Today, Year Two were visited by ESH Construction. They learned all about materials, jobs in the construction industry and the importance of PPE.
ESH Construction build a range of structures, from schools to hospitals. At the moment they are working on the restoration of the Tyne Bridge and are hoping to have it ready for its 100th anniversary in 2028.
The children listened to the story of The Three Little Pigs and discussed the materials used for each of the houses. They described the properties of each material and, from this, decided whether it was suitable to build a house. The boys and girls said that bricks were the best material as they are hard, strong and rigid.
Next, the children learned about the different jobs you can do on a construction site. The first job Year Two learned about was a bricklayer. They are responsible for building the structure. Next, the site manager used a spirit level to check that the builder had done a good job. An architect decides what a building will look like. The children had some wonderful suggestions including a house with 18 bedrooms and a soft play room. A surveyor measures the plot, using a trundle wheel, to ensure the building is the correct size. The boys and girls had to count each time they heard the trundle wheel click to work out the total length.
However, regardless of your job, it is very important that you wear the correct equipment to keep you safe. Did you know this is called Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? Each volunteer certainly looked the part wearing a Hi-Vis vest and a hard hat.
Finally, the children put their knowledge of famous landmarks to the test. They were shown miniature models of structures around the world and were asked what and where they were. The children quickly identified the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and even the pyramids of Egypt.
