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FIRST STEPS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

·        Outside today – looking at weather conditions 

      and  appropriate clothing

·        Seasonal observations - identification of    

      seasons through natural observation

·        Sensory experiences

·        Themed scavenger hunts

·        Sorting, counting and displaying natural  

      objects

·        Animal detectives

·        Introduction to a range of habitats

·        Observing and constructing animal

      homes

·        Care of living things

·        Walks using geographical language

·        Outdoor, site-specific story telling

·        Exploring the properties of natural

      materials and how they may change   

      over time

·        Making connections between natural

      materials and manufactured objects

Pupils will:

·        Develop listening skills

·        Develop observational skills

·        Learn to follow instructions

·        Practise reporting back

·        Extend their vocabulary

·        Become more confident

·        Develop respect for their environment

·        Experience sharing and taking turns

·        Develop their knowledge and understanding of    

      the natural world

·        Develop awareness of space, of themselves

      and others

·        Handle a range of equipment with increasing

      control

·        Be aware of the life and decay cycle

·        Understand that natural materials can be

      selected by their properties to make things

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WORD PLAY

·        Following directional instructions

·        Sensory hunt which features descriptive 

      vocabulary

·        Listening to questions from a key in order to     

      identify a plant or animal

·        Listening to a traditional woodland story in situ

·        Using a simple writing frame to record

      observations

·        Reading text about some of the plants or   

      animals they have seen

·        Story or poetry trail

·        Using mirrors, magnifiers or frames to

      observe closely and write creatively

Pupils will:

·        Develop listening skills

·        Learn to follow instructions

·        Practise speaking to a group

·        Extend their descriptive vocabulary

·        Understand the links between a woodland

      story and the real woodland

·        Practise recording their thoughts outdoors

·        Use non-fiction texts to gain information

·        Practise sequencing text from a story or

      lines of poetry

·        Increase their observation and   

      communication skills

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

WORKING WITH WORDS

(NON-FICTION)

·        Write a route to a treasure for others to follow

·        Interpretative scavenger hunt

·        In situ cloze procedure on tree species

·        Compose an information post on a plant or

      animal feature from observation and research

·        Prepare instructions for use of equipment or an

      activity

·        Use of a plant or animal key to identify a

      species

·        Present information from a hypothesis and 

      investigation

·        Detailed description of a plant or animal from

      observation

·        Discussion of an environmental issue

Pupils will:

·        Improve their ability to write and follow clear

      and concise directions

·        Practice interpretation of words and phases,

      achieving a group consensus

·        Gain confidence in bringing together listening,

      observation and research skills in a piece of

      writing for a specific audience

·        Be able to write sequenced steps of procedure

·        Learn how to use dichotomous word keys

·        Practice posing questions, designing   

      investigations and communicating results

·        Develop focused descriptive writing

·        Be able to communicate and defend a point of

      view

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

WORDCRAFT

(FICTION)

·        Scavenger hunt leading to exploration of

      alliteration and collective nouns

·        Writing frame which focuses on the senses or

      time or serial vision

·        “Creature Features” invertebrate poems

·        Haiku landscape writing – Japanese poetry in   

      17 syllables

·        Composing a folk tale or myth from an

      observed  green plant or fungus

·        Listening to a fable and writing a fable about     

      woodland animals

·        Composing shared text and continuation of    

      writing outdoors

·        Closely observed observational writing with the

      use of mirrors, magnifiers or frames

·        Story or poetry trail

Pupils will:

·        Extend their descriptive vocabulary

·        Be able to organise their observations from   

      note form into a succinct  poem or piece of   

      prose

·        Improve & develop their imaginative ideas

·        Gain an appreciation of the work of other

      writers, and be able to continue in similar style

·        Learn about the purposes and structure of 

      certain text types

·        Be able to sequence lines or extracts from a

      poem or story

·        Draw inspiration from, and  develop empathy 

     with the natural world

·        Gain confidence in performing their work 

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

NUMBERS IN NATURE

·        Estimation and counting plant or animal

      species

·        Number trail

·        Measuring heights or girth of plants

·        Measuring distances travelled

·        Collecting and matching shapes and patterns in

      plants

·        2D and 3D shapes challenges

·        Temperature trail and temperature range

Pupils will:

