Top School Trips -Issue 6

This lesson gets children out into their local green spaces and helps fuel their imagination by designing a small pocket park space where people could relax and enjoy nature. Pupils will be encouraged to look at different design elements, explore art in nature, and think about how nature can help them relax. They will then be asked to suggest improvements they may want to see in their community that could be pulled into their design, helping to make their case for change. Finally, they will share and discuss their completed designs with their classmates. 1 | SCAVENGING FOR INSPIRATION Conduct a local nature walk to some of the small green spaces you discussed when getting started. As you’re walking to the green spaces, take photos of things the children spot so that pupils can use them for reference and inspiration when designing the parks. Collect natural items to inspire art that could feature in the children’s pocket park designs. Assign groups of pupils an egg box to be filled with the different items they gather on their walk. Egg boxes are a great way to display natural objects. Holes can be poked through the cardboard to display items like twigs, leaves and flowers. Back in the classroom, arrange the children’s findings to form a display. Then use the collection to inspire the creation of art. For example, you could make animals or fanstastical new creatures out of the objects. Ask the children to think about the little details, like how they could make the eyes of their creature, what colours go together to create an interesting pattern, or whether they could use contrasting textures to create an animal that stands out. Once pupils are happy with their arrangements, they should glue them down onto cardboard bases. Local green spaces often feature artwork from members of the local community, so discuss how the children’s creations could be displayed in their own pocket park . START HERE MAIN LESSON WHAT THEY’LL LEARN l How nature can be used as a tool for wellbeing and relaxation l How green spaces are designed to help the community l Teamwork and communication skills when creating a design l DT design processes and using nature in art DT, Art, Outdoor Learning, Wellbeing Introduce the term ‘pocket park’ and ask the children to suggest what they think it might mean. Explain that it means a small area of green space that is open and accessible for the public to use for relaxation and enjoyment. Ask pupils if they can think of any examples of small green spaces in their community. Are there any near school? Use Google Maps to look at the children’s suggestions on the whiteboard. Discuss how nature can be used for wellbeing, describing and sharing how being in nature makes us feel. Pull out key vocabulary for the children to use when explaining their experiences and feelings, and display it in the classroom for inspiration. Design your own perfect pocket parks Explore the children’s local green spaces and design a recreational space in this project from Emily Azouelos KS2 LESSON PLAN emily-azouelos-227502220 52 | www.teachwire.net/school-trips