Live nature lessons by Shropshire-based charity proving a hit with schoolchildren
A series of nature lessons being broadcast online by a Shropshire-based charity to support primary schoolchildren during lockdown are proving a huge hit.
The Field Studies Council launched its #PrimaryNatureLive series of lessons on February 4 with more than 1,000 viewers tuning in to learn about ‘What to do on a walk’ with tutors from FSC Flatford Mill in Suffolk.
It was followed by lessons on ‘Brilliant birds’ and ‘A peep at ponds’, giving children the chance to learn about the different wildlife and nature they might find on their doorsteps.
To date, the virtual lessons have been viewed in excess of 10,000 times and viewings are set to increase further when the final lesson is aired on February 23.
Tutors at FSC, which operates a network of field centres across the UK, are also expecting children to tune in over half-term when they have more time to get out and about in nature, build dens and create smelly garden potions.
Simon Ward, FSC head of group (East), said the lessons were proving to be a real success with primary pupils.
He said: “It's been wonderful to see so many children engaging with the live online lessons and keeping our tutors on their toes with some really interesting and challenging questions.
“We’ve had some superb feedback on the lessons, and we’ve been delighted that so many pupils have shared their work with us so we can see how much fun they’ve been having completing the different nature-themed activities.
“We’ve got two more lessons still to broadcast live and all the sessions are available to view again on our YouTube channel for anyone who isn’t able to watch them in real time.
“With half-term coming up too, the lessons will be ideal for when the kids get a bit bored.
"They feature lots of fun activities that you can do while out and about on a walk or pottering in the garden including building wildlife traps, creating wild art or making your own mini pond.”
Potions
The final lesson ‘More things to do on a walk’ will be shown on February 23 on YouTube at 10.30am, where children will enjoy meeting tutors from FSC Slapton Ley in Devon.
This time the team will be sharing more fun activities to do on family walks including making smelly potions, playing colour match games and learning about natural camouflage.
They’ll also be looking out for signs of spring and comparing findings to lesson one.
If children can’t get to a woodland, tutors will be demonstrating how to make a frozen decoration out of natural materials.
The Nature Live lessons are aimed at KS1 and KS2 primary pupils and follow on from the successful #FieldworkLive programme of lessons that were delivered by FSC tutors during the first national lockdown.
Each lesson is accompanied with a set of resources and worksheets as well as how-to-guides, which parents, teachers and children can receive in advance of the lessons.
To find out more and to sign up for the resources, visit www.field-studies-council.org/primarynaturelive
To ask a question or request a shout out for a school email questions@field-studies-council.org.
To access the FSC YouTube channel visit www.youtube.com/user/FieldStudiesCouncil
Pupils are encouraged to share their work with FSC tutors on Twitter using the hashtag #PrimaryNatureLive and by tagging @FieldStudiesC
