Wirksworth Junior School

This page was creatd by the children of Wirksworth Junior School.

Reflections by the group

We learnt about the Heritage centre so much. We learnt how long it took Ellen MacAthur to sail all the way around the world, when the prehistoric Wooly Rhino was discovered, what rocks lie around Wirksworth, models of trains and quarries such as Dale quarry, you can get research from there and the kids from years 4 and 3 really enjoyed the Dream cave and I bet other kids would love it.

When I went there it felt like there is a wonderful time ahead of you. I got to experience recording it with a camera. When Regan, Zack and I went into the Dream Cave it was so much fun, you also learnt in side the Dream Cave about stuff like the prehistoric Wooly Rhino. It asks you questions about stuff and if you push one of the buttons you go one way but if you press the other button you go a different way. We also went for a walk around  Wirksworth with the cameras and recorded the year 3 and 4 children.
   
Ellen Macathur Sailed all the way around the world in less than one year. She went to school at Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth. But before she went to Anthony Gell School Ellen Macathur went to the Church of England ( C of E ) Infant school also in Wirksworth. If you wish to find out more information about Ellen Macathur's wicked adventure visit the Heritage Centre in Wirksworth.
By Ben Clark

Making a web page

Making the web site was something I've never done before and I really enjoyed it! Firstly we looked at  the video camera and all the cameras .   
We learnt how to take films and pictures without being noticed .We went into the Heritage Centre we went to all three floors in groups of 3 . Also we had to interview children from year 3 and 4and take films of them going into the Dream Cave.
Then we went on a  walk around Wirksworth  following the year 3 and 4  on there trip with the Heritage Centre they looked at bits of old Wirksworth that you can still see in new Wirksworth.
A few weeks later we did a session in the I.C.T suite and took home a memory stick and did some work at home I had to wright captions for some of the pictures we took at the heritage  Centre .

by Elinor Canham
        
      
It was really fun making the web site taking pictures,videos and designing and typing up the web site.When we  went to the Heritage centre we learnt things about Wirksworth that we did not know before.
First we went to the Heritage centre and we split into two groups ,although we were going to be second using the video camera I was really exited about taking photos of the thing on the different floors.The morning went really fast and we had to go back to school to have our lunch,witch was annoying because I wanted to stay at the Heritage centre to take more photos but then i was cheered up because i found out we were going back for the entire afternoon .

After lunch it was my groups turn(George,Elinor and me)to use the video camera we had to take turns but it was really fun when it was my turn and it was so cool!!Then we went out in to town and recorded the children looking at different buildings in wirksworth.

I have never made a web site before but on the hole i think it was really fun!!!!  

Julia
                  
First thing we did when we visited the Heritage Centre, was to find out a bit about the place before we did any recording or writing.
Then we did a little video on walking through to the first floor which contained two actual roman coins! It also showed what it would look like then, with trams taking lead up and down the hills. we also had some little problems, when we interviewed the people coming out of the dream cave.Some of the people were a bit shy when being interviewed which made it a lot more difficult.

After a couple of visits to the Heritage Centre, We came back to our I.C.T Suite to do some editing of all our recording and videos.We were given memory sticks to record all of our data on and finish at home, When it all comes together we will have a web site which anyone who wants to know about the Heritage Centre, with quizzes , a
Gallery and everything you need to know about!

By Regan Cooper! 

Learning about the equipment

First we tested all of the cameras to see how they worked. We checked all the different settings like videoing, photos, night recording, landscapes and portraits. There were 4 cameras, including the high tec video camera, that we used o make the web site pictures. Each of these cameras hada different purpose. We found out witch button was for taking pictures, witch button was for changing the setting and witch button was to see the pictures you've already taken. Once we'd discovered how to use the cameras we split up into two groups
One of the groups did filming and used the high tec camera the other group did photo taking with the other 3 cameras after lunch a while we swapped round jobs.

Taking the videos

              
When we were recording the video's we had to keep the camera steady and when we moved it we moved the camera slowly and carefully to stop the video from going blurry. When we  filmed in the dark cave we set the camera to night time the setting which made the video slightly green but we were able to see the image. Video cameras pick up sound as well as an image. So if we only wanted to have sound we could have put the lens cap on or we could have put a peace of white / coloured peace of paper in front of the filming part.

Taking the  photos

There were a few tricks in getting photo perfect. The main image we were taking needed to be square (in the middle), not at an angle to the side, at the bottom or at the top. When we were taking a photo out side it was important to know were the sun is because to get a good photo the sun needed to be behind the camera although it may dazzle the people in the picture (if there are any) but it stopped the picture from going strange!

Interviews

When we were doing interviews we needed to make sure the video camera was picking up the sound so we tested it. Secondly people in the interview had to be facing the camera not each other so that there voices got to the camera clearly. Finally the main image needed to be square!

A guide to the centre, By Ben

Ground Floor

Art Gallery:                 Take a look at some of the amazing work produced by local artists.
Gift Shop:                    Here you can by anything from fossils to feather pencils!
Middleton Top:                See how the massive engine works by watching an electric model.
Video:                     Watch a short video of the railways of the peak district in a cosy corner!
Lost buildings of Wirksworth:     Read and see why some buildings were knocked down.
Well Dressings:              With a life sized model see how well dressings are put together.
Clipping of the church:         Read why the people of Wirksworth link arms around St. Mary s.

Floor 1
Mine rescue:                 Try and get people out of a mine on an computer game.
Charles Wright:             Find out about this famous man.
Mining Tools:                 See some real old mining tools and find out about what each one was used for.
Dream Cave:                 If you can squeeze through the tight entrance you enter a trail of tunnels and learn about the woolly Rhino.
Richard Arkwright:             Find out why he had the idea of making a factory and read about his later life.
Wirksworth from the air:         Look at a fantastic Ariel photograph of Wirksworth, see if you can spot your house!
Soughs:                     Read about the draining systems of the mines.

Floor 2
Ellen Macarthur:             Find out about here record breaking voyage around the world.
World War 2:                 Watch a video of how WW2 effect the Peak District.
Quarrying:                 Find out why Derbyshire is so famous for it and see an amazing model of Dale Quarry, more commonly known to the locals as The Big Hole!
Silk:                         Look at some old silk that Mr. Arkwrights factories produced.
Victorian Artefacts:             Look at the old baths and other things used for washing.
Red Tape:                     See why Wirksworth was famous for Red Tape.
Quarrying Tools:             See some of the tools workman used to carry around with them.