a joint project

Introduction

IntroductionThis pack has been created to open up opportunities for children to learn outside the classroom. It will be useful to anyone working in schools interested in developing and using outdoor spaces to both teach the National Curriculum and run more informal activities such as wildlife or gardening clubs.

This pack centres on wildlife, gardening and the environment. Yet it remains very much focused on using the opportunities these present to deliver the curriculum in a meaningful way. It should enable those with little prior experience of using the outdoors to teach the National Curriculum, environmental education or gardening in the school grounds, to incorporate these into school life with confidence.

Children love being outdoors. Opportunities to dig and sow seeds, or investigate and explore local surroundings and wildlife are something every child should experience. Sadly for children in inner-city London; many without gardens of their own, possibilities for this type of exploration into the environment will seldom occur. This may be due to lack of appropriate space or safety considerations. However, when given the chance children will happily immerse themselves in the simplest of well-planned activities.

The outdoors environment is a very stimulating place in which to learn. It can be used to reinforce messages learnt inside the classroom, or replace the white board entirely, with experiences which are hands-on and therefore more memorable. Activities can be readily adapted to stimulate children from a wide range of abilities. When children are given the opportunity to fully engage with their environment, it can have a whole host of positive effects on children’s behaviour and development.

Many teachers will already be using the school grounds successfully to deliver elements of the National Curriculum from science studies to physical education. However, school grounds, your local nature reserve and green spaces have much to offer for all areas of the curriculum. Even those grounds which can appear uninspired or barren at first glance, have something to offer and can be easily enhanced with relatively small additions and minimum effort.

This pack has been designed to give schools a basic foundation in knowledge when using school grounds, local nature reserve or green space for educational purposes. It includes practical activities and resources that busy teachers can pick up and use immediately. This pack also gives a wider breadth of information which should equip you with the skills to get started and keep going if you are new to gardening or are embarking on a new project to encourage wildlife into your school grounds. For those who are already active in their grounds this pack should help you build on your current activities.

Divided into sections, the pack includes curriculum-linked lesson plans, advice on gardening in the school grounds, health and safety, funding opportunities and lists of suppliers, to help make the process of using the outdoor classroom as easy as possible. The information has been structured so that teachers, teaching assistants and local volunteers can choose the individual components which best suit their circumstances. If people would like to delve more deeply into a particular area, they will find the useful contacts and websites sections will point them in the right direction.

This pack is designed to be a living document. The pages have deliberately been left unnumbered to allow the pack to be updated and added to as schools develop their grounds and new lesson plans are created. You will find blank ‘template’ pages are included for this. It also allows any out-of-date information to be removed as time goes by. All worksheets have been designed to be photocopier friendly. The idea is that each school can tailor the pack to their own needs and grounds.

We would like to thank The Royal Horticultural Society, Garden Organic and Growing Schools for permission to use their educational and safety materials. Thank you to the CEA@Islington Health and Safety team for their support and advice in the Health and Safety section. We would especially like to thank our partners EC1New Deal for Communities, in particular Tracey Dornan - EC1 Young Persons Environmental Outreach Officer, for the use of the excellent materials they have compiled and created which make up the rest of this pack.

And finally special thanks go to Janet Ullman who authored London Wildlife Trust’s section of this pack ‘’Schemes of Work for Outdoors Education.’ Janet dedicates this section ‘to Keith Campbell Smith, her inspiration, heart and mentor.

Leah McNally Education Coordinator London Wildlife Trust

Introduction

The National Curriculum OutdoorsSchemes of Work for Outdoor Education

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 2

Gardening in the school grounds Introduction

Setting up a school garden

Tips for a successful school garden

Rules and tools – Safety in the garden

The National Curriculum in the garden

Activities for garden clubs

Garden calendar

Gardening for wildlife

HDRA leaflets

Useful contacts Useful organisations – local & national

Suppliers

Training providers

Contents

Health & Safety Introduction

RISK ASSESSMENT

Generic risk assessments

Guidance on using generic risk assessments

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Health hazards terminology explained

Hazardous plant information

Safeguarding children

Group safety at water margins

School initiatives & programmesSustainable Schools

Eco-Schools

Healthy Schools

Growing Schools

London Schools Environment Award

Funding your project

Sources & further readingBooks

Official & Government publications

Teaching packs

Information leaflets

Online sources

Useful websites

– For teachers and leaders

– For children