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‘You and your pupils can now discover the wonderful countryside near your school’
Discover a sense of place and a knowledge of locality which is fun and multi curricular and stimulates outdoor health and well being, through participation in the new and exciting Kent Downs Landscape Education Project for Key Stage 2 school children. Let school children experience a day in the Kent Downs, exploring the countryside through imaginative broad spectrum learning linked to curriculum subjects. Let the freedom of the countryside enhance the learning skills of your children.
The Kent Downs Landscape Education Project explores creative links between our rich landscape heritage and the national curriculum. It includes a selection of dedicated walks with activity points and pupil worksheets.
The Landscape Education Project run by The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit is supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund, Natural England, Kent County Council and European Regional Development Fund Interreg 1VA France (Channel) England Programme.
Who can participate?
All primary schools in Kent can participate in this Landscape Education Project which is aimed at KS2. It will encourage children to have fun and learn about the Kent Downs Countryside as a protected landscape from varying perspectives.
What will happen?
The landscape Education Project is based around a full day’s walk in the Kent Downs either at a site near the school or from an iconic site within the Downs. The walk will include outdoor creative learning using photography, storytelling, drawing and playing games to learn about the heritage of the Kent Downs.
‘All the Downs began to quake and time itself began to shake…’
‘I know all about hens, birds and their ancestors the dinosaurs…
I know all time and I was here millions of years ago when dinosaurs wandered this land…’
What will the children learn about?
 The children will participate in various activities which are backed up by supporting notes for teachers for use following the initial walk. These will be linked to curriculum subjects in geography, history and socio-economic topics such as map reading, habitats, Tudors, WW2 or survival.
What will the children see?
The project takes the children to some fantastic sites within the Kent Downs with views to astound and inspire the imagination. From charcoal to chalk cliffs, orchids to orchards and views to valleys, each corner they turn will enhance their knowledge and create an everlasting memory of the treasures they discovered on a school trip.
Will the schools be able to participate in walks at other sites?
The project will have supporting material for teachers so that the project becomes sustainable and the primary school can commit to conducting their own yearly visit to the countryside. The walk will be backed up with training for teachers enabling them to perform the walk independently. All walks will soon be available on the website so that schools will be able to choose which site they would like to visit.
How many schools can participate?
Priority will be given to primary school in disadvantaged areas of Kent; however primary schools from other areas are encouraged to apply. The project will cover approximately 24 schools over three years.
Response from some of the participating schools
‘They could not believe that you could have so much fun for free, Mission accomplished!’ Helen Richards - Orchard School, Canterbury
‘Both children and staff thoroughly enjoyed it and some of the staff have even been back since. The maps, newspapers and notes are forming the basis for much of this term’s work...’ Ralph Baldock, Headteacher - Hollingbourne Primary School.
How do we participate?
To find out more about the project and discuss your school’s involvement please contact:
Pippa Palmar
Kent Downs Landscape Education Officer
Kent Downs AONB Unit
Penstock Hall Farm
East Brabourne
Ashford
Kent TN25 5LL
Tel: 01303 815170. pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk
For further information see the Landscape Education Project website at
http://education.kentdowns.org.uk
  
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