Welcome to the first blog post from the Touchstones’ Creative Learning Team! We’ll be using this space to give in-depth details about our projects and activities. We’ll share learning achievements and celebrate our successes, partnerships and the amazing creativity of children and young people.
This past Autumn term has been a busy one for the learning team. We got to visit lots of different schools to deliver our Discovery Box workshops and taught many pupils about world history – from prehistoric cave painting to WW2 air raid shelters. You can find out more about our discovery box and workshops on the education portal or by contacting us at schools@yourtrustrochdale.co.uk
Creative Learning Facilitator, Lynn, has also been very busy visiting lots of schools to deliver workshops as part of our exciting project work with the LEGO Group. Lynn has been working extremely hard on shaping the project throughout the year. Read on to hear from Lynn about how the project came together.
Build the Change
Touchstones has previously collaborated with The Natural History Museum on the Explore Urban Nature project and Build the Change is our current involvement. Build the Change is an initiative that empowers children (ages 7–12) to design creative solutions for real-world challenges—like climate change—using LEGO® bricks and other materials. It promotes learning through play, problem-solving, and communication skills. Free educator packs and workshops are available. The programme has reached millions globally, showcasing kids’ ideas at events like United Nations forums.
This year, myself and Bryan were lucky enough to be invited to a meet up with partners on this project at the LEGO Group’s London Hub. It was a great opportunity to share experiences and ideas with other Heritage folk and, well, play with LEGO bricks!
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Planning Stage – Building Big Ideas!
Touchstones is getting a makeover – inside and out! With the outdoor space being transformed, we saw the perfect chance to link this with the Build the Change project. Our mission? Give young people the power to shape what the new outdoor area will look like, with a big focus on urban nature and biodiversity.
To make it extra thrilling, we didn’t just bring LEGO bricks – we went BIG! We bought giant LEGO brick-shaped boxes to spark curiosity and excitement from the very start. Because when creativity meets nature, amazing things happen!
Summer Highlights
Over the summer, we took our activities on the road, trialling them at the Rochdale Science Extravaganza, Darnhill Festival, and Touchstones’ very own Side-by-Side festival. These events were buzzing with energy – families jumped right in, and it was heartwarming to see grandparents often taking the lead, guiding their little ones through creative challenges. It wasn’t just fun; it was a true community experience!
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Delivery in Schools – Big Kids, Big Ideas!
We teamed up with a brilliant mix of schools, working with pupils from KS2, KS3, and even KS4 – because let’s face it, big kids love LEGO play too! It was fantastic to connect with age groups we don’t often work with, as well as seeing familiar faces from schools we visit often.
The ideas? Absolutely wild and wonderful! Students thought carefully about Rochdale’s wildlife and how humans could share the space, but they didn’t stop there. We saw proposals for a glass-bottom boat launch for trips down the River Roch, a dinosaur reintroduction zone in the town centre, and even an overnight stay in a rabbit burrow (I’d sign up for that one!).
What really stood out was how many ideas focused on creating a peaceful, nature-friendly space where animals and humans could exist in harmony. It was imaginative, inspiring, and so much fun to see their creativity unleashed!
Successes and What’s Next!
What Went Well?
Wow, where do we start? The engagement was incredible! Families, schools, and whole communities came together, with different generations sharing skills and having a blast. The excitement was contagious – I’m now officially known as the “LEGO Lady”!
One of the best bits?
Breaking free from the usual kits and letting imaginations run wild. For some kids, this was their first-ever chance to play with LEGO bricks, and their faces said it all. Personally, this felt like paying it forward, I grew up building for hours with my Grandad Miller at the kitchen table. Those were magical times and seeing that same joy today was priceless.
What We Learned
LEGO bricks aren’t just a toy, they’re a creative powerhouse! We want to make it more accessible across the borough, not just for building but for art projects and imaginative design too. Also, that the young people of Rochdale are invested in improving our world and their futures.
What’s Next?
We’re dreaming big for next year! The plan? Gather designs for animal homes and habitats, then turn those ideas into real structures using natural materials for Touchstones’ outdoor space. Fingers crossed for another round of funding to make it happen.
Watch this space and sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop!
Massive Thank You!
To Cartwheel Arts (Darnhill Festival), Mohammed Rahman (Rochdale Science Initiative), The Touchstones crew (Side by Side festival) and all the amazing schools:
Greenbank Primary, Heybrook Primary, Belfield Community, Redwood Secondary, Marland Hill Community Primary, and Falinge Park High (special shout-out to Rose Edmondson!).
And of course, my brilliant colleagues – Bailey, Louise, and Thomas – for packing cars, surviving LEGO takeovers, and being kind when I was completely tired-out from LEGO play. You’re the best!