·        Develop approaches to solving number

      problems outdoors

·        Practice calculating and communicating using

      mental methods

·        Be able to use mathematical equipment to

      solve practical problems

·        Recognise patterns and shapes in natural

      objects

·        Improve their ability to estimate measures

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

NATURAL NUMBER WONDERS

·        Number or activity trail

·        Establishing a scale for a map enabling   

     estimation and calculation of distance walked

·        Tree measurements of height or canopy or

       age through girth

·        Leaf area investigation

·        Grass growth patterns

·        Temperature trail of microclimates

·        Grids and co-ordinates treasure hunt

·        Finding natural spirals and making spirals

      based on number sequences

·        Shape and symmetry challenges

·        Transect mapping

·        Plant or animal data collection, interpretation   

      and presentation

·        Quadrat surveys

Pupils will:

·        Identify and use appropriate methods to solve   

      practical outdoor problems

·        Develop estimation and prediction skills in

      calculations of measures

·        Practice relating maps to distances and areas

·        Make connections between number patterns

      and natural forms

·        Use appropriate mathematical equipment   

      effectively

·        Work collaboratively

·        Draw inferences from data collection

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

OUR SENSES

·        Exploring ways of looking through the use of

      magnification, mirrors, and frames

·        Exploring the range of colour in plants and

      matching colours

·        Making “feely” bags

·        Texture scavenger hunt

·        Leaf and bark rubbings

·        Tasting herbs, fruit and vegetables in season

·        Concocting “potions and perfumes” from plants

·        Investigation of seasonal and specific weather

      conditions and their effects

·        Focussed listening exercises

·        Exploring animal camouflage

·        Making sounds from natural objects

·        Animal observations

·        Trails using sound, poems or songs

·        Examining the effects of exercise

·        Matching shape hunt

·        Direction finding and distance estimation

Pupils will:

·        Gain awareness of the richness of colour,

      texture, sound, smell and taste of the natural 

      world

·        Gain an appreciation of the “micro” world of

      plants and animals

·        Learn to observe and listen without disturbing

      animal life

·        Extend their descriptive vocabulary

·        Knowledge of  seasonal and diurnal weather

      changes and their effects on plants, animals    

      and ourselves

·        Enjoy composing and performing in a group

·        Learn how to establish directions and 

      estimate distance

·        Learn how the body changes as a result of

      exercise 

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PLANT INVESTIGATIONS

·        Sorting plants into broad groups

·        Identifying plants

·        Plant observations, naming main parts

·        Observations on what plants need in order to

      grow

·        Seasonal observations of the life cycle of

      selected plants

·        What happens to dead plants?

·        Scavenger plant hunt

·        Leaf shape rubbings or prints

Pupils will:

·        Know  basic grouping of plants within a given

      habitat

·        Be able to recognise and name several plants

·        Be able to name and show the main parts of a

      plant and their functions

·        Understand that plants need certain conditions

      for growth

·        Be aware of the link between the season and

      the stage of a plant’s life cycle

·        Awareness of the life and decay cycle

·        Be able to recognise and name leaf shapes

·        Be able to take rubbings or print efficiently

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

ANIMAL INVESTIGATIONS

·        Animal evidence hunt

·        Exploring animal homes

·        Investigating a specific habitat for the range of

      animal life it sustains

·        Animal needs

·        Identification using picture keys

·        Invertebrate investigation

·        Camouflage activity

·        Animal menu game

Pupils will:

·        Be able to identify a number of animals

·        Gain heightened observational skills

·        Discover that animals have specific habitats

·        Know how to care for the animals they are   

      investigating

·        Be able to record their observations in situ

·        Be able to use investigative equipment

·        Gain an understanding of animal camouflage

·        Understand how animals and plants

      are linked by food chains

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

MATERIALS

·        Materials scavenger hunt

·        Making and testing “feely” bags

·        Ephemeral artwork using natural materials

·        Investigating outdoor clothing for different

      weather conditions

·        Exploring the properties of natural materials

      and how they may change over time

·        Making connections between natural materials

      and manufactured objects

·        Unnatural objects trail

·        Construction of animal homes using

      appropriate materials

·        3D constructions using natural materials

Pupils will:

