GDAŃSK SHIPYARD

The Honorary Patronage: Mieczysław Struk – Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship

This publication has been released with the support of the Book Institute as part of the Other Traditions publishing program.
Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage under targeted grant No. 3/DF-VII/2026.

Co-financed by the Gdańsk Publishing Promotion Fund.
Strategic Sponsors – Patrons of the Art: Davelia, Euro Styl, SCG Stocznia Centrum Gdańsk
Media Patrons: Radio Gdańsk, Trójmiasto.pl, Prestiż
Special thanks to: NSZZ Solidarność, Stocznia Gdańska

Partners: Muzeum Narodowe w Gdańsku, Nomus, Narodowe Muzeum Morskie w Gdańsku, Politechnika Gdańska, Stocznia Cesarska, Inside Seaside, Targi Rzeczy Ładnych, Panato, Babeczki z Trójmiasta, targi Plakatu, Food Hall Montownia, Visit Gdańsk, 100cznia GridArthub, Wtedy Drewno, Klimaty, Plenum, Colorat, Chix.

VOLUME I of the “GDAŃSK” series (Volume I of III)

The book you’re holding can be many things at once – and how you use it is entirely up to you. Treat it as a sketchbook, a guide, a game, a learning resource, a creative colouring book, or a fascinating journey through history. Beat boredom at home, explore the Gdańsk Shipyard with your own personal guide in hand, become a co-creator of this interactive publication, and surprise yourself along the way! The book is divided into eight chapters, each exploring a different aspect of the Gdańsk Shipyard and its remarkable story. You’ll discover how ships are built, uncover fascinating moments from history, learn about the natural world, and much more. And the best part? You decide where to begin. You can follow the pages in order, just as the authors intended, or jump straight to the topics that interest you most. Feel free to skip sections, mix things up, or return to your favourite activities whenever you like.
But there’s more! Each chapter contains five double-page sheets. Every sheet opens with a short introduction that will help you get to know the topic, understand key ideas, discover historical facts, and spark your curiosity for what comes next. It’s the perfect place to start. And that’s still not all! Alongside the introduction, each spread features three creative or logic-based activities designed to help you remember and explore what you’ve just learned. The
instructions can be found around the edges of the page, while the central space is yours to fill with ideas, drawings, notes, and creations. Remember, the authors offer suggestions – but how you tackle each challenge is entirely up to you. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
Now for the best part of all. You’ve probably already noticed two extraordinary companions: Fox and Seagull. Seagull sees the bigger picture from high above, while Fox uncovers hidden corners that others might overlook. Together they call the Gdańsk Shipyard home and share a passion for its stories and secrets. Throughout your adventure, they’ll be your guides and friends. You’ll find them on every sheet, ready with even more ideas and challenges – two additional activities every time you meet them. Often they’ll encourage you to step beyond the pages of the book, explore the world around you, take on outdoor missions, or express yourself through larger-scale artistic projects. Let them lead the way! So, are you ready to dive into a publication created by 11 artists and designers? Across 8 themes and 5 spreads in every chapter, they have crafted 5 activities per spread, resulting in 116 pages packed with more than 200 puzzles, challenges, creative tasks, and discoveries. It sounds like countless attractions and an endless sea of possibilities!

EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF THE PUBLICATION

Guidelines for teachers and educators.

This publication provides an excellent starting point for a wide range of lessons and educational workshops. To help educators make full use of its potential, it is worth taking a closer look at its key strengths. One of the publication’s greatest assets is its broad perspective and multi-layered narrative. Readers discover the history of the Gdańsk Shipyard within the wider contexts of the city’s history, Poland’s past, global developments, technological and industrial progress, important social issues, and the natural environment. By highlighting connections between different fields of knowledge, the publication makes it easy to incorporate individual sections into primary school lesson plans across a variety of subjects. Another distinguishing feature is the diversity of activities, which support curriculum objectives related to physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Their variety helps reinforce newly acquired knowledge while maintaining a high level of engagement. Historical facts, specialist shipbuilding terminology, and the shipyard’s unique geography are woven into a broad range of logical challenges, creative tasks, and movement-based activities. Through these exercises, young readers develop and strengthen numerous competencies, including manual and practical skills, creativity, memory, observation, mathematical reasoning, historical thinking, interpretation of historical sources and events, and an understanding of people and events significant to the development of Polish national identity. The publication’s structure is another important advantage. It is divided into eight chapters, each illustrated by a different artist. Every double-page spread begins with a short introductory text that presents the topic and provides essential background information. The newly acquired knowledge is then reinforced through richly illustrated games and activities. Finally, the friendly characters of Seagull and Fox encourage readers to move beyond the pages of the book and engage in hands-on, creative exploration. The sketchbook format is also a significant strength. It encourages collaborative work, flexible use of individual sections, and repeated engagement with the material. Large landscape-format spreads invite experimentation and support a wide range of creative and unconventional activities. Educators can freely select and adapt individual tasks to suit the objectives and structure of their lessons. An additional advantage is the involvement of multiple illustrators. Their varied artistic approaches enrich the publication and demonstrate that a single story can be interpreted and told in many different ways. The visual design is undoubtedly one of the book’s greatest strengths, inspiring children to think creatively while developing their aesthetic awareness and sensitivity. Finally, the publication’s large number of interactive and creative activities transforms the reader into a co-creator of the book itself. This fosters a sense of agency, independence, confidence, and active participation in the learning process.

1. CITY WITHIN A CITY – illustrations: Agata Królak, page 11
2. SHIPYARD CRAFTSMEN – illustrations: Joanna Czaplewska, page 23
3. ABOUT SHIPS – CONSTRUCTION, TYPES, STORIES – illustrations: Julia Bardziejewska, page 35
4. BUILDING A SHIP – illustrations: Ania Lubińska, page 47
5. STRIKES – illustrations: Adam Pękalski, page 59
6. A BIT OF HISTORY – illustrations: Ania Gawron, page 71
7. NATURAL MONUMENTS – illustrations: Ania Piwnicka, page 83
8. TODAY AND TOMORROW – illustrations: Lidka Zajdzińska, page 95

Series concept: Katarzyna Kucharska
Authors: Katarzyna Kucharska and Karolina Szabowska
Illustrations: Julia Bardziejewska, Joanna Czaplewska, Ania Gawron, Agata Królak,
Ania Lubińska, Adam Pękalski, Ania Piwnicka, Lidka Zajdzińska
Content consultant: Andrzej Trzeciak
Layout: Katarzyna Kucharska
Cover: Agata Królak
English translation: Tomasz Jastrzębski
ISBN 978-83-64634-73-4