Clippers World Classroom goes live!
For the first time in the history of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Clipper Ventures has developed an online Education Programme, which will run alongside the forthcoming Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race to bring the excitements of Round the World Yacht Races to a new generation.
‘Clippers World Classroom’ has been designed partly due to the successes of the programmes developed by the Jersey Clipper Committee and the City of Liverpool in the last two races. These smaller programmes were proven to be favourites in the classroom and the community so Clipper has taken it all one-step further, creating a resource that schools and communities around the world could become involved in.
Children aged between 5 and 14 years of age, from all over the globe will be able to follow the excitement of the race, and more importantly to learn from it.
The brand new online resource will guide teachers, pupils and families throughout the year of the race using specifically created interactive games, projects and activities, to spark imaginations and test minds.
The programme will chart the course of the fleet as it races around the world, opening up not only a wealth of knowledge about sailing, travel, the environment, and cultures in other countries but also offer an exciting dimension to the teaching of science, geography, environmental studies, social education, art, literacy and maths.
Schools in Jersey are lucky enough to have free access to the site thanks to generous sponsorship from the Jersey Clipper Committee so all teachers have to do is log on and register to receive a password and username to access the members area online.
They will then be able to download additional fact sheets, video clips, teachers notes and up to date race information to further enrich the comprehensive online activities for new race fans. Regular updates from crew racing onboard will also enable participants to taste the vastness of the Pacific and get a feel for the storms of the Cape. www.clipper-worldclassroom.org provides a truly unique learning experience for all involved.
Clipper Ventures Race Education Manager Sarah Beaugeard hopes that via the programme many of the participating schools will be able to link up and make contacts around the world, which will last much longer than the race itself.
“Participating children will become part of the worldwide network of race followers. With the help of Captain Ringo the pelican character leading the programme and his crew, children will discover what it is like to live in a different country and make friends with children the same age who live in another part of the world, at the same time as following ‘their’ race yachts discovering what it is really like to race the Oceans of the world!”
Clipper's World Classroom brings the skill, passion and excitement of big ocean racing right into your classroom; and has been developed to support key areas of the curricula for England, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Western Australia - and a growing list of partner countries who have sponsored for their local schools to gain free access to the site.
Jersey has been a great example to other cities, getting their local schools involved with the programme and there are plans for crews to visit schools before, during and after the race to visit children on the island who are logging on to follow ‘their’ team. Hannah Towey, a pupil at Haute Vallée School had lead the way by designing the battle flag for the boat, and we hope that throughout the year other pictures, banners and emails be be exchanged between the team racing onboard Jersey Clipper and the schools on the island who are following them every step of the way.
Log on to www.clipper-worldclassroom.org to find out more.
If you have any questions about Clippers World Classroom, please contact Sarah Beaugeard,
sbeaugeard@clipper-ventures.com or call Clipper Ventures Plc on +44 2380 237088.