Introduction	The Project Microsite	New Literacy Framework	Visit to Crabble Mill	Resources
ICT and Writing	Pupil Work (Word)	Evidence of Impact	Credits	Teachers impact

The Visit to Crabble Mill

Son of John Cross, miller for Pilchers, aged 4 years, being at the top of the mill, fell into a hopper nine feet hopper as speedily as possible but the vital spark was quite extinct. Extract from the Kentish Gazette, 31st July 1818 The following calamitous event occurred at Mr. Pilcher’s mill at River on Friday last. The millers perceiving that something impeded the working of the mill, one of them went to the top in order to ascertain the cause, when (distressing to relate) he beheld his son, William Croft, a youth of about thirteen years old, entangled in the works: the utmost expedition was used to stop the machinery, which when effected, the unfortunate lad was taken out, a dreadful spectacle, his head and legs crushed to pieces. It is conjectured that the sleeve of his gabardine having been caught by a key on the spindle of the spur wheel, he had been drawn into the works... The father has worked in the mill for about 25 years... What adds to the calamity is that another of his sons lost his life about four years since at the same mill by falling into a flour bin. Extract from Kentish Gazette, 12th February 1822

The tragic deaths of James and William took place in Crabble Mill near Dover in Kent. They were a reflection of the dangerous working conditions that many young people endured at the start of the nineteenth century. The sources were also a starting point for the innovative cross curricular project for 30 schools across Kent.

The project was an opportunity for Year 5 pupil’s primary schools across the County to research and write a story about a famous historical event that took place over one hundred years ago at Crabble Corn Mill. Supported by a well known author the children’s stories and published as Podcasts and text on the internet for others to download and playback.

For several years the Kent Hands-on ICT team has successfully run cross curricular projects highlighting the value of using ICT across the curriculum. In this project several aspects of previous activities were brought together with the aim of specifically raising the literacy standards of reluctant writers in Year 5. Using ICT, study visits to Crabble Mill and the children’s author, Stewart Ross, the project created an exciting interactive approach that involved pupils writing and publishing their own stories about what happened to the boys at the mill.

Unlike several earlier projects by the Kent team which includes Phil Bracegirdle, Ian Coulson, and Rob Sleight, this activity was carefully designed to assess the standard of pupil writing before the project began and to assess the work of the pupils again following the activity.

Conceived as a project for reluctant writers it was decided to offer places to schools who were willing to release a teacher and five or six pupils. The intention was to give the pupils an intensive experience that would raise their motivation and the standard of their work.

The programme began with a day at Crabble Mill for all the schools. In the morning the challenge was introduced to the pupils and the teachers and pupils took part in eight short workshop activities throughout the morning. This gave everyone a sense of what it was like working in the nineteenth century mill. With the water wheel driving the mill stones, the children were able to experience at first hand the sights, sounds and smells of the mill in action.

After lunch everyone was introduced to the children’s author Stewart Ross who explained some of the techniques of writing a good story. The presentation kept the pupils spell bound and they left the day at the mill very enthusiastic about writing their stories.

To help the children write their stories several ICT resources were provided. Keith Harcourt helped produce photographs and film extracts and Chris Davison of South East Grid provided a micro- site that enabled resources, but more importantly, pupil work to be published. From the outset the intention was not to simply publish the finished stories but to encourage the pupils to hone their work by seeking the views of Stewart and pupils in other schools.

For a day Stewart was available to answer questions and review work in progress by using flash meeting, the Open University video conferencing programme. Ian Coulson also used flash meeting and shared his knowledge of the history of the mill with pupils. The interviews of both Stewart and
Ian were recorded so the pupils could go back to research further information and reinforce important points.

A blog also allowed the young writers to question Stewart online and show him how they were progressing with their stories. In addition there were some short visits to schools by various members of the team. Some visits were to help with pupil writing whilst others were made to help teachers and pupils master the technology.

Over a period of three weeks the children wrote their stories and published them on Making the News website. Some recorded their work as podcasts whilst others added artwork, photographs and video but the main focus was on improving pupil writing. As a target for the completion of the stories a Literacy Festival was planned. On Tuesday, 20th November 2007 nearly 150 children from twenty-five primary schools attended the Crabble Mill Writing Festival at Crabble Corn Mill, Dover. There the children listened to Stewart Ross, the project author reading extracts from some of his most popular books including "Athens is Saved." The children also shared their own stories with pupils from other schools. At the end of the session all the children received a special "Crabble Mill Certificate" and had their photograph taken with Stewart and Ian Coulson, ASK History Advisor.

Ian Coulson
ASK History Advisor
December 2007

A full version of this article is published in the Spring 2008 copy of the SEGFL newsletter and can be viewed on the
Crabble Corn Mill Writing Project microsite:
www.segfl.org.uk/microsites/

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