It was once the powerhouse of the west of Scotland, boasting a rich history that has been passed down through the generations.

Now the past, present and future of the River Clyde is to be studied in Scottish classrooms as part of an initiative which will use the revival of the waterfront as a teaching resource for primary and secondary schools.

Children from across Scotland will learn about the history of the river and the £5.6bn regeneration currently under way through a range of lessons covering subjects including geography, history, science and English.

As part of the scheme, which has been developed by Clyde Waterfront, youngsters will also be able to travel on the Classroom on the Clyde, a boat that will be used from May next year to allow pupils to carry out research and see the river in action.

Around 200 lesson plans have already been created and a website has been set up to link the ongoing work on the river with the curriculum being taught in schools.

It is the first time a national regeneration project has been used to create a teaching resource and it has been designed to fit into the Scottish Government's strategy on developing enterprise in education.

At the launch of the project yesterday, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell and Steven Purcell, chairman of the Clyde Waterfront Strategic Partnership Board, met teachers and schoolchildren who have already used some of the lesson plans.

Mr Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport, said: "It is vital that our young people learn about the past history of the Clyde and are aware of the opportunities open to them through the regeneration of the river.

"This links what they learn in the classroom to life beyond school and helps them to understand how their own skills, knowledge and talents can be used in the world of work."

The Clyde Waterfront project aims to completely transform the area along the river from Glasgow to Erskine, bringing 50,000 new jobs, 24,000 new homes and new offices and retail space over the next 20 years.

Pupils at St Stephen's Primary in Sighthill are among those who have already benefited from the new teaching resource. As part of their lesson, devised by teacher Claire Gunn, they met engineers and visited the Clyde Arc before being set a challenge to work in groups to design a new bridge.

Emma Campbell, 11, and Rei Gashi, 12, said it was a "fun" way to learn about the river. Rei said: "I really want to be a civil engineer now, after doing this project."

Mr Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, added: "The River Clyde, which was one the powerhouse of the whole of the west of Scotland, is returning to its economic power. It is very important we make sure this is something that people feel connected to and there is nowhere better to start than in schools.

"All the work on the Clyde is clearly acting as an inspiration to the young people taking part in this.

"The best way to appreciate the history as well as the scale and pace of the regeneration of the Clyde is to see it from the river itself. The Classroom on the Clyde is an effective way of bringing these lesson plans to life."