Day Courses – Field Study & Outdoor Adventurous Activities – Key Stage 1 & 2

Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre offers a wide range of day courses for pupils from Early Years to Key Stage 2. Each course is designed to reflect the requirements of each visiting group, as well as the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Contents

Foundation Years Course
First Steps in the Environment

KS1 Literacy Course
Word Play

KS2 Literacy Courses
Working with words (non-fiction)
Wordcraft (fiction)

KS1 Numeracy Course
Numbers in Nature

KS2 Numaeracy Course
Natural Number Wonders

KS1 Science Courses
Our Senses
Plant Investigations
Animal Investigations
Materials

KS2 Science Courses
Plant Investigations
Animal Investigations
How to Investigate Habitats
Rocks and soils

KS1 Geography Course
Out and About

KS2 Geography Courses
Exploring the Outdoors
Rivers and Streams
Village or Town Study

KS1 & KS2 History
Researching the Past – Simonsbath

KS1 & KS2 Art Course
Art in the Environment

KS1 AND 2 PE Course, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
Introduction to “Top Outdoors”

KS2 PE Courses, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
Basic Orienteering Skills
Intermediate Orienteering Skills
Advanced Orienteering Skills

KS1 AND 2 PE and PSHE Courses, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
Introduction to Outdoor and Adventurous Activities LEVEL 1
Introduction to Outdoor and Adventurous Activities LEVEL 2
Group Development throught Problem Solving

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Foundation Years Course

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
FIRST STEPS IN THE ENVIRONMENT · Outside today – looking at weather conditions

and appropriate clothing

· Seasonal observations – identification of

seasons through natural observation

· Sensory experiences

· Themed scavenger hunts

· Sorting, counting and displaying natural

objects

· Animal detectives

· Introduction to a range of habitats

· Observing and constructing animal

homes

· Care of living things

· Walks using geographical language

· Outdoor, site-specific story telling

· Exploring the properties of natural

materials and how they may change

over time

· Making connections between natural

materials and manufactured objects

Pupils will:

· Develop listening skills

· Develop observational skills

· Learn to follow instructions

· Practise reporting back

· Extend their vocabulary

· Become more confident

· Develop respect for their environment

· Experience sharing and taking turns

· Develop their knowledge and understanding of

the natural world

· Develop awareness of space, of themselves

and others

· Handle a range of equipment with increasing

control

· Be aware of the life and decay cycle

· Understand that natural materials can be

selected by their properties to make things

KS1 Literacy Course

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
WORD PLAY · Following directional instructions

· Sensory hunt which features descriptive

vocabulary

· Listening to questions from a key in order to

identify a plant or animal

· Listening to a traditional woodland story in situ

· Using a simple writing frame to record

observations

· Reading text about some of the plants or

animals they have seen

· Story or poetry trail

· Using mirrors, magnifiers or frames to

observe closely and write creatively

Pupils will:

· Develop listening skills

· Learn to follow instructions

· Practise speaking to a group

· Extend their descriptive vocabulary

· Understand the links between a woodland

story and the real woodland

· Practise recording their thoughts outdoors

· Use non-fiction texts to gain information

· Practise sequencing text from a story or

lines of poetry

· Increase their observation and

communication skills

KS2 Literacy Courses

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
WORKING WITH WORDS

(NON-FICTION)

· Write a route to a treasure for others to follow

· Interpretative scavenger hunt

· In situ cloze procedure on tree species

· Compose an information post on a plant or

animal feature from observation and research

· Prepare instructions for use of equipment or an

activity

· Use of a plant or animal key to identify a

species

· Present information from a hypothesis and

investigation

· Detailed description of a plant or animal from

observation

· Discussion of an environmental issue

Pupils will:

· Improve their ability to write and follow clear

and concise directions

· Practice interpretation of words and phases,

achieving a group consensus

· Gain confidence in bringing together listening,

observation and research skills in a piece of

writing for a specific audience

· Be able to write sequenced steps of procedure

· Learn how to use dichotomous word keys

· Practice posing questions, designing

investigations and communicating results

· Develop focused descriptive writing

· Be able to communicate and defend a point of

view

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
WORDCRAFT

(FICTION)

