Teaching Up On The Downs
Be a Reporter for the Day
ACTIVITIES
Smuggling: Langdon Cliffs
Pre-visit
• Research the history of smuggling
http://www.thewillistree.info/smuggling-in-dover-in-the-18th-and-19th-centuries/
http://www.smuggling.co.uk/gazetteer_se_14.html
• What do you think is smuggled today? Read this report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southeast/series6/smugglers.shtml
During visit
• Look down at the port of Dover. Imagine you are Customs Officers today surveying the port. Describe what you see and create a plan of action for stopping and searching cars/lorries coming off the boats. Create a dialogue between a Customs Officer and a smuggler.
• Look out to sea. Imagine one of the boats is a smuggling boat. Describe its progress to a Customs Officer using landmarks. Swap roles.
• Create a news report about a smuggling incident in the past or present and film it on site.
• Make notes about the site so you can use it in a fictional story.
After visit
• Write a fictional story about smuggling in the past. Use details you observed on your visit as well as information from the research websites.
• Create a drama about stopping a gang of smugglers today.
• Edit and polish your report.
Other fiction ideas
• Imagine a structure on the site is a magic portal to another time or world, e.g.: sound mirrors taking you to France during WW1 (or to somewhere magical)
• Write a logbook or diary entry for a stormy night at the South Foreland Lighthouse
• Write an advertisement for the job of lighthouse keeper
Other presentation ideas
• Sound mirrors
http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/soundmirrors/locations/dover/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/sound-mirrors--the-earliest-form-of-air-raid-warning--unearthed-on-south-coast-9821837.html
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-cliffs-dover/history/article-1355858509973/
https://fanbayshelternt.wordpress.com/news/
• Fan Bay deep shelter
https://fanbayshelternt.wordpress.com/news/
• Port of Dover
http://www.doverport.co.uk/about/history/
• Create a report or news story about the first Marconi radio message from South Foreland lighthouse or about a storm/shipwreck (inside the lighthouse are computers with information)
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1355807864930/
http://coastpx.uk/blog/2008/05/goodwin-sands-history
• Create a report imagining you are witnessing the first flight across the Channel by Louis Blériot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Blériot
• Tourism materials
Take photographs and notes to create posters/pamphlets/websites/promotional films to advertise the sites as tourist or leisure destination