World Around Us
The idea is for the different groups to try and find each others’ hidden geocaches, having exchanged maps/ satellite images.
Enter into a magical world and spot tiny traces of elves and fairies. Tread carefully through the woodland and keep your eyes peeled for signs left by woodland people. Look for secret doorways beneath trees and among rocks Remember, leave everything you find behind so that the fairies can use it again Have you spotted anything else the little people could use? Fairies and elves take care of the woods and trees and are very shy, so you might not see them when you visit but that doesn’t mean they re not there. How many signs can you spot?
Feel the force – water as an energy source
To explore the school boundary • To look at ways of improving the boundary • To develop a sense of place
To find out which places in the school grounds experience extremes of weather and why. • To understand how microclimates are formed.
A Curriculum for Excellence recognises that learning is embedded in experience. Outdoor learning is active, hands-on and can provide a real
Create a tiny garden fit for fairies. Welcome fairies and elves into your garden by making them a teeny space of their own. Think of items you can use for furniture and decoration Maybe a couple of your small toys could visit? Try giving your garden a theme like flowers or parties Try making the fairies and elves a swing to play on or little house to snooze in.
Super simple bird food. Your feathered friends will love these scrummy homemade treats. Little brothers and sisters will have fun helping with this activity Lots of birds will enjoy these treats keep your eyes peeled for ground feeding birds like robins, blackbirds and sparrows Make sure you keep feeding birds once you start they rely on it and may go hungry without your help This is messy fun, so make sure you wash your hands afterwards!
Explore how different surfaces absorb and reflect heat
Grab your favourite pens and pencils and create some leaf art! Get inspired next time you’re in the woods. Look out for a field maple tree and take a closer look at its leaves. Then get creative with this art sheet when you get home. Choose bright, spring greens or autumnal oranges Use tissue paper, grass and fallen leaves to create texture Make it look realistic by add tiny details like veins
Introduction to fires and cooking
Look for early flowers, busy birds and frogspawn! It may still be winter, but spring isn’t far away! Keep your eyes peeled in January and February for the very first hints of the new season. Look for tell-tale green shoots popping up from the woodland floor Birds start singing early in the morning can you hear them? Can you find any leaf buds getting ready to burst? What other fresh spring signs can you spot?
Head outdoors and see how many flowers you can find. Flowers burst into life during spring and summer. That makes it a great time to set off on a flower hunt. Are there any busy bees or fluttering butterflies among the petals? Some flowers turn into fruit, like raspberries, strawberries and blackberries Try using fallen leaves and petals to make your own flowers Flowers come in all colours, shapes and sizes
Look to the skies and ID these flying insects. Use your iDial to help you name the insects you spot. Look around ponds and streams, as well as flowers and plants How many different flying beasties can you spot? Keep your eyes peeled while you’re in the garden and the woods Don’t forget to take this iDial with you while you’re out and about.
Introduction to foraging
During the year, there will be many discussions on many different levels regarding climate and climate change – and many questions will arise. Here we have summed up 10 common questions regarding forests, trees and climate – and tried giving relatively short answers. These short answers cannot cover every aspect of the problem and give a complete explanation, so we encourage you also to seek more knowledge on your own.
Investigate this forest floor puzzle what will you discover? Follow the instructions then colour in and solve the puzzle. Check the answer sheet to see if you found everything. Use your favourite pens and pencils and colour the woodland items Use different techniques and patterns to make them easier to spot Make like a real scientist divide your puzzle into four get discovering Remember to look closely some leaves, berries and nuts might be hiding
Transform into a friendly fox! Do you love exploring outdoors? Do you enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside, as well as the hustle and bustle of city life? Do you like spending time with your friends? If so, you’re like a fox! Print out and make up this marvellous mask to complete your transformation.
Exploring friction and forces
Look at pictures of real frogs to discover what they look like, then grab your crayons and get colouring. Will your frog be brightly coloured and imaginative, or really realistic? Cut out scraps of green from magazines to make a collage You could also add a pond and some frogspawn When you’ve finished, hop round your garden like a frog or play leapfrog!
Find out all about the life cycle of frogs. Use your iDial to discover frogs, and help you ID and name the different stages of their lives. Remember, you might have to keep popping back to a particular bit of water to see all the life cycle stages How many tadpoles can you find? Always take care when you’re near water
Hunt for these fruits and seeds in woods during late summer and autumn. How many can you identify? Look to the trees, bushes and hedgerows and see how many different fruits and seeds you can spot. Seeds come in lots of shapes and sizes, including berries, cones, keys and catkins Lots of tasty food and drink can be made from fruits and seeds Do you know how they re scattered? Fruits and seeds can help you ID trees and bushes, so keep your eyes peeled. Remember, lots of fruits and seeds will have fallen to the ground.
This iDial is great for identifying fruits and seeds while you’re out and about. Ready to get detecting? How many fruits and seeds can you spot and ID? Hunt for these fruits and seeds in spring, late summer and autumn Can you guess how they are scattered? They can help you ID trees, shrubs and bushes Fruits and seeds come in all different shapes and sizes, and some are even used to make tasty food and drink. Do you know which?
NIFSA Full of Life Resource
NIFSA Full of Life resource