Learning the Landscape through Langauge is a project that brought together members of the INS, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ staff, and learning professionals in Shropshire to explore how the use of place-name material could be beneficial for learning in schools.
Find out more about our project
How can place-names enhance a child's learning?
Place-names offer a unique insight into past landscapes, and can easily be developed into tools for teaching. Using place-names, pupils can learn how the landscape was viewed in the past, and how it was shaped by people living and working locally. Place-names can help to reconstruct the historical environment in a variety of ways - for example, tracing local agricultural and industrial practices, assessing topography, and determining communication and travel networks.
I now have a greater understanding of how place-names can lead to so many learning opportunities!
So many local contexts and opportunities for History and Geography teaching.
I am inspired to [create] classroom-based experiences, e.g. mapping, maths graphs, storytelling [and] historical research.
The Institute for Name-Studies at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ is the home of academic research into place-names, and is keen to work with education and learning professionals to develop teaching resources for schools.
If you are interested in joining our project, please contact us for further information.