Example Really Wild Days Out school visit briefing

In Peterborough we have a wonderful array of nature reserves and green spaces close to schools and communities. Through our Really Wild Days Out programme we aim to inspire teachers, youth leaders, in addition to community leaders to encourage and inspire all to enjoy and value their natural environment. We have experience working with a range of groups and are able to produce tailored programmes to your needs. Below is a typical briefing sent to teachers before a Really Wild Days Out visit outlining the objectives and programme of activities.

Northborough Primary School

10th November 2009

9.15am to 3pm

Learning outcomes/objectives:

Excite people about the area and natural environment
To discover what makes the school grounds special
Bringing the outdoor classroom alive
To understand that different plants and animals need different habitats

School objectives:

Raise profile of the area (to the children, staff, governors, local councillors)
Raise profile of the orchard
Excite people

Programme of activities:

We will explain to the children that we have come here to explore and discover what makes their school grounds special.

1. Getting on waterproofs

Make the day fun and an adventure; they will be given waterproofs to wear as they will be discovering the area during the day.

2. Art activity

This will include making smelly cocktails and capturing the day in a jar. The reception and year 1/2 will do the smelly cocktails and will also collect one special object and a leaf. Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 will collect one special object and a leaf shape. They will write on the leaf themselves why that item is special to them and what they will remember most about the object, such as its smell, texture, colour or how it sounds.

3. Juice making

Showing a working apple press with a tasting of apple juice.

4. Wildlife activity

Reception/year 1/2 will discover plants and trees through leaf shapes

Year 3 and 4 will discover mini-beasts

Year 5 and 6 will discover birds

5. Plenary

6. Follow-up – story making

Each school group writes a section of the story. Give them a theme, start/intro/setting the scene, and last word. Reception and year 1/2 will write a section, and then this will be given on the next year group.

Follow-up – Memory box

We will make a memory box to place in the school. The children both on the day and after can add special items into the memory box from their outside environment. The box will also have a special poem or story, telling them that they can only put dry items in the box.

We have a wide range of activities to choose from, these include arts and craft, wildlife watching such as bug hunting, pond dipping and sweep netting and a range of fun wildlife active games. Please contact the Wildlife Trust to find out more.