Lauren Pritchett's Fund for Teachers Blog

The one and only Tower Bridge!

“If the Tower Bridge broke down, traffic in London would stop” – an interesting quote I came across on the bridge tour. Back in the 1800’s, the London Bridge was the only usable bridge accessible. Due to the high populations that frequented London Bridge, top designers and architects began brainstorming new-age ideas for a solution. These ideas spanned from lifts, duplex’s, rollers, steel arches, and bascule bridges. After the myriad of designs were brought to the table, Horace Jones’ bascule Bridge won the honor! As a blend of masterful engineering and architectural brilliance, this bridge allows large ships to pass under by raising up its bascules (as seen in the photo below). The bridge today still opens several times a day and is an iconic landmark located in the heart of London.

I found it fascinating how the Tower Bridge has changed tremendously over the years. After 8 years of building, the Tower Bridge finally opened in 1894 letting horses, carriages, and walking Londoners to use the bridge.

One interesting fact is that it has only been repainted 7 times in its history!

Aside from playing a vital role in London’s transportation, the London Bridge has been used as backdrops for films, worldwide recognized events such as the Olympic Rings, and death-defying stunts. (Yes-someone really did drive a double decker bus while the bascules were raised!)

The Tower Bridge even had a thick glass floor to see the bridge and water below -caution for those who have a fear of heights, BUT I LOVED IT!

I can’t wait to use this bridge for inspiration for my students learning!

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#fftfellow #pefchattanooga

7 days..ONE WEEK! The fact I will be traveling is finally starting to set in. I have my lists and I’m checking them twice.

I am JUMPING for joy because I am so excited to have an opportunity to learn as a professional. I am a life long learner–INSPIRING students to also become life long learners.

#FFTFellow #PEFInnovation

Over the past two years, my students have partnered with a primary classroom in Scotland. Students have shared personal interests, family traditions, and made a few connections between cultures. As my students learned more about the people in Scotland, an interest began to grow to learn and understand their way of life.

My students made a few connections so far: kids around age 8 LOVE pizza! Many of our students have pets, play sports after school, and enjoy the latest video games.

We also discovered many differences. These differences sparked many questions for my students and myself. Students in Scotland would write about field trips to see nearby Castles and school technology classes. Food is always a topic that comes up in letters between students. A few Scottish dishes were mentioned such as haggis and bannocks (oat cakes). My students and I looked up photos online, but we wondered if they tasted as bad as they looked-especially the haggis.

As an educator, I think it’s vital for youth to gain international perspectives that will help shape their world views and expand their appreciation towards diverse backgrounds.

I am honored to be hand-delivering their last, but not final, letter to the primary school in Scotland!

Every journey has a beginning…and mine begins in Chattanooga. The inspiration for my fellowship started with these bridges. When you think of Chattanooga, the signature blue bridges come to mind. So many memories come to mind when I think of these bridges: times with friends and family walking across to visit the local ice cream shop, Coolidge Park, or Chattanooga’s Aquarium.

Bridges tell stories and impact the surrounding community. Bridges cross water ways, linking people, trade, and their culture. Now it’s time to break out of my city and explore the world around me.

I wonder what memories I will make to share with my students and what I will discover about these bridges, their architecture, and the areas that surround them.

I think my students are just as excited as I am for my travels to the U.K. They are excited that I will be hand delivering their next letter to their Scotland pen pals!

Some questions they’re wondering:

What do castles look like on the inside? Do the kings/queens still live there?

What does it look like from the top of the Tower Bridge?

Can you see a lot from the London Eye? 🇬🇧

As the month of May approaches, so does my fellowship with the Fund for Teachers Organization! I am excited to explore the bridges in the U.K. to allow the students at my school to also explore their community and the world beyond. Being a community member in Chattanooga, TN bridges are a large part of our community in function and trademark. My goal is to compare the bridges in Chattanooga to those in the U.K. learning about their age, structure, and the stories they tell.

Let the countdown begin!