·        Improve observation and discrimination skills

·        Increase their knowledge of the properties and

      uses of natural materials

·        Learn about manufacturing processes

·        Understand how clothing can assist the heating

      or cooling of the body

·        Learn about the life and decay cycle

·        Have experience of building structures co-

      operatively

·        Appreciate the skills of animal builders

·        Experience making a 3D object from raw

      materials

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

PLANT  INVESTIGATIONS

·      Sorting plants into named groups and

     identifying species within those groups using

     keys and reference books

·      Woodland succession observations

·      Life cycle of plants, highlighting the specific

     seasonal stage

·      Plant survey of two contrasting habitats

·      Non-flowering plant investigation

·      Decay cycle and fungi foray

·      Plant profile

·      Hunt for plants in the food chain

·      Human use of plants

·      Conservation trail

·      Making a plant identification key

Pupils will:

·      Have knowledge of specific plant  groups and 

     be able to name species within that group

·      Understand the conditions for growth

·      Be able to describe how plants adapt to

     certain habitats

·      Have knowledge of plant life cycles

·      Improve their observational skills

·      Be able to use a variety of equipment and 

     recording methods

·      Be able to interpret data and draw conclusions

·      Appreciate the diversity of plant forms

·      Know how plants contribute to food chains and

     webs within a given habitat

·      Be aware of the uses of native plants

·      Understand the organic method of growing

     plants

·      Be aware of human impact on plants, the

     importance of plant diversity and conservation

     methods

·      Understand the importance of bio-diversity

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

ANIMAL INVESTIGATIONS

·        Animal evidence hunt within a given habitat

·        Collection of invertebrates in two contrasting

      habitats

·        Exploring animal homes

·        Animal identification by use of keys

·        Animal adaptations to habitats

·        Investigating animal groups

·        Food chains and webs

·        Animal life cycles

·        Conservation trail

Pupils will:

·        Be able to recognise animal evidence

·        Have learnt techniques which allow them to 

      collect and investigate invertebrates with care

·        Be confident in the use of keys

·        Have an appreciation of the diversity of animal

      life within a habitat

·        Have knowledge of the life processes of

      specific animals

·        Be able to explain how animals are adapted to

      their habitat

·        Understand feeding relationships in a habitat

·        Learn what can be done to protect  animal

      diversity and conserve species

·        Understand the importance of bio-diversity

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

HOW TO INVESTIGATE HABITATS

Choose from:

·        Woodland

·        Hedgerow

·        Meadow

·        Freshwater ponds

·        Streams

·        Moorland

To undertake:

·        Plant investigations

·        Animal investigations

·        Micro - organism investigations

·        Environmental quality assessments

·        Conservation trail

Pupils will:

·        Learn to use the most appropriate methods to

      explore a habitat

·        Be confident in the use of scientific equipment

·        Understand how plants and animals are

      adapted to different habitats

·        Understand how plants and animals are 

      connected within a habitat

·        Be aware of the variety of micro habitats within

      a given area

·        Be able to make judgements about the quality

      of an environment, and how it might best be

      improved or sustained.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

ROCKS AND SOILS

·        Sorting rocks, minerals, plant and animal

      fossils

·        Sorting rocks into local and global categories

·        Exploring properties of local rocks and learning

      about their formation

·        Separating the components of soils by sieving

      or settling in water

·        Collection of surface and drilled soil samples

·        Observations relating soils to plants

·        Testing soils for particle size

·        Investigation of leaf litter invertebrates

·        Soil profiling

·        Making and using soil paints

Pupils will:

·        Be able to distinguish between rocks, minerals

      and fossils

·        Be able to identify local rocks and explain their

      properties and uses

·        Know how to identify soils according to particle

      size and organic content

·        Understand how plants are related to soil types

·        Be aware of the decay process and the action

      of soil invertebrates

·        Understand how weathering and erosion occur

     and the impact this has on the area

·        Have experience of making soil paints and an

      appreciation of their qualities

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ACTIVITY OPTIONS

LEARNING OUTCOMES

OUT AND ABOUT

·      Map interpretation:  use of simple map

       with symbols and key

·      Map and compass work: orientation  

            and route finding using cardinal compass  

            points

·      Directional language

·      Activity trail

·      Distance estimation and measuring

·      Sketch map making

·      Land use observations

·      Environmental assessment

·      Giant outdoor compass

·      Map sticks – artefacts that record a    

            journey

Pupils will:

