Mountain Environment 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 Pupils become mountaineers for the day, investigating enquires on how information to help you and your class mountains were formed, how the weather changes, what it’s like climbing a optimize your learning: mountain, who uses the mountain etc. With their mountaineering pack they will use equipment to carry out fieldwork, observations and record We hold the Learning Outside the data. Reflecting on their experience pupils will create poetry and through Classroom quality badge, certificate critical thinking consider our impact on the landscape discussing sustainable number R2QB103464 management and conservation of the landscape.

Learning Outcomes

All children will have or be able to:

 To encourage a self-led line of enquiry, investigating mountain features.  To investigate and encourage interest in the aesthetic qualities of mountains and upland scenery through an increased use of their senses.  To learn about the human features of a mountain environment- Pre visit preparation. Read and follow considering environment, weather, if people live there, how they earn guidance below. their living, if tourists visit or not’ and the effect :  Explain how uplands, mountains and valley features are formed  An awareness and appreciation of the natural beauty, wildlife and Prior Learning activities cultural heritage of the National Park, including tourism. See pre & post visit activity notes.  Have used field equipment in an appropriate manner.  Brainstorm what a mountain is?  Understand some new concepts, words and phrases including key  Consider questions to investigate on words below. day such as: will the weather change  To experience and gain an understanding of what it would be like to up a mountain; how high is the climb the highest mountain in the world. mountain? Read pre-visit Most children will: infromation.  Understand the link between protected landscapes, uplands and  Look at pictures of the Pennines, tourism. mountains across the UK and World,  Measure and compare the height of the Peak District hills to mountain what are the similarities/differences ranges in the UK and around the world. about all of them? Some children may also:  To understand the relationship between the bedrock, landforms, Follow-up activities. weather, ecology and land use.  Tourism – critical thinking  Understand the links between landscape features, land use, the tourism  Write / illustrate a survival guide to industry and the National Parks. mountaineering, including the countryside code. National Curriculum: Pupils will be able to describe and understand key aspects of: Look at our Peak Curriculum resources Physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, on Rivers, Rocks and Soils and The rivers, mountain features and the water cycle. Mountain Environment The Peak Human geography, contrasting their local area to the Peak District National Curriculum: Peak District National Park

Park, looking at land use and natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water. You may also wish to take part in the Peak District Award, look at our website Location and Coach instructions for more information.

 Crowden, Longdendale Environment Centre Weather. We believe experiencing the  , Y5 & Y6 outdoor elements is an integral part of your pupil’s experience. We continue  () – only used in summer months. activities in all but the very worst  (above Castleton) – only used in summer months. weather so please make sure everyone  Edale –used throughout the year with the village hall comes prepared to be outside in rain or See your confirmation letter or the website for directions and instructions. shine! Check the forecast before your day.

On the day information: Clothing. Please ensure that children are wearing appropriate outdoor clothing. Lunch will be taken at a time and location to suit, not always indoors. You Waterproof jacket, Wellies or stout may wish to bring hand sanitizer. Pupils must carry lunch in rucksacks. shoes are advised for all visits. We have Sites with indoor space for lunch and toilets include Crowden and Edale. some spares to help. Toilets will be available at the start and end of your day but not always during. Rucksacks must be used by each child to carry their lunch. Agenda Safety. All our activities and sites are risk See your pre-visit information. Dress appropriately. assessed. Risk benefit assessments and health and safety information can be The walk: distance will vary depending on location mostly ranging 3-4 miles, downloaded at: we will be ascending and descending the hills therefore some slopes are http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning- steep and can be strenuous, but judged appropriate for the group ages. All about adults must have a fitness level to support the group and walking. Our staff to student ratios vary

depending on age, and ability of the 10-12.30 All sites outdoor activities. Group will be met off the coach. group and activities booked. All our Welcome and introduction to our leaders and the Peak District National leaders are first aid qualified. Park.  Objectives and outcomes of the day, staying safe messages. Behaviour. Teachers are responsible for  Pupils will be divided into smaller mountaineering groups of 5-6 pupils, good behaviour, discipline & lunch time with a supervising adult where possible/required. It is useful if this is supervision. done prior to the start for the visit. Groups will be responsible for their mountaineering pack. Medical Information. Please let us know  Group discussion – determining lines of enquiry for the day, it is useful about any allergies, medical conditions lines of enquiry are decided pre-visit as a class activity allowing our or special needs. eladers to fully prepare for the visit.  Interactive walk stopping and carrying out investigations, these are a We strive to make our visits accessible to some suggestions: all. Many of our sites are accessible to  Weather forecast-pupils will use a selection of observations and people with limited mobility, but do field skills to create a weather record, this could be filmed on the discuss your particular needs with us day to watch back in class and compare to local lowland weather. before booking. We will test if the weather changes as we climb higher.

 How to stay safe up a mountain? – learn valuable walking skills and Review & Evaluation. We aspire to use equipment including compasses. A chance to build confidence continually improve our service and and motor skills. welcome your feedback, evaluations  How big is the mountain? – Pupils will discover if we are walking up forms are available for down load at a hill or a mountain, finding the height using map features and http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning- learning about contour lines and elevations. about and will be sent to you with your  What wildlife lives up a mountain? – What wildlife signs can we booking information. spot? The Mountain Environment can be a special habitat for rare plants and animals. Payment. Please note you will be  How do you feel up a mountain, what’s it like to climb? – On the invoiced after your visit for the number summit we will enjoy a magic spot, a moment of calm, admiring the of pupils booked, or the number on the view, writing thoughts and feelings to go into a piece of poetry. day, whichever is greater.  Who uses the mountain? Do tourists visit? Do people do harm? – Cancellation. Please let us know as soon An opportunity for observation skills and critical thinking. as possible if you have to cancel or if  There are many more enquiries we can follow; it’s up to your your numbers change significantly. Read pupils and class to determine these. In a day we usually have T&C’s. time for 4 studies. Insurance. Our education service is 12.30-2.30 Sites Mam Tor, Shutlingsloe and Thorpe cloud outdoors. Find covered by £10 million Public Liability a spot for a picnic lunch and continue investigations until agreed departure. Insurance Policy. Please ensure that your school or LEA has appropriate insurance Or cover.

12.30-2.30 Sites Edale return to the village hall and Crowden return to Contact Details. Peak District National Longdendale Environment Centre for lunch and indoors afternoon session: Park authority, Aldern House, Baslow  Explore the different equipment needed for mountaineering Road, Bakewell, DE45 1AE.  Create majestic mountain poetry or letter from base camp 01629 816373 / 01457 855487  If time allows or follow up –Activity on tourism: Do tourists cause [email protected] harm? Critical thinking, considering sustainable management of the PDNPA. We work in partnership with United Utilities.

At Macclesfield Forest and Longdendale Free Resources Environment Centre we are based United

Utility sites. Here you can learn more You can find free pre- and post-visit activities about the Mountain about the value of water as a precious Environment on our website at http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning- resource and the surrounding landscape. about/peak-curriculum/primary-resources/mountain-environment

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