About
Children often say the quirkiest, funniest things, that not only delight those around them but can cut to the chase. For this project, Big Brum invited Reception children from Marston Green Infant Academy to create and share their thoughts about all things ‘train’.
We are sharing their thoughts as you enter and leave their neighbourhood station in the hope that it sets up an uplifting (or maybe a puzzling) Train of Thought as you go about your journey. Please feel free to share your own Train of Thought as well!
What the children did
The children’s Trains of Thought come from eight groups, each working over a day with Big Brum, exploring and talking about ‘all things train’: reading stories about trains; singing songs and trying out actions and noises; meeting railway staff at the station and on the train; using a VIP ticket to make a return journey to Birmingham International; making ‘stop’ and ‘go’ flags and painting railway carriages; talking about what they were doing and everything that they could see.
Reading stories about trains
Trying out songs, actions and noises
Waiting at the station
Meeting staff at the station
Exploring the ticket machine
At Birmingham International
A VIP ticket
Leaving the train
Sharing experiences
Making stop and go flags
Painting the train
A painted train
End of day celebration
Thanks to our funders:
West Midlands Trains, through the Customers and Community Improvement Fund
Arts Council (England)
Project management: Big Brum TIE
Project facilitation: Julie Baker and Kate Holmes, supported by Richard Holmes, Zoe Simon, Judy Woodford and Ben Ballin
Banner design: Matt Reeves
Web page design: Rob Bowden
With thanks to all the staff and Reception children at Marston Green Infant Academy and to the West Midlands Railway staff for their tremendous support.