School Programmes at Paxton Pits

The Wildlife Trust runs a fantastic education programme for primary school children at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. The visits are fun, cross-curricular, meet the needs of the National Curriculum and are led by experienced, enthusiastic staff.

We deliver child centred learning experiences which aim to engage and put children at the heart of learning on their exciting day with us. We focus on delivering memorable visits to enable pupils to develop an understanding of and strong connection to the natural world.

There will be many opportunites for follow up work back in your classroom. We offer programmes for both primary schools and exciting opportunities for 'A' level arts and BTEC students. The details of which are below:

Three different programmes to primary schools:

1. Wild Journeys: Habitats through time (April to September) for years 2 to 6
2. Wild Journeys of people and wildlife (October to March) for years 2 to 6
3. Tales of the Ouse Valley (April to September) for Pre Schools, Reception and year 1.

1. Wild Journeys: Habitats Through Time (April - Sept). Ideal for Year 2 to 6 pupils

Pupils undertake an amazing wild journey through time, equipped with time travel wristbands, explorer kits and time dials to discover how Paxton Pits became so important for wildlife.

Children ‘stop off’ at keys points in time in the history of Paxton Pits to undertake exciting activities, including fossil hunting to discover the remains of creatures that once lived in Jurassic seas; pond dipping to

catch the creatures that colonised the holes that filled with water after the gravel pits were excavated; sweep netting to find the creatures that have moved into the meadows that established after the site became a nature reserve; log rolling to discover who lives under the logs at the ‘pingo swamp’; bird watching to spot some of the residents Paxton Pits is famous for; and journeying into the future to discover what the site will be like in years to come.

To book your visit please contact the education centre manager on 01480 473161 or email debbie.mckenzie@wildlifebcnp.org

**2. Wild Journeys of People and Wildlife (Oct - March) Ideal for Year 2 to 6 pupils**

A cross-curricular programme of Saxon settlers and bird migration, which tells the story of the reserve through discovering the past and investigating the present.

Through a series of exciting activities, children will explore why the Saxons journeyed to and settled at Paxton; why birds migrate to the reserve to spend the winter; how Saxons used the natural resources in a variety of ways; how farming the land to grow food provides a habitat for wildlife; how the way people use the earth’s resources changes habitats; and how wetland and farmland birds are adapted to the habitat in which they are found.

During their visit, children will unearth clues, make clay creations, bird watch from the journey headquarters, visit a Saxon camp, take part in the Saxon arrival, and find a feast for the birds.

To book your visit please contact the education centre manager on 01480 473161 or email debbie.mckenzie@wildlifebcnp.org

This project has been funded by Natural England through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

3. Tales of the Ouse Valley (April - October) Ideal for Pre-School, Reception and Year 1 pupils

Come and join us on an adventure to discover some of the creatures that live in or around the Ouse Valley. This is a fun filled educational day specifically geared for younger children. If your children like stories, puppets, pond dipping, bird watching, mini beast hunting and treasure trails, then this is the day for you!

To book your visit please contact the education centre manager on 01480 473161 or email debbie.mckenzie@wildlifebcnp.org

This project has been funded by Natural England through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

MORE COURSES. THIS TIME FOR 'A' LEVEL AND BTEC PUPILS

Art & Design Programmes for A’ Level & BTEC Pupils

Artistic interpretation of the natural world is an intrinsic part of human expression which the Wildlife Trust aims to explore through an educational programme for Art and Design students. This programme is designed to inspire and enrich learning experience through direct engagement with Paxton Pits nature reserve.

Students will be guided around the reserve and have the opportunity to:

Get up close and personal with underwater creatures to look at adaptive form, movement and texture.
Sketch the ‘Living Landscape’ developing observational and interpretive skills.
Watch Wildlife from the secrecy of the hides to view the many wetland birds on the reserve and interpret the differing styles of flight, feeding and social interaction.
Use the resources at the Education Centre to research successful artists within the genre of Wildlife Art to inspire and motivate.

This programme can feed into many curriculum themes using the reserve as a resource to gather ideas and sketches to develop further in the classroom environment. The Education Centre is also a valuable resource and could be used by the students to exhibit their work to the public giving a sense of pride and a valuable life experience.

To book your visit please contact the education centre manager on 01480 473161 or email debbie.mckenzie@wildlifebcnp.org

Downloads to come shortly

Performing Arts Programmes for 'A' Level & BTEC Pupils

Communicating the wider world through the performing arts is a valuable and powerful talent which the Wildlife Trust aims to encourage through an educational programme designed to give a context for performance at Paxton Pits nature reserve.

Students will be guided around the reserve and have the opportunity to:

Investigate an underwater world where unusual forms and strange life cycles make up an intricate ecosystem with many stories to tell.

Enjoy the secrecy of the hides to capture a sense of the lives of the many inhabitants of the reserves. Discover the tales of migration, hibernation and interpret the movements and social interactions of the wildlife with their habitat.

Use the grounds of the education centre for performances and filming.

This educational programme can offer a context for many forms of performing arts from political pieces surrounding conservation issues, historical context of the site or interpretive work exploring ecosystems, journeys and life cycles. To perform at the reserve also gives the experience of organising an event which gives a sense of pride and purpose.

To book your visit please contact the education centre manager on 01480 473161 or by e-mail: debbie.mckenzie@wildlifebcnp.org

Dowloads to come shortly

Both 'A' Level projects have been funded by Natural England through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.