Denver Primary School pupils joined by Downham Market Rotary Club for technology challenge

Primary school pupils were transported back to 1540 as they took on a creative challenge this week.

Students in years 5 and 6 at Denver VC Primary School were joined by Alan Culley, Bryan Bradley and Martin Chilvers from Downham Rotary Club on Tuesday for their new junior technology challenge ‘War is Brewing’.

Small groups used their imagination and physical resources to explore and create a range of different ideas.

The challenge was for the pupils to place themselves in the position of a messenger in 1540 who – due to approaching invading forces – needed to deliver 300 men as reinforcements to the king within two days or be executed.

However, the messenger’s journey is disrupted by a piranha-infested river with a dilapidated crane in the centre.

With a limited number of resources, the messenger must think of ways to successfully get himself and his army across the river.

The students used resources provided by the Rotary club to create models demonstrating their solutions, and they produced some “excellent and very inventive ideas”, officials at the school said.

The technology day aimed to enrich the children’s learning in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.

Rotary technology tournaments are one-day events involving a challenge to develop team building and communication skills, planning and time management, and give them the chance to apply them.

“The aim of such events is to inspire students to consider careers in these areas,” a spokesperson for Denver Primary School said.

“This was certainly the case at Denver Primary whose children rose to the challenge and had a fantastic and memorable learning experience.”

Mr Culley, youth team leader at Downham Rotary Club, said: “The purpose of these events is to give the children a chance to understand the challenges of developing an idea and how teamwork, planning and communication skills play an important part.

“We hope the tournaments are challenging and enjoyable and that they support elements of the school curriculum and encourage an interest in engineering as a career.”

Reporting by Toma Toricina