A child-led introduction to Kinderdijk, Netherlands, suitable to support study of a European location at KS2.
The video
Video summary
Kinderdijk is famous for its canals and windmills.
There are nineteen windmills in Kinderdijk run by millers. Donna, a 9-year-old girl, cycles along the drainage canals to meet a couple of the last remaining millers in the region.
They illustrate how the wind drives the sails on the windmill to grind the wheat and pump the water from the flat lands to prevent flooding.
Donna and her family are in the process of restoring an old windmill to create their new home.
She visits a restored windmill and points out artefacts that illustrate life in the past, including clogs.
This film was first broadcast as part of the series Living abroad.
Teacher Notes
Pupils can look at how windmills help them to live.
What is their main purpose?
Why do people wear clogs?
Where is Kinderdijk and why do the residents have a problem with flooding?
What is their main form of transport?
What other European countries are there and how do they compare with the Netherlands?
Pupils could create a European holiday database, giving details of currency, annual rainfall, average summer temperature, physical features, famous and historical places to visit and attractions.
From this they could compare the amount of rainfall and the need to have windmills.
This film is relevant for teaching Geography at KS2 in England and Wales and 2nd and 3rd level in Scotland. The National Curriculum for Geography at Key Stage 2 emphasises study of a European location and making comparisons with a location in the United Kingdom.
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