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Education
at the Sustainability Centre.
School children can experience the site as part of a guided visit through a programme of teaching and activities. There are a number of options available and these can be studied by accessing the teacher’s pack on our website. The following information describes some of the activities offered. We recommend that teachers discuss their requirements in advance with the Education Officer to plan the trip and enable us to draw up a programme suitable to their needs. Most of the activities are aimed at KEY STAGE 2 pupils but younger years have enjoyed their visits too so please ask about activities for younger children.
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Renewable Energy and Energy Saving: Starting with a worksheet tour of the site pupils will look at some of the measures we use on site to reduce carbon emissions and save energy. Simple models are used to illustrate some alternative technologies for electricity generation and water heating. The tour can continue to include a visit to the timber framing workshop and the straw bale build on the centre’s campsite. Particularly useful as an introduction to those embarking on Eco Schools. | ||
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Waste and Recycling: Pupils will undertake a waste sort challenge and learn how long familiar objects take to biodegrade in land-fill and in water. The problems of waste disposal and the benefits of recycling will be discussed and we will look at some recycled products. | ||
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Scrap Art Challenge: Pupils undertake a challenge to illustrate a problem our planet is facing using only a range of intriguing scrap. Working in teams gives pupils a chance to develop their communication skills and creative thinking. This activity also produces work to take back to school to share with other pupils. |
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Ponds: Investigating life in and around two ponds. A classroom introduction looks at the adaptations necessary for life in the water. The pond habitat is investigated with hands on pond dipping keys are used for identification . The scarcity of freshwater on earth is discussed and pupils are encouraged to consider the vulnerability of the pond habitat. Get to know one of the centres most exciting habitats. |
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Life in the Deadwood: A mini-beast hunt in the woods and a classroom study introduces some of the creatures that thrive in and around dead wood. Pupils discover that there are different environments and micro climates for living things to thrive in and use keys to identify their finds. Pupils are asked to consider the effects of a tidy up campaign in the wood. Investigate two habitats and compare their creatures. | ||
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Trees and Tree Products: Pupils will discover how important trees are locally and globally and make their own decisions as to why we would benefit from preserving woodlands and forests. We will head out into the woods and explore our sense of wonder, undertake a story making activity and carry out a team exercise with facts relating to forest destruction. This activity helps pupils understand that environmental change may lead to a complex chain of events. | ||
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Farming: Take a farm safari tour from the Centre and learn how local farmer George Atkinson manages his land for the benefit of wildlife. Discover why George keeps cattle and which crops he plants. Where does our food come from? This tour introduces pupils to the landscape of the South Downs and provides plenty of opportunity for excitement and fun with an educational base. | ||
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Natural Burial: A study and activities based around ceremonies for occasions and wildlife habitats. Visiting the woodland site pupils will discover some of the plants that benefit from this special woodland management plan and will plan their own ceremonies for natures small wonders. Cycles of nature and historic ceremonies from around the world provide a base for the visit to the eco alternative to the churchyard. | ||
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KEY STAGE 1 Materials: Pupils have a chance to handle different materials either natural or man made and to see materials in use on site looking at timber buildings with wooden pegs, seeing sheep and handling their wool, looking at soil and compost and carrying out a mini art activity with a variety of materials. A chance to put materials and their uses into the landscape and enjoy the natural spaces at the centre, use words to describe materials and consider if materials have been changed and why. | ||
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KEY STAGE 1 The Ground beneath our feet: What is happening beneath us as we walk around? Looking at mini-beasts and discovering soil. Earthworms are moving loads of soil, compost is being made in our heaps, tiny creatures are at work in the leaves. An opportunity to discover life in the soil, wood and leaves and meet mini-beasts. Followed by a mini-beast making activity to capture imagination and think about how real mini-beast body parts are joined. | ||
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Conceptual Encounters: Pupils can explore four basic concepts of life on earth using activities devised by the Institute for Earth Education. Each activity involves interaction and discovery to investigate food chains, a web of life, the natural cycling of materials and the passage of time. Pupils can enjoy learning in the grounds of the centre and discover that change may be natural or man made which helps to explain a basic ecology in which they as individuals can be involved. Suitable for year 6 pupils. |
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Earthworks and Mini Art: Take a voyage of discovery in the natural world using sensory exercises to explore the site or try out some mini art activities, fun clay pieces, pipe cleaner dragonflies, godseyes and charcoal drawings to get a flavour of the site. | ||