Education centre activity table
This table describes activities available at our various centres, along with aims and objectives of the sessions. Not all activities are available at all sites. Availability is indicated within the activity description. Most activities listed in the visits to schools activity table are also available at our centres. Our current education centres include:
For example:
Activity 1 Tour of the works – Water treatment (Available: A, B, SB, SP)
This shows that the tour of a water treatment works is available at Ashford, Blashford, Sutton Bingham and Sutton Poyntz.
Activity 1 Tour of the works – Water treatment (Available: A, SB, SP )
| Aim |
To follow the steps of water treatment |
| Objectives |
At the end of the tour the pupils will have:
• a visual picture of the treatment steps
• used listening skills to gain a better understanding of the process
• completed a worksheet of basic facts (some centres). |
Activity 2 Tour of the works – Sewage treatment (Available: H, T, WsM)
| Aim |
To follow the steps of sewage treatment |
| Objectives |
At the end of the tour the pupils will have:
• a visual picture of the treatment steps
• used listening skills to gain a better understanding of the process
• completed a worksheet of basic facts (some centres). |
Activity 3 River dipping (Available: A, B, SP)
| Aim |
To investigate a river habitat |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session the children will have:
• had experience of kick sampling
• used identification charts
• identified a small number of freshwater invertebrates common to flowing water. |
Activity 4 Pond dipping (Available: A, B, CD, SB)
| Aim |
To investigate a pond habitat |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session the children will have:
• had experience of dipping techniques
• used identification charts
• identified a small number of freshwater invertebrates common to still water. |
Activity 5 River profile work and flow investigations (Available: A, B, SP)
| Aim |
To investigate a river and the processes involved in its development |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session, pupils will:
• understand the following terms
- erosion
- transportation
- deposition
• understand that rate of flow varies over the course of a river
• know techniques to measure rate of flow and record the profile for a stretch of river. |
Activity 6 Review of a reservoir (Available: A, B, SB)
| Aim |
To understand the different uses of a reservoir and the conflicts that can occur |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session the pupils will have:
• walked a section of the banks of the reservoir
• listed and discussed the uses: supply, environment conservation and leisure
• sketched and/or labelled a view of the reservoir
• discovered reservoir history and basic facts. |
Activity 7 Environment games (Available: A, B, CD, SB, SP, T, WsM)
| Aim |
To use senses to appreciate the nature that shares the site |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session pupils will have experienced a combination of the following:
• listening and observation skills
• tree identification work
• scavenger hunt
• paint pallette colour work
• ant trail
• life cycles
• food chains. |
Activity 8 Tour of museum (Available: SP)
| Aim |
To get an overview of the history of water supply or to concentrate on one of the following areas:
• water supply at Weymouth
• water supply in Victorian times
• comparison of water supply today with the past
• a look at the interpretation of the Whitehorse SSSI. |
| Objectives |
At the end of the tour pupils will:
• have visited at least two rooms of the museum and completed worksheets
• know five key points about their selected topic area. |
Activity 9 Walk to source (Available: SP)
| Aim |
To understand the water cycle |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session the children will have:
• viewed the source of a river
• sketched and/or labelled a view of Weymouth and Portland
• appreciated the water cycle elements in their surroundings. |
Activity 10 Walk from source to sea (Available: SP)
| Aim |
To view the features of a river |
| Objectives |
At the end of the walk pupils will have:
• viewed the source and mouth of a river
• discovered the variations that occur over the course of a river
• witnessed past water use such as mills
• completed an observation worksheet. |
Activity 11 Nature trail (Available: A, B, SB, T)
| Aim |
To be aware of the nature that shares the site |
| Objectives |
At the end of the trail pupils will have experienced a combination of the following:
• senses work – listening and observation skills
• tree identification work
• woodland study
• grassland study
• a closer look at badgers
• environment games. |
Activity 12 Grassland study (Available: A, B, SB, SP, T)
| Aim |
To investigate a grassland habitat |
| Objectives |
On completion the pupils will have:
• experienced equipment such as sweep nets, bug pots and pooters
• used identification sheets
• identified a small number of grassland minibeasts
• a knowledge of the mammals that live in the grassland. |
Activity 13 Woodland study (Available: B, SB, SP)
| Aim |
To investigate a woodland habitat |
| Objectives |
On completion the pupils will:
• know that a woodland habitat consists of three layers
• have experienced equipment such as bug pots, pooters
• used identification sheets
• identified a small number of woodland minibeasts. |
Activity 14 Habitat studies (Available: A, B, CD, SB, SP, T, WsM)
| Aim |
To investigate a number of habitats |
| Objectives |
At the end of the visit pupils will know that:
• different creatures live in different habitats
• creatures living in different habitats have often adapted to such an environment and show typical features
• different sampling techniques exist to aid investigations. |
Activity 15 Mammal studies (Available: A, B, SB, T)
| Aim |
To be aware of the mammals on the site |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session, pupils will have:
• carried out a tracking exercise
• taken part in a food chain/food web activity
• made a mammal home. |
Activity 16 Recycling and Bag it and Bin it (Available: CD, H, T, WsM)
| Aim |
To have a greater knowledge of how they can make a difference to the environment |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session pupils will have
• taken part in a sorting activity
• reviewed information boards
• completed a worksheet of basic facts. |
Activity 17 Water and the Victorians (Available: A, H)
| Aim |
To compare water issues of the past with the present |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session, pupils will:
• have reviewed a timeline showing technological developments with regard water
• have an understanding of water and sewage systems of the period and know key developments
• have completed a worksheet to assess knowledge. |
Activity 18 Dr John Snow play (Available: A, CD, H, SP, T)
| Aim |
To learn about the discovery of cholera |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session, pupils will:
• have discovered the history of cholera epidemics
• have followed a script
• taken on a role in support of a play production (eg acting, prop making, audience). |
Activity 19 Micro-organisms (Available: T, H)
| Aim |
To learn that there are very small organisms which can be both helpful and harmful. |
| Objectives |
At the end of the session, pupils will:
• recognise that sewage treatment depends upon micro-organisms
• have completed a worksheet identifying micro-organisms using a basic key
• be able to identify some illnesses eg cholera, chicken pox caused by micro-organisms
• have seen micro-organisms under a microscope (Holdenhurst only). |
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