·      Gain practical experience in interpreting maps

·      Be able to orientate a map and navigate a route   

     with the aid of a compass

·      Improve their ability to estimate distances

·      Have experience of map making

·      Be able to identify land uses

·      Gain confidence in expressing opinions about 

     environments

·      Have experience of  working collaboratively

·      Be able to recall and describe a route

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS

·      Map interpretation: use of symbols, keys, scale

     and co-ordinates

·      Map and compass work: orientation and route

     finding, using the eight point compass or

     bearings

·      Contour map reading

·      Distance estimation and measuring

·      Transect map making

·      Land use recording

·      Weather data collection

·      Environmental assessment – problems and

     solutions

·      Map sticks – artefacts that record a journey

·      Writing a route for others to follow

Pupils will:

·       Be confident in the interpretation of maps

·       Be able to orientate a map and navigate a more  

     complex  route with the aid of a compass

·       Understand how to set a compass and walk

     on a bearing 

·      Understand the relationship between contour   

     lines on maps and slopes

·      Have improved distance estimation skills

·      Be able to survey an area and make an

     accurate map

·      Be able to record land use on a map

·      Know how weather data is collected and used

·      Have experience of assessing environments,

     identifying problems and proposing solutions

·      Be confident in giving and following directional 

     instructions

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

RIVERS AND STREAMS

·      Mapwork to trace catchment area

·    Exploration of valley and stream features

·    Sketch mapping

·    Cross sectional profiling

·    Speed of flow calculation

·    Erosion, transportation and deposition

·    Human impact assessment

·    Pollution monitoring using invertebrate

      indicators         

·    Exploration of the impact of drought and flood

     on local land use

Pupils will:

·      Learn the geographical vocabulary of river

     systems

·      Be able to represent their observations in a  

     sketch map of a river or stream

·      Be able to construct a profile from data

     collected

·      Know how to calculate speed of flow

·      Know how water shapes the landscape

·      Understand that a river or stream is a habitat

     with plant and animal communities

·      Be able to assess the quality of the water

·      Appreciate how human activity affects a river

     system

·      Be aware of the consequences  and

     implications of drought and flood

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

VILLAGE OR TOWN STUDY

·   Origins of the settlement

·   Map work to establish how an area has

    changed over time

·   Sketching landmarks, buildings and road  

    systems

·   Land use mapping

·   Environmental quality assessment

·   Amenity provision assessment

·   Observing building styles and materials

·   Environmental improvement exercise

·   Photographic trail

·   Pollution assessment

·   Comparison with home area

Pupils will:

·   Understand how a settlement has

    developed over time

·   Develop their skills of interpreting maps

·   Be able to use a variety of methods to    

    record their observations

·   Have specific knowledge of local architecture

·   Have generated ideas for environmental   

    improvement

·   Understand the forms of pollution and how to   

    assess them

·   Gain critical awareness of the environment   

    and be able to express an informed opinion

·   Appreciate the differences between their   

    home and study area

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

RESEARCHING THE PAST - Simonsbath

·   Consider Village origins and historical development

·   Look at land use and change over time

·   Identify features in the area on a large map

·   Consider the use and development of buildings

·   Trace the history and the development of the road systems in and around the village

·   Church and Graveyard study - dating grave stones

·   Research the historical background of Simonsbath House

·   Local Natural Disasters

·   Changing use of natural materials

·   Arrange a display and/or make a presentation that provides information about an aspect of life in the village in the past

Pupils will:

·  Identify & Draw key external features common to homes.

·   Describe & Draw the features of a home built a long time ago

·   Use features of buildings to infer their use and who owned them

·  Write a short, accurate description of the place suggesting who might have used it

·   Record their observations by annotating drawings or by labelling and completing a prepared outline

·   Categorise buildings as ‘old’ or ‘new’

·   Identify environmental and physical features and how these might affect settlement and lifestyle

·   Measure distances in scale on maps and make comparisons with their own area

·   Ask and answer questions about archaeological discoveries

·   Contribute to making a visual time line

·   Produce a description of the area that contains appropriate historical detail

·   Identify features of the area from pictures

·   Suggest why and for whom a picture was made

·   Collect information about the area from oral evidence & summarise the information collected

