Park Life Learning outside the classroom

Our Plan Our plan is to take a group of Key Stage 1 children to Abington Park and create a range of cross- curricular lessons to engage the children in an outdoor learning environment. There are many benefits to outdoor learning, this presentation will detail our approach and give reasoning behind the chosen methods.

Why learn outside? Learning outside the classroom is about raising achievement through an organised, powerful approach to learning in which direct experience is of prime importance. This is not only about what we learn but importantly how and where we learn. (DFES, 2006a: 3)

Why learn outside? Why we believe it is important Growing up we all remember the teachers that made our educational experiences exciting and active. These lessons often had a hands on experience where the children could explore and find answers for themselves as well as learning via the teachers input. Children are more likely to achieve high levels if they feel confident and enjoy there learning. Outdoor learning can be tailored to all ability children, often appealing more to the children who are not necessarily academically gifted.

Why Abington Park? We feel Abington Park is the perfect place for the children to experience many different lessons which meet the needs of the national curriculum. We believe that having the opportunity to use the park, Church and Abington house would engage the children. The teaching team will be able to plan and implement aspects from different subjects without the children realising that it is just another History/R.E lesson.

Why Abington Park? What are the benefits of using Abington park? -Its free. -Its close by which means cheaper transportation costs. -Has links to R.E – The Church. -Has links to Geography – Map work. -Has links to History – Abington house. -Has links to Music – Band Stand. -Has links to P.E – Fitness equipment and Dance stand. -Has links to Science – Wildlife and Habitats.

What we aim to do

How will we address the health and safety issues? To ensure the safety of all children and teachers, a risk assessment was carried out for the trip. A detailed risk assessment can be found on the Team Tilly blog, all potential risks were evaluated and precautions put in place when required. Team Tilly would carry out a walk through of the park the day before the planned trip to check no new potential risks had aroused. This would also give the teaching team the opportunity to double the existing safety measures of the park. Children's existing medical conditions would be checked and adhered to along with food allergies.

What will happen on the day? Geography link – children will be set the task of exploring the different habitats that animals live within the park. There will be a range of resources available to help the children record their observations, these include: drawing paper, pencils, chalks and I pads. Children will identify

What will happen on the day? Art links – the children will be asked to collect natural materials from around the park to create large montages of the church. A teacher will lead an introduction to this activity discussing the shape and size of the building. The montages will be photographed to allow for effective assessment.

What will happen on the day? PE – this activity will provide children with the opportunity to develop fundamental movement skills and balance and co- ordination, both independently and as a group. The focus of the session will be for children to perform movements to express the mood and feeling of the different atmospheres in the park. Children will have to experience and interpret the range of areas to give an accurate overview. The children will be asked to use the sounds of the park to help with their routine.

Timetable for the day? TimeActivity 10:00Depart school and travel to Abington park via bus (see risk assessment). 10:30Arrive at Abington Park, introduction and health and safety talk – to be held in the museum. 11:00Group 1 and 2 – Geography activity Group 3 and 4 – PE activity Group 5 and 6 – Art activity 11:45Lunch, all children to reconvene outside the museum. Lunch outside if the weather permits, if not in the museum. 12:15Group 1 and 2 – Art activity Group 3 and 4 – Geography activity Group 5 and 6 – PE activity 13:30Group 1 and 2 – PE activity Group 3 and 4 – Art activity Group 5 and 6 – Geography activity 14:15Plenary, clean up and thank you’s 14:30Leave Abington park for a 15:00 arrival back at school.

How will we plan to follow up the learning? Prior to the trip a number of lesson will aid and prepare the children for the activities and learning on the day. After completion of the activities and day trip there will be a series of follow up lessons that will link directly to theme of Park Life. These sessions will include:  Literacy lesson – a recount of the trip to the park.  RE / Art lesson – looking at places to worship, what makes them special.  Music lesson – recreating the sounds of the park, looking at long and short sounds.  PE lesson – children to recreate their dance sequence incorporating the schools PE facilities.  Geography lesson – in talk partners show your maps created in the park and discuss which animals and habitats you matched up.