Education Projects
Discovering MiniBeasts Discovering Ponds Minibeasts and Habitats
Stream Project Rubbish Project Rocks and Soil Rotten Project Incubation Project
Meanwood Farm has a great deal to offer schools and other youth groups. We are a working farm; with sheep, cows, pigs, goats and chickens, but we also have woodland, meadowland and three ponds on site. Our new EpiCentre boasts a new interactive gallery with hands on exhibits, which allow children to explore energy, waste and transport. The Farm offers many examples of sustainable development.
Times:
Full day projects run from 10am to 3pm, and if they are at the Farm, lunch can be eaten in the EpiCentre. Half-day projects run from 10am to 12pm or 1pm to 3pm although times can be flexible.
What to Bring:
Make sure the children have outdoor wear and wellies if it is wet. (It is essential to bring wellies if you are doing the Stream Project). If it is a full day project, bring packed lunches.
Health and Safety:
All projects will be run by at least two members of the Farm staff. The Farm is fully accessible for the disabled, and we provide toilet and hand washing facilities for all. All projects have been risk assessed and if you would like a copy, please download from the forms section of the website.
Discovering Minibeasts
Key stage One
Half Day
- The children get to explore two different habitats and are helped to identify, record and compare their results.
- As a class they construct a food web, and discover how creatures are linked together by what they eat.
Discovering Ponds
Key Stage One
Half Day
- The children use nets and sample trays to discover the animals in our pond
- They are helped to identify the animals and record their results and can examine the animals further using magnifying equipment and a video microscope
- They discover how plants and animal co exist in the pond by constructing a food web
Both Projects based on QCA 2B Sci: Plant and Animals in the Local Environment
Minibeasts and Habitats
Key Stage Two
Full day
- The children get to explore and search for invertebrates in different habitats; a pond, a water meadow and a woodland.
- They identify, record and compare what they find using magnification equipment and a video microscope.
- Using different games, they learn about animals’ habitats and the way they are adapted to live in them.
Based around QCA 4b Sci: Habitats; and aspects of QCA 6a Sci: Interdependence and Adaptation.
Stream Project
Key Stage Two
Full Day
- The children take kick samples from Meanwood Beck, collect the invertebrates and record the numbers and types of animal found.
- They conduct a survey of the litter in and around the beck, and test the water with nitrate strips.
- They compare the data they have recorded with data from a polluted river and note the differences.
- They are encouraged to think about how different types of pollution can affect the nature of a river.
- Contains aspects of QCA 6a Sci: Interdependence and Adaptation; and QCA Geog 14 : Investigating Rivers
Children must remember to bring wellies and outdoor wear for this project.
Rubbish Project
Key Stage Two
Full Day
(Can be adapted for younger children)
- The class is spilt into pairs to record the types litter they can find in the school grounds. They also have to catch the naughty monster Grubbage, who likes to throw litter everywhere. We then seek the pupil’s opinion on they have found.
- The children are then shown a presentation on how litter can be dangerous.
- Next the class design posters on dangerous litter. These can later be displayed around the school.
- In the afternoon the class learns about recycling. First the class look at some slides about how rubbish is recycled in Leeds.
- Next the class make recycled paper.
- Finally, to end the day to children make individual pledges on how they can improve their environment.
Data collected from the litter pick could be used in follow up work using ICT
Project based on QCA Geog 8: Improving the environment.
Rocks and Soils
Key Stage Two
Full Day (Or ½ day Rocks or Soils)
Morning: Soil
- First the class examine some soil and are encouraged to think about what it’s made of. Can they make their own soil from its ingredients, and if not, why not?
- Soil is mixed with water in beaker. The children study how it separates out into different particle sizes and draw the layers.
Afternoon: Rock
- First the class have a tour of the farm to look at which types of rock are used for which purpose.
- The class then carry out experiments with several types of rock to explore the rock’s properties and work out what each rock is recording their data.
To finish the day off the class make wormeries.
Based on QCA 3D Sci: Rocks and Soils.
Rotten Project
Key Stage Two
Half day
- The class learn all about composting.
- Various topics are explored, such as: Why should we compost things? What can be composted? Discover the minibeasts living in compost.
- Finally the children get to build their own mini composter.
Based on QCA 6b Sci: Microorganisms, and QCA Geog 8: Improving the environment.
- An incubator complete with fertile eggs can be delivered along with a full activity pack and instructions to your classroom. After three weeks watch the chicks hatch out and the class can design and build a home for them to live in for a further week.
Guided Tours
(Tours are geared towards the age of the visitors – from 3 to adult)
Half Day
- The children come into contact with animals such as pigs, goats, sheep, cows and chickens. In the spring there are lots of young animals to hold and feed.
- Learn about the animals and the products that we get from them. With older groups we can discuss issues such as intensive farming, free-range eggs and why we keep rare breeds.
- Visit the market garden and learn about organic gardening, and see fruits, vegetables and herbs being cultivated.
- Explore different wildlife habitats such as woodlands, ponds and meadows.
- Have a go at the interactive displays and learn about transport, waste and energy in the EpiCentre.
- The Farm and the EpiCentre offer working examples of sustainable development and the tour can be based around this issue if you wish.