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| Outside learning at Wicor |
At Wicor we have a bespoke environmental curriculum which has seasonality at its heart. Although the children work outside throughout the year we have four dedicated, focused environmental days which are linked to their seasonal learning. On these days the whole school decamps outside and learns about the world around them whether it be looking at habitats, planting seeds or digging over the compost. And so last Thursday, over 440 children spent the day outside in our grounds which are looking fantastic as they burst into new life in the inevitable way nature arranges.
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| Tadpoles in the shallow warm water |
It was a sight to see. Everyone had come togged up with their scruffs ready to get their hands dirty and every year group had their learning pegged into the curriculum in some way - this isn't paying lip service to the fad of outdoor learning. This is rigorous and embedded. The children take it seriously, especially as we had just had a week centred on the film A Plastic Ocean where we all questioned ourselves over the use of plastic and how we could make small changes in our own lives which might have larger consequences over time.
The sun shone and it was a glorious day on the south coast of Hampshire. A variety of activities were undertaken. Year 5C planted some seeds for a trial for the RHS - these will eventually provide data for a survey on bees. Year 5T class were planting out some magnificent 12 foot specimen holly trees donated by Hilliers; huge holes were dug and no children were lost inside, and everyone learnt about watering in. They will now need to learn the slog of nurture after the excitement of the planting otherwise these trees will be lost.
Year 4 were extra busy under the watchful eyes of Miss Ray and Mrs Wright. Throughout the day some children updated their journal in the orchard sketching the new leaves and blossoms on all of the fruit trees. Five Kew packets of native wildflower seeds have been sown in there as well extending the wildflower meadow that's beginning to take hold. Terracotta pots were also planted in the allotment with trailing petunias donated by Garsons. Cornflowers were direct sown into the long borders with a link to life cycles.
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| Navelwort in the dry stone wall |
Year 6 were undertaking a host of activities from planting broad and edamame beans ready for bean salad in the summer, to learning how to transplant tiny seedlings of navelwort into our dry stone wall which resides next to our small, but perfectly formed pond. In addition to this, they were sketching the plants within these area which ranged from bluebells to red clover, dicentra to bay flowers, elder blossom to pulmonaria. However, the fascination of watching the tadpoles and pond skaters soon took over and mesmerised twenty 10 and 11 year-olds for long periods of time. It could have been stopped and everyone could have 'got back to work' but how often do children these days have the luxury of just sitting and observing the nature around them? It reminded me of the days I used to go stickleback hunting. The children sat keenly hoping to see our resident frog as well but were only rewarded by the occasional plopping as it hid in the roots of the pond plant life.
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| Flowers on the bay tree |
Year 3 were deep into their compost and also planting up a special white calendula being grown for RHS Chelsea this year. Various investigations were going on regarding the make-up of the different soils, including one just out from our 3rd generation compost heap. Horse manure was being dug into some sections of the allotment and green manure seeds scattered elsewhere. PH testing proved fascinating for children and they used this information to top up beds around the school. The calendula seedlings look strong and healthy, have been planted in their recycled milk bottle pots, and have been placed back into the polytunnels for nurturing. Lines of carrots and radish were sown into the raised bed outside their classroom. Again, this is such an important part of their learning - you can't just plant something then walk away. Persistence, resilience, patience, commitment - key life skills are required and cultivated.
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| A bombeliidae |
Year 2 were planting out the hollyhocks which have been grown from seed at school in the polytunnels.. Every child planted one - that's 65 in total! They were placed into one of the beds, where we look particularly at seed dispersal, and watered in. Careful handling had to be learnt, although the plants are quite robust and will provide a spectacle later in the year. The different parts of the plants were identified and what the plant needs for successful growth were learnt.
Year 1 had the fantastic job of looking for different habitats as the start to their next enquiry where they will produce an estate agent's guide to attempt to persuade insects to 'buy' a home. They will need a deep understanding of each animal's needs as you wouldn't want to place a creature next door to its main predator, nor would you sell a woodlouse a home somewhere hot and dry. So holes were dug, stones were lifted, bark was peeled, leaf litter moved slightly, birds were spotted, ladybirds hunted and spiders were sighted....always following the Country Code of replacing animals and respecting their habitats. They also sowed Zinnia 'purple prince' for their outdoor areas, and planted chitted potatoes in the allotment...in straight lines - metre sticks were used.
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| Elder blossom |
Year R went on a spring walk, observing and collecting specimens to talk about later. Their beds were dug over, flowering plants dug in and broad beans sown.
In a day and age where so many articles and headlines scream at us about the younger generation being 'The last child in the woods' it doesn't take much for them to revert and become enthralled by the world around them. They just need to be give the chance, the encouragement and the time.
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| A fern unfurling |
