(Image: Steve Coulthard)
A North Yorkshire primary school is celebrating the publication of a book written and illustrated by its pupils after a memorable visit to a housing development inspired their creativity.
The project began last May when Year 3 and 4 pupils from South Otterington C of E Primary School visited the Saints Green at Peggy’s Field development in the village, where national partnership housing specialist Lovell is building 42 new homes.
During the visit, pupils toured the site, learned about health and safety, and even tried their hand at bricklaying.
Naomi Lanham, Year 3 and 4 class teacher at South Otterington C of E Primary School, said: "The children absolutely loved their trip to the site – it was practical and hands-on and they had a fantastic time.
South Otterington C of E Primary School pupils have published and illustrated a book inspired by a visit to Lovell’s Saints Green at Peggy’s Field housing development in South Otterington, showcasing their creativity and community learning project
(Image: Steve Coulthard)
"Putting together the book was the perfect way to remember the visit."
Following the visit, pupils were tasked with creating a fictional storybook inspired by their experience.
Older children wrote the story, while younger pupils provided the illustrations.
Ms Lanham said: "The initial visit tied into our geography lessons, demonstrating how local land can be used for new housing.
"We then learnt about story structure in English lessons, and used that to put the narrative together.
"The students had to include some action, some humour, and include a problem that had to be solved.
"It all came together to make a brilliant, informative story, and the children loved every minute of the process."
Once the book, titled "A Trip To Lovell," was finished, the school sent a scanned copy to Lovell, who arranged for it to be published.
This month, pupils returned to Saints Green to celebrate the opening of the Lovell Little Library, a mini library at the development where a copy of the book will be kept for residents to borrow.
Rebecca Darby, head of sales for Lovell in the North East, said: "We welcomed South Otterington C of E Primary School to site over a year ago, and they’ve worked so hard to bring that visit to life in their brilliant book.
"We’re opening the Lovell Little Library on site for residents to swap and share reading materials, and it seems fitting that one of the first books on the shelf is inspired by the development itself.
"At Lovell we pride ourselves on building meaningful relationships with the local community, and it’s been great to work with the school over the past year.
"We hope the children found the process of creating the book an enriching one.
"It would be lovely to think that some may have been inspired by the experience to think about working in the industry one day."
Ms Lanham said the project helped pupils apply classroom learning in a real-world setting.
She said: "This project has been a great opportunity to translate educational skills into reality: pupils have learnt how to write a story, put that learning into practice using their experience at the development, and then seen the result of their work.
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"They feel such pride at being authors and illustrators, and it’s wonderful to see.
"Our Head, Miss Gledhill, is retiring at the end of the school year and it’s the perfect time to see this project completed.
"What a keepsake to take away.
"We’d like to thank Lovell for their support on this project and would love to work with them again in the future."