River Study Forest Teachers Notes

Thank you for booking. Please check all details both on the programme and on your booking confirmation

Programme overview To get the most from your visit, please come prepared. Here is some useful information In the picturesque pupils will have the opportunity to help you and your class optimize your to explore and discover the source of the . Following the learning: course of Bollin Brook meandering down through the woodlands to the reservoir, pupils will hypothesis what will happen to the brook as it We hold the Learning Outside the Classroom travels. Through geographical and scientific enquiry, they will plan and quality badge, certificate number carry out simple fieldwork experiments to test their hypothesis. R2QB103464 Paddling in the brook and engaging in a real life experience, they will have a multi-sensory experience that they won’t forget.

Learning Outcomes

All students will;

 Have an understanding of how rivers fit into the water cycle.  Use maps and observations to recognise and describe river and

landscape features and processes. Pre visit preparation. Read and follow  Through observation begin to understand land use within the guidance below. National including forestry and water catchment, vital ecosystem services. Prior Learning activities.  Carry out a fieldwork investigation to observe, measure and  It is helpful if the children are familiar record key physical features of a river in its infancy. with the concepts of river features and  Understand and use terminology: meander, confluence, the water cycle. tributary, waterfall, and source.  Create enquiries to test on the river.  Name and locate major rivers in the Northwest  Create a hypothesis – how will the river  Understand how to use a simple identification keys to identify change from its source through the freshwater creatures (where relevant). forest?  Appreciate the special qualities of the National  Why not research where you are visiting: Park. The Peak District National Park, or the journey of Bollin Brook to the Irish Sea. Most students will; Follow-up activities.  Interpret fieldwork data to describe key river processes using  Visit another site of the river along its geographical vocabulary: such as erosion and deposition, river journey, how does it compare? bed, river bank.  Write a river poem, use your senses.  Be able to explain what happens to streams and rivers as they  For all our activities we enjoy receiving move downstream. post visit letters or pictures from  Recognise the need to conserve streams and rivers and the children. You may also want to look at landscapes through which they flow. http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-  Understand the relationship between water quality and about for more follow up ideas and biodiversity. information on our special addition of

Rivers- Peak Curriculum.

Some students will; Weather. Wellies must be worn to enter the river. We advise adults to also wear wellies  Assess and adapt fieldwork investigation. so they can help the pupils. It is also a good  Interpret fieldwork data to describe key river processes using idea to bring spare shoes and possibly geographical vocabulary: such as flood plain, river catchment trousers in case you get wet. We have a area. number of wellies we can lend if given  Consider how physical and human aspects of a landscape are notice. linked.  Start to understand the importance of key aspects of human We believe experiencing the outdoor geography, including land-use, economic activity, and elements is an integral part of your pupil’s distribution of natural resources such as water. experience. We continue activities in all but the very worst weather so please make sure Curriculum Links everyone comes prepared to be outside in Geographical enquiry and skills rain or shine! Check the forecast before your  ask geographical questions e.g., 'What is this landscape like?', day. 'What do I think about it?' Clothing. Please ensure that children are Human & physical geography wearing appropriate outdoor clothing.  physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, Waterproof jacket, Wellies are essential for and the water cycle river studies.  human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of Rucksacks must be used by each child to natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water carry their lunch. Working scientifically Y3&4 Safety. All our activities and sites are risk  Ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific assessed. Risk benefit assessments and enquiries to answer them health and safety information can be  Set up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests downloaded at: Y5&6 http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-  Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables, where necessary about  Take measurements using a range of scientific equipment, with Our staff to student ratios vary depending on increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate age, and ability of the group and activities booked. All our leaders are first aid qualified. Location and Coach instructions Behaviour. Teachers are responsible for Macclesfield Forest Standing stones car park: See website for coach good behaviour, discipline & lunch time directions and meeting place. supervision.

