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The grid below suggests a day plan based on two groups. Ask for if you
need help planning three groups or more, or would like more help on a
topic not listed.
For each topic there is detail given on the Guided walk / led activity,
Activity sheet and Woodland activity. Guided walk / led activity content
is dependent on age and prior knowledge of the children.
Group one
Group two
10.00 – 10.30
Arrival and welcome
10.30 – 11.15 1
Guided walk 3
Discovery trail or woodland activity
11.15 – 11.30
Play "
11.30 – 11.45 2
Activity sheet
1 Guided walk
11.45 – 12.00 "
"
12.00 – 12.30
Lunch Lunch
12.30 – 1.00 3
Discovery trail or woodland activity
Play
1.00 – 1.30 " 2
Activity sheet
1.30 – 2.00
Play, shop and wcs
2.00 – 2.30
Depart
Choose a topic:
MINIBEASTS
SENSES
SEASONS
PLANTS AND GROWTH
GROWING AND USING WOOD
LIVING THINGS /
PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN WOODS
MINIBEASTS
1 Guided walk / led activity. What a minibeast is, which
ones you’d expect to find in a Sussex woodland; the leader will help and
direct minibeast hunting with basic equipment (pots, nets, magnifying
glasses) in different habitats (on trees, in leaf litter, in grassland);
the leader will draw out differences in habitat and species, and
introduce ideas of food chains and woodland ecology at a suitable level.
Very hands on, with opportunity to share finds with whole group.
2 Activity sheet 11 in the Teachers’ Pack gives some
simple minibeast groups to look out for in different habitats. Use the
questions at the top of the sheet to engage the children in looking
carefully and thinking about each creature. It’s not a race to tick them
off!
3 Discovery trail or woodland activity. If your class could do
with a leg stretch and explore, choose either the Discovery trail (up to
1 hour) or the Easy-Access Discovery trail (about 20 minutes). The
discovery trails encourage a wide response to the feel of the woodland
as a whole.
A suitable Woodland Activity for the minibeast topic is No. 1, Woodland
Pictures – making pictures in groups using natural materials of a
favourite minibeast, being as accurate as possible. Large colour
illustrations are available to borrow.
SENSES and colour, light and shapes
1 Guided walk / led activity / demonstration. An exploration of a
small but varied area of the woodland, using all the senses, looking at
colour, feeling textures, listening to birds and the sounds of the
woodland, smelling trees and leaf litter, and even tasting some woodland
plants. The leader will link the walk to the season, or habitat, or
growing plants or what ever else you would like to emphasise. Collecting
bags or boxes or sticky boards can be used to remind children of the
experiences back in class. A hands-on demonstration of turning a pole
into a wood product is good for the sensation of handling wood and the
smell of sap in freshly cut timber.
2 Activity sheet 3, the Leaf Search, or the Seasonal Activity
sheets 8, 9 and 10 are good for developing observational skills in
colour, texture, shape, smell and hearing.
3 Discovery trail or woodland activity. If your class could do
with a leg stretch and explore, choose either the Discovery trail (up to
1 hour) or the Easy-Access Discovery trail (about 20 minutes). The
discovery trails encourage a wide response to the feel of the woodland
as a whole.
Suitable Woodland Activities are No.3 and No.4, the Tramp’s rubbish and
Tramp’s Tea, which can be run by Wilderness Wood staff or the items
supplied for you to use. No.1, Woodland pictures,
making pictures in groups using natural materials, can be a great
sensory experience.
SEASONS
1 Guided walk / led activity. Signs of the season – flowers, leaf
development, insect activity, bird activity, signs of animals,
temperature, light. What came before, and what we expect to follow.
Nesting, hibernation, food chains can be covered. Collecting bags, boxes
or sticky boards can be used.
2 The seasonal Activity sheets 8,9, and 10, are ideal. You
could also use Activity sheet 3, leaf search, especially with autumn
colours.
3 Discovery trail or woodland activity. The discovery trails
encourage a wide response to the feel of the woodland as a whole and you
can emphasise how the season affects their answers.
Suitable woodland activities include No. 6, the DIY quiz, where pupils
can quiz each other on what they have experienced or expect to find in
that season; No. 9, Tree identikit, examining what is happening to a
tree in that season.
PLANTS AND GROWTH
1 Guided walk / led activity. Plants and trees at different
stages of growth, how fast they grow, parts of a tree and some tree and
other plant identification. We can look at evergreens and deciduous
trees. The leader will help pupils discover what plants need to grow,
and what problems plants face, especially in a woodland. Seeds and seed
dispersal can be covered, plus any theme you would particularly like
highlighted. Collecting bags or boxes or sticky boards can be used. A
hands-on wood demonstration is great for connecting trees to wood
products, and for discovering sap, bark, etc
2 Activity sheets 8,9, and 10, the seasonal spotters, can be used
to help identify parts of plants, how far they are through their growing
season, and when you are likely to find seeds. Sheet 14, Plant growth
and seeds, uses observational activities to aid understanding. Also
Sheet 3, Leaf Search.
3 Discovery trail or woodland activity. The discovery trails
encourage a wide response to the feel of the woodland as a whole, and
you can emphasise plant diversity, where trees and plants are growing
and why, and the feel and smell of trees and plants.
Activity No.6, the DIY quiz, gives pupils a chance to quiz each other on
what they have experienced or expect to find in the wood. No. 9, Tree
identikit, helps with parts of plants.
GROWING AND USING WOOD
1 Guided walk / led activity / demonstration. The variety of
trees in Wilderness Wood and how they grow. Basic tree care, what
threats trees face, and why we are growing them, how we harvest and
process them. Collecting bags or boxes or sticky boards can be used. A
hands-on demonstration of turning a pole into a fencepost is a powerful
illustration of this topic, and can be built in to your walk or added as
an activity.
2 Activity sheet 3 Leaf Search will help pupils identify
different kinds of tree, and emphasise their variety in shape and form.
Take the opportunity to look at bark, seeds, shape and size of trees.
Activity sheet 7, What do we use wood for, opens eyes to the wide
variety of items produced here.
3 Discovery trail or woodland activity. The discovery
trails encourage a wide response to the feel of the woodland as a whole,
and you can emphasise tree diversity, and notice woodland management and
find wood products.
Activity No. 9, Tree Identikit, will bring together different elements
of trees to encourage accurate observation. Pupils could compare their
findings. No.2, Shelter Building, is also a possibility.
LIVING THINGS /
PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN WOODS
1 Guided walk / led activity. Explore the woodland for animals
and signs of animals, from minibeasts to large mammals. Why do they live
here? What do they eat? Where do they shelter? What is special about the
plants in a woodland? Collecting bags or boxes or sticky boards can be
used.
2 The seasonal Activity sheets 8, 9, and 10 cover many
plants and animals. Sheet 13, Animal signs, helps you find signs of
animals you might otherwise overlook. Also Sheet 3, Leaf search.
3 Discovery trail or woodland activity. The discovery trails
encourage a wide response to the feel of the woodland as a whole, and an
opportunity to pick up evidence of living things.
Activity No. 2, Shelter Building, can be used to illustrate animal
homes. No.1, Woodland Pictures, is good for focusing on particular
animals found in the wood.
OTHER RECENT TOPICS INCLUDE: Map making, playgrounds, art and design,
air and wind, recycling. We can help you with most topics – see the
subject webs for more ideas!
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