· Scavenger hunt leading to exploration of

alliteration and collective nouns

· Writing frame which focuses on the senses or

time or serial vision

· “Creature Features” invertebrate poems

· Haiku landscape writing – Japanese poetry in

17 syllables

· Composing a folk tale or myth from an

observed green plant or fungus

· Listening to a fable and writing a fable about

woodland animals

· Composing shared text and continuation of

writing outdoors

· Closely observed observational writing with the

use of mirrors, magnifiers or frames

· Story or poetry trail

Pupils will:

· Extend their descriptive vocabulary

· Be able to organise their observations from

note form into a succinct poem or piece of

prose

· Improve & develop their imaginative ideas

· Gain an appreciation of the work of other

writers, and be able to continue in similar style

· Learn about the purposes and structure of

certain text types

· Be able to sequence lines or extracts from a

poem or story

· Draw inspiration from, and develop empathy

with the natural world

· Gain confidence in performing their work

KS1 Numeracy Course
COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
NUMBERS IN NATURE · Estimation and counting plant or animal

species

· Number trail

· Measuring heights or girth of plants

· Measuring distances travelled

· Collecting and matching shapes and patterns in

plants

· 2D and 3D shapes challenges

· Temperature trail and temperature range

Pupils will:

· Develop approaches to solving number

problems outdoors

· Practice calculating and communicating using

mental methods

· Be able to use mathematical equipment to

solve practical problems

· Recognise patterns and shapes in natural

objects

· Improve their ability to estimate measures

 

KS2 Numeracy Course

COURSE TITLE

ACTIVITY OPTIONS

LEARNING OUTCOMES
NATURAL NUMBER WONDERS · Number or activity trail

· Establishing a scale for a map enabling

estimation and calculation of distance walked

· Tree measurements of height or canopy or

age through girth

· Leaf area investigation

· Grass growth patterns

· Temperature trail of microclimates

· Grids and co-ordinates treasure hunt

· Finding natural spirals and making spirals

based on number sequences

· Shape and symmetry challenges

· Transect mapping

· Plant or animal data collection, interpretation

and presentation

· Quadrat surveys

Pupils will:

· Identify and use appropriate methods to solve

practical outdoor problems

· Develop estimation and prediction skills in

calculations of measures

· Practice relating maps to distances and areas

· Make connections between number patterns

and natural forms

· Use appropriate mathematical equipment

effectively

· Work collaboratively

· Draw inferences from data collection


KS1 Science Courses

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
OUR SENSES · Exploring ways of looking through the use of

magnification, mirrors, and frames

· Exploring the range of colour in plants and

matching colours

· Making “feely” bags

· Texture scavenger hunt

· Leaf and bark rubbings

· Tasting herbs, fruit and vegetables in season

· Concocting “potions and perfumes” from plants

· Investigation of seasonal and specific weather

conditions and their effects

· Focussed listening exercises

· Exploring animal camouflage

· Making sounds from natural objects

· Animal observations

· Trails using sound, poems or songs

· Examining the effects of exercise

· Matching shape hunt

· Direction finding and distance estimation

Pupils will:

· Gain awareness of the richness of colour,

texture, sound, smell and taste of the natural

world

· Gain an appreciation of the “micro” world of

plants and animals

· Learn to observe and listen without disturbing

animal life

· Extend their descriptive vocabulary

· Knowledge of seasonal and diurnal weather

changes and their effects on plants, animals

and ourselves

· Enjoy composing and performing in a group

· Learn how to establish directions and

estimate distance

· Learn how the body changes as a result of

exercise

 

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
PLANT INVESTIGATIONS · Sorting plants into broad groups

· Identifying plants

· Plant observations, naming main parts

· Observations on what plants need in order to

grow

· Seasonal observations of the life cycle of

selected plants

· What happens to dead plants?

· Scavenger plant hunt

· Leaf shape rubbings or prints

Pupils will:

· Know basic grouping of plants within a given

habitat

· Be able to recognise and name several plants

· Be able to name and show the main parts of a

plant and their functions

· Understand that plants need certain conditions

for growth

· Be aware of the link between the season and

the stage of a plant’s life cycle

· Awareness of the life and decay cycle

· Be able to recognise and name leaf shapes

· Be able to take rubbings or print efficiently

 

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
ANIMAL INVESTIGATIONS · Animal evidence hunt

· Exploring animal homes

· Investigating a specific habitat for the range of

animal life it sustains

· Animal needs

· Identification using picture keys

· Invertebrate investigation

· Camouflage activity

· Animal menu game

Pupils will:

