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Victorian Outdoor Experience | Environmental Education Programmes | How to Book | Colleges

Victorian Outdoor Experience

KS2 - Full day programme

History – Knowledge & Understanding of events, people and changes in Victorian Britain.
English – To participate in role play as a Victorian school child.

The children are sent a letter by Mrs Mary Barfield, Housekeeper of Cuerden Hall, to say that she is looking for workers at the estate. The children come to the Hall on a trial day and take part in typical jobs on the estate such as charcoal burning, kitchen gardening, game keeping and ice cream making! All the children get a turn at each job and then back at school they must decide which jobs they liked best and write a letter of application for the job on the estate. This is a fantastic opportunity for dressing up and role-playing as a Victorian child working on a country estate.

This is a fantastic opportunity for dressing up and role-playing as a Victorian child working on a country estate

Bookings are being taken for:

23rdJune - 4thJuly and 22nd September - 3rd October 2008

Review of our Victorian days in 2007:

“A very enjoyable visit and the children learnt a great deal more in a day than they would in class. All the staff were very informative"
Mrs Woroniuk (Teacher)
St Patrick's RC Primary School, Walton le Dale – 3rd October 2007

“I would like the position of charcoal burner – I like getting dirty and William said I was good at sawing wood”
Year 3 pupil, Torrisholme School, Morecambe – 29th June 2007

“I would like the position of  kitchen gardener because I know which plants sting you, which plants you can eat and which plants are poisonous”
Year 5 pupil, Meadowhead Junior School, Blackburn – 5th July 2007

(As part of the programme, pupils are invited to write back to the Park to apply for a job they tried on the day).

Environmental Education Programmes

Choose any of the following exciting programmes for a half-day visit, or combine two for a full-day programme.

Most educational visits are scheduled for Monday or Thursday, as the Education Officer works part-time. Group sizes of around 30 pupils will ensure that the pupils get the most from their visit. If you have other requirements, please discuss them with us. See the booking and information section below.

River Studies - KS2

Science, Geography:

• Water and its effect on landscapes and people

• The physical features of the River Lostock

• The processes of erosion and deposition

• The identification & classification of living things found in the River Lostock.

Using fieldwork techniques, children will measure river flow, observe erosion and deposition and sample the substrate of the river using gold pans! They will also identify some of the living things they find in the river and determine how clean the river is by the living things that are found there.

River Studies - KS3

Science Sc2:

• Unit 7 Rivers

Geography:

• Unit 7c Environment and feeding relationships

• Unit 8D Ecology relationships

Pupils complete a river based field enquiry and learn about water and its effect on landscapes and people, including the physical features of the River Lostock and the process of erosion and deposition. Also, the identification & classification of living things found in the River Lostock and their adaptations to survive in the river.

Using Fieldwork techniques pupils will measure the river profile characteristics, collect data on velocity, size and shape of bed load, width and depth. They will also kick and sweep sample for some living organisms in the river, identify them and discuss their adaptations.

Pond Dipping / Mini-Beast Hunting - KS1, KS2

Science, Citizenship:

• Adaptation and feeding relationships of living things in their environment

• Variation and Classification of pond creatures

• Responsible handling of living things

Using nets and trays, to catch and identify a range of invertebrate life in a pond and woodland. We use our own ID charts. The children search these two habitats and compare their finds, studying classification and adaptation.

Woodland Wonders - KS1, KS2

Science, Citizenship:

• Exploration and development of ideas and sensitivity to the natural environment.

The children are led on a walk through the American Pinetum to explore the woodland using their senses and to enjoy the wonders of nature. This walk does not concentrate on naming or classifying wildlife, or even its scientific study. It enables children to be part of the natural world and as such encourages them to take care of living things and have a respect for nature.

Orienteering - KS2

Geography, Citizenship:

• Development of orienteering and problem solving skills

• Building trust and working as a team

• Following maps and trails, solving physical problems and challenges

Discover the delights of Cuerden Valley Park by following the easy-to-use orienteering trail. The children work in small groups using a map and clue sheet and have to find their way around the park. This activity can easily be supervised by school staff.

Orienteering - KS3

Geography:

• To develop map reading skills

• The use of symbols and scales

• How to use direction when reading a map

Discover the delights of Cuerden Valley Park by following the easy to use orienteering trail. This activity can be self led.

How to Book

All groups (self-led or otherwise) must book in advance to ensure availability of the park & teaching sessions. Please book provisionally by email or telephone and then return the booking form to confirm your visit and programme requirements.

As we are a charity, there is a small charge to cover staff and administrative costs. This is a rate of £2.50 per child for half a day and £4.50 per child for a full day. There is a charge for the self-led orienteering programme of 50p per pupil. All the half day programmes are on Mondays and Thursdays only. There is an increased charge for the Victorians programme because it uses more staff and equipment: £5.00 per child per day. There is no charge for teachers or adult helpers.

Please contact the Education Officer, by e-mailing education@cuerdenvalleypark.org.uk or telephoning 01772 324436 for further information and bookings.

Bringing an Eco-Lunch

Lunch is taken in the classroom at The Barn on the Park. It was awarded Eco-Centre status in 2005 and, to maintain this award, we need to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfill. Obviously, with thousands of schoolchildren visiting The Barn, this is not an easy thing to do.

The Eco-lunch scheme has been launched to encourage teachers and children to think about rubbish and, in particular, what is in their lunch boxes and what happens to their waste. The aim is for each adult and child to experience recycling and waster reduction in action, in a way that they can transfer to home and school.

• At lunchtime on the day of the visit, the children will sort their waste in our Recycle Centre! Whatever is left - and, hopefully, that will not be much - will be put in a black bin bag and weighed by the children.

• At the end of the day, assuming there isn't much waste, we will present the class with a Certificate congratulating the children on having an Eco-lunch.

Do	Don't
Use a sandwich box	Use a plastic carrier bag for lunch
Use a refillable drinks bottle	Use drinks cartons
Have fruit locally produced	Have individually wrapped biscuits
Wrap sandwiches in aluminium foil	Use cling-film or plastic bags

Thanks for making the scheme a success.

Colleges

Please call or email us to discuss your requirements.

Supporters

We are looking for new sponsors for our Education Programme in 2008 and would like to thank the Ernest Cook Trust for their donation towards marketing in 2007.

Please contact our Education Officer at the Park Office if you can help in any way. We would also welcome applications from people wishing to Volunteer with the programme, especially the Victorian Outdoor Experience.