FACE asks: How can those of us engaged in farming and countryside education (farm educators and teachers in school) use activities inspired by food and farming to deliver Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects? The answer is a new booklet produced by FACE which contains ideas presented by a wide variety of contributors.
This is a brilliant book for use as a teachers’ guide and for lesson planning where the teacher wishes to focus on nature and environmental issues. I especially like the practical sections (make and do). What child could resist making a bee hotel, a hedgehog box or a pond for frogs? The ‘Ten Things to…
The Natural Connections Demonstration Project is an initiative funded by Natural England, DEFRA and English Heritage, which Plymouth University were awarded the contract to deliver. It is one of the largest outdoor learning projects in the UK and will involve around 200 schools and between 200-500 volunteers. The project operates at a local, school-led level, in ‘hubs’ across the South…
Project Dirt is a network connecting and resourcing community projects, through social media. Dirt is a “doing” network, showcasing what’s happening in communities so that people and projects can engage with each other, as well as the organisations looking to resource them. You can get involved here.
Circle of Life provides nature-based experiences that are “educational, fun and life-changing!” for schools or families in woodlands. Since 2004, it has been working to reconnect people from all backgrounds and ages to rediscover the natural world. Its Summer training days are listed here, its summer camps here, and details of forest school training here.
If you want to keep up with what the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) and its partners are up to, you can subscribe to their monthly Newsletter here. As a taster, here is their post-election update, and the June Newsletter itself is here. NB, nominations are now open for the 8th annual learning outside…
What do you think about zoos? If you’re ambivalent about their message and morality, then you might find Gordon Eaglesham’s blog a useful aid to your thinking, and that of your students. The post refers to Chris Packham’s recent article on zoos and their role in conservation, for the BBC Wildlife magazine. This is as honest…
June 19th is Empty Classroom Day. Where will you be? Will you be joining schools and organisations across the UK to celebrate outdoor learning. Will you spend a lesson outside, or do more? You can sign up your school, here, to be part of it and to hear news in the run up to the day.
LEEF is a network for London’s most innovative and passionate urban Environmental Educators. You can catch up with their latest activities here. Contact Anna Portch [aportch@wildlondon.org.uk ] if you want to keep in touch with what they do, including information about their four new Fellows: Beth Barbara, Lucy Gijsen, Melissa Rose, and Melissa Glackin.
This Wednesday, June 10th, the University of Gloucestershire is hosting the 2015 Learning for Sustainable Futures event which is focusing on student experience. It features new projects in Accountancy, Fine Art, Business, Fashion, Sports Placements and Libraries, as well as an interactive panel discussion about how to engage students in sustainability through social enterprise, placements and…