Natural Gower Key Stage 2 Oxwich National Nature Reserve Education Resource Notes for Teachers Contents Page Information for Teachers 1 How to use this pack 1 Wildlife watch 1 Risk Assessment 1 Equipment List 2 Curriculum Links 2 Cross - curricular work 3 Before you go activities 4 After your visit activities 4 Activities 1. Oxwich dipping pond 5 2. Oxwich Reedbed 6 3. Oxwich Burrows 7 4. Oxwich bay 8 5. St Illtyds’ Church, Oxwich 9 Oxwich Burrows trails leaflet 10 Credits This education pack was written and designed by Audio Trails Ltd (www.audiotrails.co.uk) on behalf of Gower Landscape Partnership. The Gower Landscape Project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and also from the Heritage Lottery Fund under its Landscape Partnership programme. Other funding partners include the City & County of Swansea, Natural Resources Wales and The National Trust. Images were supplied and are copyright of the following individuals and organisations: Audio Trails Ltd © Copyright GGAT HER Charitable Trust © Crown Copyright (2014) Visit Wales National Trust Information for teachers Gower is renowned for being the very first place in Britain to be recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and has within its boundaries many international and national protection designations for its landscape, flora and fauna and for its geology. This part of the Gower app around Oxwich NNR explores the theme ‘Natural Gower’. The trail has five places of interest. At each one expert sound bites, stories, photographs, facts and information are used to reveal the area’s important natural value. There are five ‘Activity Points’ where text is revealed to engage children in independent learning. How to use this pack This education pack can be used on its own or to complement the Gower app. It contains information and activity ideas at key points along the Oxwich NNR trail around the theme of ‘Natural Gower’. The pack supports curriculum planning, highlighting how the activity suggestions are relevant to a range of learning outcomes in Key Stage 2. There are also additional activities that can be carried out before and after a visit to enrich your topic planning. You may wish to follow the entire trail and carry out the suggested activities at each point of interest. However, the activities can be done in any order and you can take any safe route from one activity to the other. You may want to dip into the pack, picking and choosing particular activities and places along the trail. You may wish to come back on another day to carry out further activities in diferent places along the trail. The activities and app are completely flexible, allowing you to adapt ideas and routes depending on your needs. A route map leaflet is appended to the back of this pack. Wildlife watch At each stop there is an opportunity for children to carry out a three-minute wildlife survey. Listen! What can you hear? Look! What can you see? Risk Assessment Teachers and group leaders are responsible for carrying out their own risk assessments prior to the visit, in accordance with guidance issued by local authorities. We recommend teachers undertake a familiarisation visit in order to write the risk assessment and plan activities before bringing a group on the walk. It is essential a thorough risk assessment is carried out before the trip. Please follow the Countryside Code and consider the impact your visit will have on the environment around you. For further information go to www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk. 1 Equipment List iPads (running iOS7+ and preferably with GPS) with the Gower app downloaded Binoculars and telescopes Writing and drawing materials i.e. clipboard, paper, sketchbook, charcoal, pastels etc Camera / video recorder – one can be found on the iPad Compass – one can be downloaded for free on to your iPad For pond dipping – white tub/tray, net, magnifier, plastic spoons, hand wipes/antibacterial soap For rock pooling – white tub/tray, net, magnifier, plastic spoons, hand wipes/antibacterial soap Curriculum Links Science Programme of Study Skills Communication: 1 & 2 Plan an enquiry Developing: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 Reflecting: 5 & 6 Range Interdependence of organisms: 4, 5 & 7 2 Cross - curricular work The trail around Oxwich NNR links naturally to the science curriculum but there are many ways in which it can support Gower’s rich and varied work in other curriculum areas. In PSE children will be: • Inspired and appreciative of the natural world • Developing a understanding of how the environment can be afected by the decisions we make individually and collectively • Taking an active interest in the wider environment • Understanding aspects of the cultural heritage and diversity of Wales • Using ICT safely • Understanding that our actions have consequences In English children will be: In Art and Design