· Be able to identify a number of animals

· Gain heightened observational skills

· Discover that animals have specific habitats

· Know how to care for the animals they are

investigating

· Be able to record their observations in situ

· Be able to use investigative equipment

· Gain an understanding of animal camouflage

· Understand how animals and plants

are linked by food chains

 

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
MATERIALS · Materials scavenger hunt

· Making and testing “feely” bags

· Ephemeral artwork using natural materials

· Investigating outdoor clothing for different

weather conditions

· Exploring the properties of natural materials

and how they may change over time

· Making connections between natural materials

and manufactured objects

· Unnatural objects trail

· Construction of animal homes using

appropriate materials

· 3D constructions using natural materials

Pupils will:

· Improve observation and discrimination skills

· Increase their knowledge of the properties and

uses of natural materials

· Learn about manufacturing processes

· Understand how clothing can assist the heating

or cooling of the body

· Learn about the life and decay cycle

· Have experience of building structures co-

operatively

· Appreciate the skills of animal builders

· Experience making a 3D object from raw

materials

KS2 Science Courses
COURSE TITLE

ACTIVITY OPTIONS

LEARNING OUTCOMES
PLANT INVESTIGATIONS · Sorting plants into named groups and

identifying species within those groups using

keys and reference books

· Woodland succession observations

· Life cycle of plants, highlighting the specific

seasonal stage

· Plant survey of two contrasting habitats

· Non-flowering plant investigation

· Decay cycle and fungi foray

· Plant profile

· Hunt for plants in the food chain

· Human use of plants

· Conservation trail

· Making a plant identification key

Pupils will:

· Have knowledge of specific plant groups and

be able to name species within that group

· Understand the conditions for growth

· Be able to describe how plants adapt to

certain habitats

· Have knowledge of plant life cycles

· Improve their observational skills

· Be able to use a variety of equipment and

recording methods

· Be able to interpret data and draw conclusions

· Appreciate the diversity of plant forms

· Know how plants contribute to food chains and

webs within a given habitat

· Be aware of the uses of native plants

· Understand the organic method of growing

plants

· Be aware of human impact on plants, the

importance of plant diversity and conservation

methods

· Understand the importance of bio-diversity

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
ANIMAL INVESTIGATIONS · Animal evidence hunt within a given habitat

· Collection of invertebrates in two contrasting

habitats

· Exploring animal homes

· Animal identification by use of keys

· Animal adaptations to habitats

· Investigating animal groups

· Food chains and webs

· Animal life cycles

· Conservation trail

Pupils will:

· Be able to recognise animal evidence

· Have learnt techniques which allow them to

collect and investigate invertebrates with care

· Be confident in the use of keys

· Have an appreciation of the diversity of animal

life within a habitat

· Have knowledge of the life processes of

specific animals

· Be able to explain how animals are adapted to

their habitat

· Understand feeding relationships in a habitat

· Learn what can be done to protect animal

diversity and conserve species

· Understand the importance of bio-diversity

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
HOW TO INVESTIGATE HABITATS Choose from:

· Woodland

· Hedgerow

· Meadow

· Freshwater ponds

· Streams

· Moorland

To undertake:

· Plant investigations

· Animal investigations

· Micro – organism investigations

· Environmental quality assessments

· Conservation trail

Pupils will:

· Learn to use the most appropriate methods to

explore a habitat

· Be confident in the use of scientific equipment

· Understand how plants and animals are

adapted to different habitats

· Understand how plants and animals are

connected within a habitat

· Be aware of the variety of micro habitats within

a given area

· Be able to make judgements about the quality

of an environment, and how it might best be

improved or sustained.

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
ROCKS AND SOILS · Sorting rocks, minerals, plant and animal

fossils

· Sorting rocks into local and global categories

· Exploring properties of local rocks and learning

about their formation

· Separating the components of soils by sieving

or settling in water

· Collection of surface and drilled soil samples

· Observations relating soils to plants

· Testing soils for particle size

· Investigation of leaf litter invertebrates

· Soil profiling

· Making and using soil paints

Pupils will:

