Environmental Education Programmes

Hadleigh Country Park offers a range of environmental education programmes which can be used to allow hands on experience for pupils. These have been specifically linked to the National Curriculum. The following activities show our most commonly requested days. However, if you require another activity please contact us directly.

Pond Dipping
Minibeasts
Habitats
Orienteering & Using a Map
Den Building
Land Art
Sensory Day
Kites
Growth and Movement

Please phone 01702 551072 for more information.

Pond dipping

Pond dipping is conducted from a specially built platform on one of the many dykes crossing the park's marshes. All the necessary equipment is provided and this activity allows the children to experience the handling of live specimens, direct observation of the types of invertebrates and plant species that live in a freshwater ecosystem.

National curriculum links:
Identification
Classification
Interpreting data
Adaptation
Food chains
Handling living things responsibly
Taking responsibility

Minibeasts

Using different locations around the park including light and shade, dry and damp conditions, comparisons are made using appropriate equipment. A huge variety of wildlife can be discovered and magnified in this fascinating world.

National Curriculum links:
Looking for and observing
Identifying
Comparing two or more habitats
Using quadrants
Classification
Interpreting data
Using methods of recording data
Recalling information and data
Food chains
Responsible handling of living things

Habitats

On a ranger led guided walk around the park children will learn to discover an array of different habitats, many of which will have gone unnoticed in the past. Suddenly their environment will have a new exciting purpose and meaning.

National Curriculum links:
Adaptation
Identification
Classification
Climate
Geology
Respecting the local environment
Food chains
Caring for our world
Caring for the our local environment
Knowledge of where we live

Orienteering & Using a Map

Using photographs of the park the children are able to navigate their way around the park. Follow up work in the classroom enables the children to translate their journey onto a map and create the necessary key.

National Curriculum links:
Understanding and interpreting data
Following simple instructions
Recalling information and instruction
Understanding of local places
Simple fieldwork skills
Devising keys

Den building

During this activity the class is divided into small closely supervised groups. The den building takes place in a regularly managed and assessed area for safety. This activity can be altered to fit in with both habitats and, in a more in depth and structured way, shelters. Both are hugely rewarding and fun for the participants.

National curriculum links:
Shelters
Structure
Construction
Suitability for purpose, warm, protection, hide from the enemy, sun/shade
Location, geology
Building materials
Links in with materials unit
Sensory

Land Art

There are many opportunities throughout the day to include art and sculpture. Using natural materials the children are able to use their imagination to create 2 and 3D interpretations on their day in the park.

National Curriculum links:
Looking at patterns, shapes and textures from the Natural world.
Fits in with the unit Mother Earth.
Map sticks
Sculpture

Sensory Day

This day has been specifically created as it fits in so well with the first term and the need to learn about self and surroundings.

If you thought that building a kite that actually flies a bit of a challenge come and try ours. They are simple to make and the method will stay with you forever.

National Curriculum links:
D&T
Energy sources
Renewable energy
Following instructions
Working with others
Design

Growth & Movement

Using a variety of teaching methods including drama the day covers many aspects of the curriculum in an interesting and informative way.

National Curriculum links:
Life processes
Growth
Nutrition & reproduction in plants
Pollination
Seed formation
Seed dispersal – mime dramatisation
Germination

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