So you’ve got your classroom all sorted, you’ve labelled the drawers, dusted the books and changed your displays, but have you thought about the space outside your window?
The grounds of schools can sometimes be damp and dismal places, with little reason for cheer. However, I know some schools have done amazing things for the wildlife visiting their school grounds; we’ve seen even the smallest corner turn into something wonderful for wildlife. Any step you take for nature in your school grounds, no matter how big or small could count towards our Wildlife Action Awards for Schools.
For a simple start why not try making some earwig homes with your class? They could decorate them however you choose, little brightly coloured homes at differing heights could make a very attractive feature and bring your students a bit closer to the minibeasts that call your school home.
How about being a little more adventurous and getting your class involved in making a structure for their nature spotting, like this hide made by the students at Middleton St. Mary’s C of E primary school?
Perhaps you have lots of creative types who could put a big thumbs up to recycling, and make an igloo out of plastic bottles like this one at Woolenwick Infant and Nursery school.
Here’s the entrance to Woolenwick Infant and Primary school’s Nature trail, an amazing example of utilizing your school grounds for nature. Read about how they turned their school grounds into a haven for nature which is shared by the whole community, in conjunction with the RSPB’s Wildlife Action Award scheme. Why not follow their example and provide some water for wildlife?
Let us know if you’ve adapted your grounds in any way, or if you’re thinking about it, through our Outside spaces forum.
There are some really inspiring ideas on here, I love the plastic bottle igloo! I would never have thought of that. Its great when people share their ideas. I bet it isn't long before the wildlife start calling these spaces around school their home.