RSPB Spring / Summer Primary Education Programmes

RSPB Spring / Summer Primary Education Programmes

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RSPB Spring / Summer Primary Education Programmes

Our ‘Spring Awakening, Summer Spectacle’ programmes are designed to bring learning to life.

Trained RSPB field teachers, using specially developed programmes, facilitate pre-school and primary school children to discover more about:

Food production – the journey from field to table
The farm and associated wildlife habitats
Species adaptation
Food chains
Migration
Hedgerow and woodland habitats
Seasons on the farm and in the natural world
Climate change
Pollination and germination and their importance in agriculture

A visit to Greenmount will increase your pupil’s knowledge of the environment through experiential learning; this will promote a knowledge and respect for wildlife and natural places.

When arranging your visit, group leaders should be aware that group visits do not guarantee that livestock will be seen as this is a working farm and farm animals are moved around the Greenmount site, and the lunchtime milking of the CREAM herd ceases in early May

Pre-school and Primary schools programme for ‘Spring Awakening, Summer Spectacle’ details are as follows:

Spring / Summer Pre-school

Age group: Pre School (3 - 4 years)

Group Type: Pre School, Reception or Nursery

Duration of programme: Half day

Group size: 15 children per RSPB Field Teacher

Adult to child ratio required for visit: 1: 2

Programme Description

Younger children will have the opportunity to explore the world around them. A variety of inter-active stories, games and simple collecting and sorting activities will stimulate their curiosity about the environment. Exploring the farm and the world around them will encourage children to think about the needs of birds during the nesting and breeding season, how farmers can help wildlife on the farm and where our own food comes from.

Programme Activities

Matching game
Making colour cards
Nature walk
Garden maze

Spring / Summer Key Stage 1 Foundation

Age group: 4 – 6 years

Group Type KS1 - P1 and P2

Duration of programme: Half or full day

Group size: 15 children per Field Teacher

Adult to child ratio required for visit: Comply with DENI requirements

Programme Description

Pupils will discover through a nature walk, the new buds and early spring flowers, find out where their own food comes from on the farm, how trees change through the seasons and how birds and wildlife prepare for nesting and breeding at this busy time of year.

Programme Activities

What’s on the Menu’ – simple food chains
Woodland Exploration – trees, leaves, buds and blossom
‘First Nature’ sensory activities –
Story themes
Walled garden wonders
‘CREAM Dairy Herd ‘drop-in’ visit

Spring / Summer Key Stage 1 Advanced

Age group: 6- 8 years

Group Type: KS1 - P3 and P4

Duration of programme: Half or full day

Group size: 15 children per Field Teacher

Adult to child ratio required for visit: Comply with DENI requirements

Programme Description

By exploring the woodland, farm and gardens, pupils will discover where their own food comes from on the farm, how vegetation changes through the seasons and how wildlife prepares for the breeding season. Pupils will learn about migration and see our early summer visitors from Africa, swallows, house martins and swifts. Using specially developed resources, progress in learning will be achieved through encourage each child to use their senses fully to explore the variety of life in a range of common habitats around the farm, and to appreciate the impact man can have on nature.

Programme Activities

‘Food and Farm’ activity
Colour matching and sorting
Collecting textures
Read and matching woodland activity
Pond dipping
Mini beast safari

Spring / Summer Key Stage 2

Age group: 9 - 11 years

Group Type: KS2, P5 to P7

Duration of programme: Half day or full day

Group size: 15 children per Field Teacher

Adult to child ratio required for visit: Comply with DENI requirements

Programme Description

Spring and summer are busy times in the countryside and on the farm.

Pupils will learn how birds and animals are adapted to their particular habitats and how they adapt through the changing seasons. Finding food, food chains, trees and buds are explored through hands-on activities.

Programme Activities