Education Resources

Learning at the Mill

Important to the Mill as an important historic building, and to fulfill the objects of the trust to provide educational resources and make them generally available to schools and pupils of all ages. We already have in place:

• displays of how the mill works
• querns for pupils hand grinding their own flour
• a knowledgeable guide for each group
• a working miller operating the milling machinery
• cloakroom and toilet facilities
• excellent Resource Book written especially for teachers (CD/DVD available)
• hands-on sampling of products at each stage
• picnic space (weather permitting)

Plans to enhance these facilities are for an Educational EcoCentre and become known as The PowerHouse and be a centre of excellence for the whole of Kent. In association with Aivaf, the Mill is aims to provide high quality hands-on exhibits for schools and families, including the micro-hydropower turbines, to create a high-energy education zone focusing on mechanical principles and the use of renewable energy linking the Victorian watermills to modern day technologies.

The PowerHouse will also show children and give them an understanding about forces and mechanics. It will have physical activities that engage children into mechanical problem solving and link Victorian life with modern day living whilst also looking at methods for future needs.

The proposed exhibits include -

Mechanical Interactives:

• millstone
• governor
• elevator/ auger
• wall of cogs
• gears
• lift-up chair
• pulleys
• see-saw levers
• incline plane
• bridge
• volumes
• flywheels
• smutter
• weighing scales
• materials - wood etc

Water-based Interactives:

• waterwheels
• water cycle
• erosion table
• wave machine

Alternative Power Interactives & Recycling:

• energy production
• solar power
• recycling
• recycling old & new
• generator

General Interactives:

• microscope
• talking map
• smelly box quiz
• feely boxes
• jigsaw - process

Aivaf have considerable experience in this field, having completed exhibitions and interactive displays for clients of national and international reputation.