These free education plans have been created to aid children in a variety of settings – schools, community groups and churches – to enjoy exploring nature and caring for our planet through both indoor and outdoor activities.
Each Education Plan (EP) is divided into sections and if completed in full, takes approximately 3 hours. As part of our Christian mission, some education plans have specific faith based content. Please use whichever sections you wish and adapt the timings and content to suit your specific needs. These fun, interactive, stimulating outdoor sessions are linked to the national curriculum and use scientific enquiry to educate. Plans are free to be adapted for any religion
Key Stage 1 (3-7 years)
EP 0 (age range 3 – 5 year olds) The bear hunt.
An interactive version of Michael Rosen’s sensory poem, which practically introduces children to different habitats, including long grass, a small river crossing, mud, a forest and a cave with a bear (big teddy).
EP 1 (age range 5 – 6 year olds) Nature needs a home too – Plants and animals in the environment.
A basic introduction to different habitats (woods) by focussing on hedgehogs and how we can help them. Outdoor activities include: matching nature colours, bark rubbing, collecting and observing insects.
EP 2 (age range 6 – 7 year olds) So many types and so different – Living and non-living things.
Exploring the differences between living, dead (but used to be alive) and non-living things and if desired a mystery skeleton. Outdoor activities include: Colour matching, sweep netting, basic insect, flowers and bird ID followed by drawing and creative writing.
Key Stage 2 (7-14 years)
EP 3 (age range 7 – 8 year olds) Rocks, fossils and soils.
An introduction to rocks, fossils and soils, by using samples, maps and pictures. Outdoor activities engage children with soil by collecting samples, testing soil, experimenting with planting seeds into different soils, nature art and modelling clay.
EP 4 (age range 8 – 12 year olds) Every species is unique and everyone is special – Animals in the environment.
Identification is revisited using scientific enquiry skills looking into the differences in the taxonomy of plants, insects and animals. Activities include: sweep netting, classification and ID of insects and plants, drawing, and campaigning (creating posters and writing letters).
EP 5a (age range 9 – 13 year olds) Wow wonderfully made 1 – Life-cycles of plants.
Exploring the different stages of plant life-cycles through observing plants and trees in the local area, investigating samples, planting an acorn or hedge, sketching the progression from acorn to sapling to mature tree and learning about the importance of pollinating insects in connection with plants.
EP 5b (age range 9 – 13 year olds) Wow wonderfully made 2 – Life-cycles of insects.
An introduction to understanding the different stages in the life-cycles of insects using ‘The Hungry Caterpillar’ story as a visual demonstration of a butterflies journey and comparing that to life-cycles of damselflies and dragonflies. Activities include: observing and comparing insects in their habitat, pond dipping and learning how to protect habitats needed for the different stages of insect life-cycles.
EP 6 (age range 10 – 14 year olds) Habitats and Shelters.
Discuss habitats – wetlands, grasslands and woodlands. Introduce adaptation; why would you not expect to see a polar bear in the woodland in this country? Outdoor activities include: engaging children in the woodland by taking photographs and botanical sketching, studying wetland by pond dipping and grassland by sweep netting.