This is accessed by driving north through Macclesfield Forest, passing Medical Information. Please let us know Trentabank Car Park and the wooden Ranger hut; At Trentabank there about any allergies, medical conditions or is an opportunity to stop and use the toilets before the session begins. special needs. Leaders will meet your group here then show you the way to Standing Stone carpark.. Your coach can then travel back and wait at the We strive to make our visits accessible to all. classroom nearby . Many of our sites are accessible to people with limited mobility, but do discuss your A picnic lunch will be eaten in the shelter of the woods, therefore lunch particular needs with us before booking. bags must be carried during the day, and for comfort we advise pupils to carry their lunch in rucksacks rather than courier-style bags. We will Review & Evaluation. We aspire to

walk back to the classroom, continually improve our service and welcome your feedback, evaluations forms are On the day information available for down load at http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning- The following programme is a rough guide only and activities may vary about and will be sent to you with your depending upon the weather conditions and arrival/departure time. booking information.

10:00-10.30 Meet leaders at Trentabank car park, use the toilets , then Payment. Please note you will be invoiced board your coach to continue up to the Standing Stone car park where after your visit for the number of pupils are day will begin. booked, or the number on the day, whichever is greater. 10.30-12:30 Exploring the river source and the journey of Bollin Brook through the forest Cancellation. Please let us know as soon as  Introduction to leaders, site, Peak District National Park. possible if you have to cancel or if your  Set learning outcomes for the day, and staying safe messages. numbers change significantly. Read T&C’s.  Prepare for the day checking suitable clothing and equipment. Lunch to be carried in rucksacks. Insurance. Our education service is covered  Pupils will be split into smaller River Explorer groups preferably by £10 million Public Liability Insurance each with an adult supervisor (group sizes 5-6) and will be given Policy. Please ensure that your school or LEA an introduction to the day by the leader and a explorer kit to has appropriate insurance cover. carry and care for.  Pupils to explore the hillside and locate the source of the river, Contact Details. Peak District National Park identifying features in the landscape. From the viewpoint they authority, Aldern House, Baslow Road, can spot other river features nearby and across the valley – Bakewell, DE45 1AE. introduce terms valley, and water catchments. 01629 816373 / 01457 855487  From what they have seen or learnt in class the group will [email protected] create a hypothesis ‘how will the river change as you follow its

course?’ Using a set of Explorer equipment (meter ruler, measuring tape, thermometer, dog biscuits, stop watch, paper We work in partnership with United and pencils) each group will create 2 enquiry questions they will Utilities. test at different locations along the river journey e.g. how deep is the river, how wide, how fast. This will help test the group’s At Macclesfield Forest and Longdendale hypothesis. Environment Centre we are based United  At 2 sites from the source down to the reservoir pupils will Utility sites. Here you can learn more about collect simple data on river characteristics (width, depth and the value of water as a precious resource and speed) assuming the brook is safe to walk in. They will be the surrounding landscape. entering the brook, at places water levels can be deeper than there wellies, however water flow is not fast, safety instructions are given and supervision is needed.

12:30-13:00 Lunch in the Forest A sheltered spot in the Forest will be chosen for lunch. Pupils may have the opportunity for a short playtime in the woods.

13:00-13:45 continue with activities and river measurements  At points along the Brook pupils look at a meander, a tributary, and a confluence and consider how they were formed, using labels to name the features and exploring the processes of

erosion and deposition.  Along the way pupils will look at how the valley is used by humans and discuss how the land is managed. Human impact and special qualities of the Peak District National Park are considered.

13:45-2.00 Water quality – ecological survey if time allows  Pupils will carry out an ecological water quality survey – stream dipping to find invertebrates which provide a pollution indicator. They will use simple identification keys to name some invertebrates and discover how clean the water is.

2-2.15 Walk back through the forest

2.15-2.30 Toilets. Review of the day and depart.

Free Resources

You can find free pre- and post-visit activities about rivers on our website: http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-about/peak- curriculum/primary-resources/rivers

You can also find a fun animated film for children on how to enjoy your visit responsibly and look after the countryside here: http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-about/peak- curriculum/national-parks-the-bigger-picture/do-this-video