Rising waters | Rooted solutions
Celebrating the young voices of York: a journey into river learning
At Ousewem, we are constantly inspired by the dedication and passion shown by young learners. Recently, we had the pleasure of receiving a wonderful message from Park Grove Primary Academy
At Ousewem, we are constantly inspired by the dedication and passion shown by young learners in our community. Recently, we had the pleasure of receiving a wonderful message from Miss V Clinton at Park Grove Primary Academy. The Year 3/4 students have been diving deep into the fascinating world of rivers, and their enthusiasm was so infectious that we couldn’t wait to share their experiences with you.
From understanding the water cycle to exploring river processes like erosion, transportation, and deposition, the children have not only grasped these important concepts but have created beautiful posters to express their newfound knowledge. Their hard work and creativity are truly something to celebrate. As part of our mission to support community resilience through nature-based solutions and flood resilience, we believe that learning about the natural world around us — particularly our rivers — plays a crucial role in shaping future guardians of the environment.
We are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to showcase the pupils’ posters, highlighting their enthusiasm and creativity in a way that brings attention to the importance of rivers and their vital role in flood management and environmental protection.
Here’s a glimpse into what some of the children enjoyed most:
Ezra, Age 8 said:
I enjoyed learning about the types of river barriers that protect York and its wildlife.
Lizzie, Age 8 and Henry, Age 8 said:
I liked the walk, seeing the barrier; it looks like a U shape upside down!
Bram, Age 9 said:
I liked learning about the different types of rivers throughout the world, like the Mississippi and the Nile.
Maisie, Age 7 said:
I liked learning about the river cycle; it was very funny to learn about all the big words!
Ellie and Arin, Ages 8 and 9 said:
I loved doing research on rivers and floods too!
Mavi, Age 7 (nearly 8!) said:
I liked learning about the York floods of 2015!
Oliver, Age 8 said:
I liked all of it but mainly the gorges, canyons, and flash floods.
Miss V Clinton, Park Grove Primary Academy said:
We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to engage with our students in such an exciting and meaningful way. Learning about rivers and their vital role in our environment has sparked a great deal of interest among the children, and they’ve enjoyed every aspect of the topic—from the river walk to creating their posters. The students were excited to learn about river barriers, the water cycle, and famous rivers from around the world, and I’m proud of their efforts. We hope our work with Ousewem can inspire further learning about environmental protection and flood resilience.
At Ousewem, we believe in nurturing the curiosity of young minds and fostering a greater understanding of how natural systems shape our daily lives. The students’ dedication serves as a reminder of why it’s so important to protect and manage our rivers responsibly.
We would love to continue building on this enthusiasm by finding future ways for the students to engage with our projects and contribute to local flood resilience initiatives. After all, these young voices will be the future stewards of our environment!
Thank you to Miss Clinton and her class for sharing their work with us, and to the students for their energy and passion for learning. We look forward to the possibility of collaborating again in the future.
If your school is within our catchment area and you are studying rivers and would like to book a visit from the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust’s mobile classroom, or if you are planning a community event which you think it would be useful for us to attend, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]. Together, we can build a resilient future where everyone understands the critical role of water in our lives and works towards protecting our communities from the impacts of flooding.
Let’s make a difference together, from the serene landscapes of North Yorkshire to the vibrant city of York.
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