children will be: • Responding to visual, audio and written material • Stimulated and inspired by the natural • Speaking and listening in pairs and in groups environment as well as individually • Investigating the natural environment • Gathering information about Rhossili and it’s • Exploring and experimenting with connection to the sea from a range of sources shapes in nature • Using the visit as a stimuli for various writing projects • Experimenting with a range of materials In ICT children will be: • Using the Gower app on a mobile device independently and collaboratively • Using the app to explore the habitats in Oxwich NNR across a variety of subjects • Communicating with image editing software In Geography children will be: • Identifying and investigating the geographical location of Oxwich NNR • Following directions and routes • Using a map of Oxwich • Asking questions about Oxwich • Identifying natural and human features • Carrying out practical investigations • Making decisions about environmental issues In Cwricwlwm Cymreig children will be: • Developing and applying their knowledge and understanding of the cultural, economic, environmental and historical characteristics of Wales 3 Before you go activities After your visit activities What are National Use the photographs and sketches you made Nature Reserves? during your visit to create a map that charts Research. your visit and the route you took. Find out about How should this National Nature Reserve be the Countryside cared for? Code – Respect – Protect – Enjoy. Plan a return visit to Oxwich National Nature Choose the rule that Reserve at a diferent time of year to you think is the most investigate how the seasons bring changes to important and create an the area. advertising campaign to persuade the public to follow it. You may wish to make posters, Invent a species perfectly adapted to living leaflets or other merchandise and invent in one of Oxwich’s many habitats. Design characters, poems or animations to promote and construct a model of the habitat for your the Countryside Code. invented species. Research, write a definition and create a word Provide information for visitors and tourists bank for some or all of the following with a ‘Welcome to Oxwich NNR’ brochure, keywords: habitat, adaptation, mini-beast, leaflet or poster. species, interdependence, organism, consumer, predator, nutrition, producer, Write a report on how we can protect this conditions, environment, food chain, prey. area for the future? What is an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Write a set of instructions or an experts guide Beauty’? Research the criteria for becoming to rock pooling. You could call it, ‘Rock Pool an AONB and debate why you think Gower Top Tips’ should retain its AONB status. Use the photographs and sketches you have Find out about other ‘Areas of Outstanding taken during your visit to inspire nature art Natural Beauty’ in Britain. projects. Think about the natural textures, colours, patterns and shapes you observed at Investigate the habitats in your school’s Oxwich. Use these to influence your work. grounds. Identify conditions within the habitat and predict the plant and animal species you Research artists, poets, writers or designers would expect to see there? List how they may who are inspired by Gower and nature. have adapted to their surroundings. Write your own illustrated ‘Pond Dipping Top The Gower Society wants to safeguard Gower Tips’. for future generations. Explore their website, www.thegowersociety.org.uk to find out what they do. 4 1. Oxwich dipping pond Read the app text to find out more information • Always pond dip about Oxwich dipping pond. with an adult. • Kneel near the Wildlife watch. waters edge. Listen! What can you hear? Never lean over, Look! What can you see? you may lose your balance. • Never be silly near the edge of the water. The App text and activity pond may be deeper than it looks. Collect and examine a variety of pond • Half-fill your container with water from the organisms. pond before starting. • Use your net and make figure of eight Choose your favourite. movements in the water. It’s the best way to find organisms. Interview them and discover the answers to • Move away from the edge to examine your the following questions: How do you move? finds. Turn your net inside out into your Where do you live in the pond? What is it like container. there? What special features do you have? • Put all pond life back where you found it Who do you eat? Who eats you? What do you including any algae. need to survive? What else can you tell me • Wash your hands when you have finished about yourself? What is your name? and before you eat. You may have germs on your hands that could make you ill. Compare your finds and gather organism data. ICT: Using ICT equipment independently and Measure – sketch – photograph - observe – collaboratively.