· Be able to distinguish between rocks, minerals

and fossils

· Be able to identify local rocks and explain their

properties and uses

· Know how to identify soils according to particle

size and organic content

· Understand how plants are related to soil types

· Be aware of the decay process and the action

of soil invertebrates

· Understand how weathering and erosion occur

and the impact this has on the area

· Have experience of making soil paints and an

appreciation of their qualities

KS1 Geography Course
COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
OUT AND ABOUT · Map interpretation: use of simple map

with symbols and key

· Map and compass work: orientation

and route finding using cardinal compass

points

· Directional language

· Activity trail

· Distance estimation and measuring

· Sketch map making

· Land use observations

· Environmental assessment

· Giant outdoor compass

· Map sticks – artefacts that record a

journey

Pupils will:

· Gain practical experience in interpreting maps

· Be able to orientate a map and navigate a route

with the aid of a compass

· Improve their ability to estimate distances

· Have experience of map making

· Be able to identify land uses

· Gain confidence in expressing opinions about

environments

· Have experience of working collaboratively

· Be able to recall and describe a route

KS2 Geography Courses
COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS · Map interpretation: use of symbols, keys, scale

and co-ordinates

· Map and compass work: orientation and route

finding, using the eight point compass or

bearings

· Contour map reading

· Distance estimation and measuring

· Transect map making

· Land use recording

· Weather data collection

· Environmental assessment – problems and

solutions

· Map sticks – artefacts that record a journey

· Writing a route for others to follow

Pupils will:

· Be confident in the interpretation of maps

· Be able to orientate a map and navigate a more

complex route with the aid of a compass

· Understand how to set a compass and walk

on a bearing

· Understand the relationship between contour

lines on maps and slopes

· Have improved distance estimation skills

· Be able to survey an area and make an

accurate map

· Be able to record land use on a map

· Know how weather data is collected and used

· Have experience of assessing environments,

identifying problems and proposing solutions

· Be confident in giving and following directional

instructions

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
RIVERS AND STREAMS · Mapwork to trace catchment area

· Exploration of valley and stream features

· Sketch mapping

· Cross sectional profiling

· Speed of flow calculation

· Erosion, transportation and deposition

· Human impact assessment

· Pollution monitoring using invertebrate

indicators

· Exploration of the impact of drought and flood

on local land use

Pupils will:

· Learn the geographical vocabulary of river

systems

· Be able to represent their observations in a

sketch map of a river or stream

· Be able to construct a profile from data

collected

· Know how to calculate speed of flow

· Know how water shapes the landscape

· Understand that a river or stream is a habitat

with plant and animal communities

· Be able to assess the quality of the water

· Appreciate how human activity affects a river

system

· Be aware of the consequences and

implications of drought and flood

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
VILLAGE OR TOWN STUDY · Origins of the settlement

· Map work to establish how an area has

changed over time

· Sketching landmarks, buildings and road

systems

· Land use mapping

· Environmental quality assessment

· Amenity provision assessment

· Observing building styles and materials

· Environmental improvement exercise

· Photographic trail

· Pollution assessment

· Comparison with home area

Pupils will:

· Understand how a settlement has

developed over time

· Develop their skills of interpreting maps

· Be able to use a variety of methods to

record their observations

· Have specific knowledge of local architecture

· Have generated ideas for environmental

improvement

· Understand the forms of pollution and how to

assess them

· Gain critical awareness of the environment

and be able to express an informed opinion

· Appreciate the differences between their

home and study area

KS 1 & 2 History
COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
RESEARCHING THE PAST – Simonsbath  

· Consider Village origins and historical development

· Look at land use and change over time

· Identify features in the area on a large map

· Consider the use and development of buildings

· Trace the history and the development of the road systems in and around the village

· Church and Graveyard study – dating grave stones

· Research the historical background of Simonsbath House

· Local Natural Disasters

· Changing use of natural materials

· Arrange a display and/or make a presentation that provides information about an aspect of life in the village in the past

Pupils will:

· Identify & Draw key external features common to homes.

· Describe & Draw the features of a home built a long time ago

· Use features of buildings to infer their use and who owned them

· Write a short, accurate description of the place suggesting who might have used it

· Record their observations by annotating drawings or by labelling and completing a prepared outline

· Categorise buildings as ‘old’ or ‘new’

· Identify environmental and physical features and how these might affect settlement and lifestyle

· Measure distances in scale on maps and make comparisons with their own area

· Ask and answer questions about archaeological discoveries

· Contribute to making a visual time line

· Produce a description of the area that contains appropriate historical detail

· Identify features of the area from pictures

· Suggest why and for whom a picture was made

· Collect information about the area from oral evidence & summarise the information collected

