka kwa walimu na wanafunzi yamekuwa mazuri sana. Mwalimu mmoja alitoa maoni: <unk>Ufumbuzi wa tatizo na kupendezwa katika kupata suluhisho imefanya hisabati ya kuvutia na ya kufurahisha...historia na hisabati iliyochanganywa pamoja... uzoefu mzuri sana<unk>. Mwingine aliandika kwamba <unk> (kutembelea) imewachochea wanafunzi <unk> wao ni kuvutia na matatizo na nia ya kufanya kazi nje ya ufumbuzi <unk>. Mwanafunzi wa miaka tisa kutoka shule ya mahali hapo alisema <unk>Nilipenda kujua ujanja wa uchawi ili niweze kumdanganya ndugu yangu mkubwa, na ilikuwa ya kufurahisha<unk>. Ingawa iliyoundwa na kuzingatia wanafunzi katika P5 hadi P7, Ulster American Folk Park Museum imeendeleza njia hiyo ili kuipa rufaa pana, kuhakikisha kwamba familia na watoto wa umri wote wanaweza kufurahia adventure ya furaha. Ujuzi wa ajabu wa hisabati, kusoma akili na udanganyifu huongeza mwelekeo mwingine kwa uzoefu wa mgeni wakati wa kuchunguza majengo ya maonyesho ya kipekee na kujifunza zaidi juu ya safari ya wahamiaji kutoka Ulimwengu wa Kale hadi Ulimwengu Mpya. "Catherine McCullough, Mkuu wa Mafunzo na Ushirikiano katika Ulster American Folk Park, anafurahi na matokeo ya ushirikiano wa kusisimua sana na Cahoots NI: ""Wakati njia hiyo imebuniwa kwa watu wa umri wote ambao wanafurahia changamoto na fumbo nzuri, njia ya Magic of Time inazingatia Mpango wa Mafunzo wa Ireland ya Kaskazini na inatoa njia ya ziada, muhimu na ya kufurahisha ya kukaribia mada mbalimbali kutoka kwa kusoma na kuandika hadi kwa maendeleo ya kibinafsi." "Tunawaalika watalii wa njia, wa umri wote, kuja na kuchukua changamoto katika mazingira ya kipekee ya Ulster American Folk Park huko Omagh. "" Njia hii ya ubunifu inapatikana kwa wageni wote wa Ulster American Folk Park." Kwa ajili ya bookings kundi tafadhali kuwasiliana na Breed O'Sullivan katika (+44) 028825630 au barua pepe [email protected] au kutembelea tovuti kwa habari zaidi.