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ACTIVITY OPTIONS

LEARNING OUTCOMES

ART IN THE ENVIRONMENT

·      Plant colour collection - water-colour painting

     matching colours

·      Oil pastel drawing of plant or animal forms

·      Pencil /pen line drawings of plants

·      Serial vision sketching

·      Graphic designs from framed natural materials

·      Charcoal drawing of wood

·      Woodland painting using soil paints

·      Hessian scrim weaving with textured natural 

     objects

·      “Green Man” leaf and bark wax rubbing

·      Ink prints of leaf shapes

·      Wax resist fungi forms

·      Mobiles from found natural materials

·      Andy Goldsworthy study of ephemeral art

·      Choice of artist study of landscape or natural

     forms

Pupils will:

·      Improve their observational skills and learn how

     observational recordings can be developed into

     imaginative work

·      Gain confidence in using a range of materials

     and techniques

·      Develop work which emphasises the qualities of

     colour, line, form, texture and pattern

·      Work confidently in 3D with natural materials

·      Gain an appreciation of the work of artists

     depicting the natural world

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

INTRODUCTION TO “TOP OUTDOORS”

Progressive tasks in the following core activities of the programme:

·      Trails

·      Physical Challenges

·      Orienteering

Pupils will move from dependence to greater independence in learning:

·    From performing given tasks to being able to       devise challenges of their own

·    From using given criteria to judge the 

     performance of others to developing their own

     criteria to evaluate their performance and that

     of others

·    From simple tasks to more difficult and  

     complex ones

·    From working individually, through pairs, to   

     group problem solving activity.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

BASIC ORIENTEERING SKILLS

Introduction to basic orienteering skills in the following areas:

·         Orientation

·         Route planning

·         Symbols and keys

·         Compass work

Pupils will:

·         Improve their spatial awareness

·         Be able to interpret simple maps, symbols

          and keys

·         Have experience of planning and following

          routes

·         Be able to use a compass as an aid to

          navigation

·         Know how to set a compass and walk on a

          simple bearing

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

INTERMEDIATE ORIENTEERING SKILLS

Intermediate courses using the following activities:

·         Activity trails

·         Route planning

·         Basic compass bearing activities

·         Basic orienteering using maps over line, star

          and route courses

Pupils will:

·        Be confident in interpreting maps, symbols   

         and keys

·        Understand the use of the a compass as an

         aid to navigation

·        Know how to set a compass and walk on a

         variety of bearings

·        Be able to transfer information from map to

         map

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

ADVANCED ORIENTEERING SKILLS

A range of advanced orienteering courses which will use the following skills:

·        Route planning

·        Moving a bearing from a grid to a magnetic

         direction

·        Moving on a bearing

·        Taking a bearing to and from an object

·        Line event

·        Competitive event

Pupils will:

·        Be confident in planning and following routes

·        Make full use of a compass as an aid to

         navigation

·        Be proficient in setting a compass and

         travelling on bearings

·        Be able to compete in competitive

         orienteering events

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

INTRODUCTION TO OUTDOOR AND ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES

LEVEL 1

Team building and individual challenge activities including:

·        Low level assault course

·        Parachute games

·        Circus skills

·        Group development including planning, 

         communication and review

Pupils will:

·        Acquire specific OAA skills

·        Understand the attributes of an effective team

·        Understand the consequences of their own

         actions upon others

·        Recognise personal strengths and

         weaknesses

·        Be able to work together and on their own to

         meet challenges

·        Respect the differences between people

·        Build relationships

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

INTRODUCTION TO OUTDOOR AND ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES

LEVEL 2 **

Team building and individual challenge activities including:

·        Mountain biking

·        Intermediate assault course

·        Camp craft

·        Archery

·        Group development including planning, 

         communication and review

Pupils will:

·        Acquire specific OAA skills

·        Understand the attributes of an effective team

·        Understand the consequences of their own

         actions upon others

·        Recognise personal strengths and

         weaknesses

·        Be able to work together and on their own to

         meet challenges

·        Respect the differences between people

·        Build relationships

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

GROUP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PROBLEM SOLVING

A range of physically and mentally demanding challenges including:

·        Island Hopping

·        Lattice

·        See-saw

·        Vortex

Review sessions which highlight:

·        Team work

·        Questioning skills

·        Effective contribution

·        Active listening

Pupils will:

·        Understand the attributes of an effective team

·        Be able to formulate and communicate plans

         and review performance

·        Work co-operatively on shared problems

·        Recognise personal strengths and

         weaknesses