3.6.26 – Cleveleys Beach: The Sea Swallow. 

As part of our Cultural Capital experience, the children visited Cleveleys Beach following our class study of The Sea Swallow by Gareth Thompson. Prior to the trip, we read and discussed the story together, sharing our thoughts, opinions and interpretations of the book. The children engaged enthusiastically in discussions about the characters, themes and events within the story.

During our visit to the beach, we explored the sculptures inspired by the book. The children were excited to see the Golden Sea Shell and the Sea Swallow sculptures in real life. We also looked for the Ogre sculpture, although it was partially hidden by the high tide. Seeing these landmarks brought the story to life and helped the children make meaningful connections between literature, art and the local environment.

Following our visit to Cleveleys Beach and our study of The Sea Swallow by Gareth Thompson, the children will take part in a Design and Technology project to create their own sculptures using air-dry clay. Inspired by the sculptures they observed during the trip, the children will first explore ideas, sketch designs and consider the features they would like to include in their models.

They will then use a range of shaping, joining and finishing techniques to construct their sculptures from clay, developing their fine motor skills and understanding of three-dimensional design. Throughout the project, children will evaluate their work and make improvements to achieve their intended outcome. This activity encourages creativity, problem-solving and the application of skills inspired by a real-life cultural experience.