The ArcelorMittal Orbit in No Ordinary Park

It’s been a long wait but it was worth it.

When we took this photograph during the 2012 Olympics, we were disappointed to discover that the ArcelorMittal Orbit wouldn’t be formally opened to visitors until Spring 2014.

We’ve now had the opportunity to revisit and re-photograph both this incredible structure and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – with its appropriate tag of “No Ordinary Park”.

We strongly recommend a visit to the Orbit. We especially recommend this as a school visit for children. It’s quite spectacular – not only for incredible views from its observation rooms but also for the entire experience and the way it’s been put together.

It was pleasing that on the day we were there we had the Orbit more or less to ourselves, but disheartening that groups of school children weren’t there in numbers.

We’ll publish a set of curriculum grids in a subsequent post, but for now here’s a quick summary of the curriculum areas that could be covered through a visit to the Orbit and the Olympic Park:

English – composition; real events, poems, drafting
Maths – measurement, geometry, calculations
Science – habitats, materials comparison, light and shadows, forces
History – of London, settlements, of the Olympics, local history
Geography – built environment, changes of land-use, development of a city, settlement
Design and Technology – engineering, construction, evaluating existing construction,
Art and Design – drawing using range of media, photography, sketching
Citizenship – national, regional and ethnic identities, altruism
Computing – search technologies, design and creation
Languages – signs in the park, languages heard
Music – recalling and recording sounds, musical compositions from experience
PE – outdoor activities, teamwork
PSHEE – working together, healthy lifestyles, money, roles and responsibilities

http://arcelormittalorbit.com/

Note also that local residents receive a discount and all tickets purchased are also an annual pass.

A Design and Technology dream.

Study in science: A range of materials

Geographical changing landscapes: Copper Box, playgrounds, river walks and Hackney Marshes.

New societies, new neighbourhoods under construction: The working citizen in Canary Wharf.

Perspectives in art.

The remodelling of the Olympic Stadium: for football, athletics and concerts.

History and geography in a vast panorama. One of earth’s megacities.

Angles and measurements in every view.

Fitness, fun & healthy living: Zaha Hadid’s Aquatic Centre is now open to the public.

New energy generation, new walkways, new perspectives.

A new vista is a great stimulus for thinking & writing.

Still building, still growing – a view capturing Canary Wharf and the City.

Memories of phenomenal athletic achievements: Inspiration for the future?

A closer look at Sir Anish Kapoor’s design.

Take a walk down the stairs and listen to the soundscapes of the East End of London, played through a series of speakers.

More perspectives – a gift to mathematicians and artists.

We were fortunate to see the Orbit in its full glory, in bright sunshine and with a perfect backdrop.

A healthy walk down the 200+ steps of the Orbit.

Perfect!

And if you’re exhausted by all the exercise, and overwhelmed by everything you’ve seen, you can relax on these wooden sun loungers, placed along the walkway near the Orbit, overlooking the River Lea.

………………………………………..

Price reductions for the Orbit experience are available to residents of the ‘Olympic boroughs’. Admission to the Olympic Park is of course completely free. The nearest stations are Stratford and Hackney Wick.

Enjoy also the miles of walkways and cycleways, as well as the cycle circuits and the velodrome. Don’t miss the riverside views and wildlife, and the other sports facilities. There are several inexpensive cafes and snack bars around the park.

http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/

About 3D Eye

Gary Foskett and Clare Blackhall are educationalists, writers and consultants. We work with schools and other organisations who share our vision of how schools, businesses, etc should work in the 21st Century. We also run courses and contribute to conferences - speaking about our three dimensional model of intelligences and how schools, colleges and universities can develop the full potential of all their staff and students. We also offer consultancy for businesses and public sector organisations to support staff training and organisational change and development. For more detailed information read our blog at https://3diassociates.wordpress.com/ or see our website at www.3diassociates.com.

View all posts by 3D Eye →