KS1 and 2 Art Course

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
ART IN THE ENVIRONMENT · Plant colour collection – water-colour painting

matching colours

· Oil pastel drawing of plant or animal forms

· Pencil /pen line drawings of plants

· Serial vision sketching

· Graphic designs from framed natural materials

· Charcoal drawing of wood

· Woodland painting using soil paints

· Hessian scrim weaving with textured natural

objects

· “Green Man” leaf and bark wax rubbing

· Ink prints of leaf shapes

· Wax resist fungi forms

· Mobiles from found natural materials

· Andy Goldsworthy study of ephemeral art

· Choice of artist study of landscape or natural

Forms

Pupils will:

· Improve their observational skills and learn how

observational recordings can be developed into

imaginative work

· Gain confidence in using a range of materials

and techniques

· Develop work which emphasises the qualities of

colour, line, form, texture and pattern

· Work confidently in 3D with natural materials

· Gain an appreciation of the work of artists

depicting the natural world

KS1 AND 2 PE Course, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
INTRODUCTION TO “TOP OUTDOORS” Progressive tasks in the following core activities of the programme:

· Trails

· Physical Challenges

· Orienteering

Pupils will move from dependence to greater independence in learning:

· From performing given tasks to being able to devise challenges of their own

· From using given criteria to judge the

performance of others to developing their own

criteria to evaluate their performance and that

of others

· From simple tasks to more difficult and

complex ones

· From working individually, through pairs, to

group problem solving activity.

KS2 PE Courses, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
BASIC ORIENTEERING SKILLS Introduction to basic orienteering skills in the following areas:

· Orientation

· Route planning

· Symbols and keys

· Compass work

Pupils will:

· Improve their spatial awareness

· Be able to interpret simple maps, symbols

and keys

· Have experience of planning and following

routes

· Be able to use a compass as an aid to

navigation

· Know how to set a compass and walk on a

simple bearing

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
INTERMEDIATE ORIENTEERING SKILLS Intermediate courses using the following activities:

· Activity trails

· Route planning

· Basic compass bearing activities

· Basic orienteering using maps over line, star

and route courses

Pupils will:

· Be confident in interpreting maps, symbols

and keys

· Understand the use of the a compass as an

aid to navigation

· Know how to set a compass and walk on a

variety of bearings

· Be able to transfer information from map to

Map

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
ADVANCED ORIENTEERING SKILLS A range of advanced orienteering courses which will use the following skills:

· Route planning

· Moving a bearing from a grid to a magnetic

direction

· Moving on a bearing

· Taking a bearing to and from an object

· Line event

· Competitive event

Pupils will:

· Be confident in planning and following routes

· Make full use of a compass as an aid to

navigation

· Be proficient in setting a compass and

travelling on bearings

· Be able to compete in competitive

orienteering events

KS1 AND 2 PE and PSHE Courses, Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
INTRODUCTION TO OUTDOOR AND ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES

LEVEL 1

Team building and individual challenge activities including:

· Low level assault course

· Parachute games

· Circus skills

· Group development including planning,

communication and review

Pupils will:

· Acquire specific OAA skills

· Understand the attributes of an effective team

· Understand the consequences of their own

actions upon others

· Recognise personal strengths and

weaknesses

· Be able to work together and on their own to

meet challenges

· Respect the differences between people

· Build relationships

 

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
INTRODUCTION TO OUTDOOR AND ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES

LEVEL 2 **

Team building and individual challenge activities including:

· Mountain biking

· Intermediate assault course

· Camp craft

· Archery

· Group development including planning,

communication and review

Pupils will:

· Acquire specific OAA skills

· Understand the attributes of an effective team

· Understand the consequences of their own

actions upon others

· Recognise personal strengths and

weaknesses

· Be able to work together and on their own to

meet challenges

· Respect the differences between people

· Build relationships

** Please note this course will incur an additional charge as it requires more than one member of centre staff

COURSE TITLE ACTIVITY OPTIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
GROUP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PROBLEM SOLVING A range of physically and mentally demanding challenges including:

· Island Hopping

· Lattice

· See-saw

· Vortex

Review sessions which highlight:

· Team work

· Questioning skills

· Effective contribution

· Active listening

Pupils will:

· Understand the attributes of an effective team

· Be able to formulate and communicate plans

and review performance

· Work co-operatively on shared problems

· Recognise personal strengths and

weaknesses