Science: Year 1 Visit the Floating Classroom!

Year 1 had the best day today on our science trip to the Floating Classroom! We had a whole day on the boat, for a special ‘Plants around us’ workshop, to support our learning in our current science topic – Plants.

Year 1 were so excited to set off on their first trip this year, as a class we walked to Baker Street and got on the bus! We travelled by bus to Little Venice, and walked into Paddington Basin. We walked along the canal and saw the Floating Classroom waiting for us! We were welcomed onto the barge by Kate and Michelle who were going to be our teachers for the day and Captain James who drives the boat.

We all sat together inside the spacious classroom and began our day, first learning about safety rules and all about the barge. Once the barge had begun to move, we were able to split into two groups and go outside onto the decks! We took part in a bingo-type activity where we tried to spot as many plants and trees as we could see. We moved around Little Venice first, taking a short trip around the island where we saw so many different types of trees and plants. We were so lucky to have such a nice clear day where Year 1 could see everything so well and enjoy the fresh air.

We came back into the boat to discus what we all saw, and everyone was really enjoying the trip so far! We then had an exciting experience going through the famous Maida Hill tunnel. Year 1 were so sensible as they stood as a whole class on the front deck, and entered the very dark tunnel. The tunnel is just over 250m long and only 1 canal boat can travel through at any time. It took nearly 5 minutes to go through and the Floating Classroom teachers were so impressed at how sensible Year 1 were being. After passing through the tunnel, we came back inside for a quick snack break!

Our first inside activity was to look up close at lots of different seeds, and who could spot what plants or vegetables they came from! Then we told the teachers everything we knew about trees, as we have been working hard in our science lessons, learning all about deciduous and evergreen trees. They were so impressed that Year 1 knew this, in addition to when, and why the trees lose or keep their leaves! Year 1 loved sharing all their facts and knowledge. A special activity followed, where they turned one of our class members into a tree! As they dressed her up into each part of the tree, we learnt more about the functions and parts of a tree, how and why they grow and how they absorb energy from the sun and turn this into their food.

Then we went back outside onto the boat again as we travelled into Camden, seeing all of the sights including enclosures from ZSL London Zoo! The class absolutely loved being on the decks of the boat, seeing other canal  boats as they drove past and seeing so many different trees and plants along the canal. Our final activity before lunch was to come back inside and show our understanding of deciduous and evergreen trees and their leaves, but colouring some pictures of leaves from different trees in the right colours.

After lunch we travelled back into Little Venice and got off the boat into a small park. We had to be very careful to walk along the canal on a small path, and enter the park next to a large bridge. Year 1 had a special task, they were to walk around the park and see how many different seeds they could find. After a long day on the boat Year 1 loved being in a large open space where they could run around and be in Nature, collecting so many different seeds and berries whilst seeing many different trees, plants and flowers. We sat in a circle and shared all of the things we found, and Kate explained what kind of seeds they were, and how they spread into soil, water or animals.

It was such an amazing day, Year 1 learnt and experienced so much, and thoroughly enjoyed their first trip this year! We had such a brilliant time and all of this information will really help us with our science topic. Thank you so much to all of the parents who came along for the day to help, and thank you to the team at the Floating Classroom, we cannot wait to come back and visit again one day!