UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK – the biggest and most ambitious creative programme ever presented on these shores – has launched a programme designed to inspire young people aged 11 to 16.
Its creative projects showcase collaborations across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).
The UNBOXED projects involve hundreds of events and activities across the UK and online, and cover a range of ideas, including space and science, the environment, growing and sustainability, and history and community.
From a bio-diverse forest in a city centre to a North Sea offshore platform transformed into a giant artwork, schools can experience first-hand these creative successes when engineering and design, scientific research and technological innovation, including AR and artistic work, come together.
Designed by educators, teachers, technicians and artists with a wealth of experience in STEAM, this free learning programme from UNBOXED includes engaging and fun lesson plans, worksheets and presentations to stimulate young people’s creative thinking, encourage global citizenship and develop the skills they will need for the future of work.
The resources are aligned to the curriculum across all home nations and are suitable for enrichment and personal development.
The programme is entirely flexible and offers a complete blend of class-based, online, real-world and location-based learning.
Resources currently available are linked to About Us, an immersive journey through 13.8 billion years of our history from the Big Bang to the present day; Our Place in Space, designed by renowned artist and writer Oliver Jeffers, which recreates the solar system as a 10k trail here on earth and Dreamachine, an artwork you ‘see’ with your eyes closed, which explores the human mind, as part of a massive research project into human perception.
Future resources will be based on StoryTrails, one of the biggest people’s history projects ever undertaken; Dandelion, a Scotland-wide growing project that reimagines the harvest festival for the 21st century; Green Space Dark Skies, which considers the environment and the UK’s beautiful landscapes; PoliNations, which is inspired by the fact that almost 80% of the UK’s plant life originates from overseas; GALWAD: a story from our future, which projects the population into 2052, and SEE MONSTER, a feat of engineering and design that transforms a decommissioned off-shore North Sea platform into a space to playfully explore reflect the great British weather, reuse and sustainability.
Explore the free resources and join the UNBOXED Learning Programme today here.
According to a recent report from the Policy & Evidence Centre, “The promotion of creativity in educational settings can help young people build entrepreneurial skills and improve their future employability”.
The UNBOXED Learning Programme recognises the importance for teachers to provide future skills-based and real-world learning to the classroom and seeks to reinvigorate creativity in every classroom in the UK.
It believes creativity – our creativity – has the power to change the world.
Bhav Patel, Y5 teacher at West Hill Primary, Staffordshire, said:
“The resources we had from About Us were brilliant. They give children the ability to combine their creativity and science knowledge, through writing a poem based on space.
“It was so popular we had children asking to stay in rather than go out and play. The free resources are perfect for any teacher to just pick up and build into their lesson planning to increase engagement in the classroom and provide an exciting learning experience.”
Priya Lakhani OBE – board member of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK and founder of CENTURY Tech, an artificial intelligence education company that develops tools for schools – said:
“UNBOXED is exploring creativity and collaboration across STEAM subjects, which is becoming increasingly important for people entering the world of work.
“As we emerge from the lockdown, the UNBOXED Learning Programme immerses young people in real-world examples of creativity, showcasing STEAM in action through an exciting programme of experiential projects across the four nations.
“As well as stimulating young minds, teachers will find it a useful addition to their curriculum activity.”
UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK is funded and supported by the four governments of the UK, and is co-commissioned with Belfast City Council, EventScotland and Creative Wales.
Find out more by attending UNBOXED’s free live, interactive workshop for teachers on Tuesday 29th March 2020, 4pm-5pm.
Digitally collaborate with teachers across the UK, hear from keynote speakers and learn how to make the most of all the incredible free learning opportunities UNBOXED has to offer.
Teachers attending the workshop can enter a prize draw to be in with the chance for a group of students from their school or college to experience an unforgettable visit to one of UNBOXED’s commissions, with all travel and cover supervisor staffing costs covered (subject to T&Cs).
Sign up to UNBOXED’s free online workshop via this form.
