PREPARING for SATs exams may put schools under pressure but one class from Great Barr ensured it found a fun way to do its revision.
The youngsters from Hamstead School spent the day at the neighbouring Sandwell Valley RSPB centre off Tanhouse Avenue learning about nature – from nature.
Working together, the school’s head teacher Tim Bowen and the centre’s education officer Malcolm Evans put together a day of activities aiming to underline work the children had done.
Separated into groups, the youngsters were kept busy pond dipping to study insects, sitting in a hide watching birds or in the specially adapted RSPB classroom discussing plant classifications.
And while the youngsters were experiencing the natural world at first hand they were also learning without even realising it. “They are learning in a practical way,” said Tim. “It is part of the study for their SATs but it is being done in a different way. Part of the science paper looks at classification and that was why we chose to include that today.”
And Tim is only too aware of the benefits of stepping outside the classroom.
“You can guarantee that in three years time they won’t remember a lot of what they have been taught in the classroom but they will remember coming out and doing something practical,” he said.
The school has a close link with the RSPB centre.
“We first became involved with them a few years ago when we were designated a bird friendly school,” said Tim. “We put in bird feeders and did some work with the children on identifying birds.”
And these links are important says Malcolm who organises the schools’ programme at the centre.
“We have a really busy education programme with local schools,” he says. “We do have some who come from as far as Hereford, Worcestershire and Coventry but the majority are from Birmingham, Walsall and Sandwell.”
Malcolm and his team of supply teachers ensure each day is tailor-made to the school’s requirements.
“We are hoping that what the children do here reinforces what they have been learning in the classroom,” he says. “But this way they are able to see the actual wildlife events taking place. For some of the children this is a rare encounter with nature and it is healthier for them to be outdoors.
“We always work with the school beforehand to discuss what topics they are looking for and to tailor the programme to include those topics.
“It isn’t always science. We have also done some literacy work where the children have done sessions of writing ‘wild words’ poetry. We can broaden what we do.”
In most cases the children are from infant and junior schools although the centre has hosted activities from senior schools. And Malcolm and his team are in demand.
“This time of year is our busiest,” says Malcolm.
“I think for this entire term we have just four days left to offer.”
And he admits they do have a secret motive above helping the children learn for exams.
“What we hope is that the children will fall in love with nature,” says Malcolm. “And that this will last into adulthood.”
* A ROW of youngsters are peering into the pond looking for bugs. With careful moves they then dip their nets into the murky water.
Taking their precious cargo over to Malcolm, each child then tips a handful of sludgy greenery into a tray of water and waits to see the results. And even this world in miniature proves to be alive. There are beetles happily munching on larvae, snails curling back into their shells, skaters skimming over the water.
Gathering all the children around him, Malcolm explains each bug and its role in the natural world. But the youngsters are also expected to know their stuff.
“This one eats greens so what is it?” he asks to a chorus of ‘herbivore’ and the one shout of ‘vegetarian’. “And if this one is eating larvae, what is it?” he asks to hear the word ‘carnivore’ come back.
The children clearly know their stuff and are fascinated by watching nature going on in front of them. But this is only one of a host of activities they have been up to during their day at the RSPB centre.
“We are looking at plants and insects and different types of birds,” says 11-year-old Matthew Savage. “We went for a walk to look at different birds. It is a bit like school but it is better.”
Classmate 11-year-old Sheetal Sahdev agrees. “I like it when they explain things. I like it more here than in the classroom because you can see the things they are talking about.”
Ten-year-old Renu Matharoo was surprised at how much life they discovered in a tiny pond.
“When we went pond dipping we found lots of different creatures,” she says. “In some of the nets we found water spiders and water snails.”
While ten-year-old Molly Arrowsmith discovered a whole range of wildlife on her doorstep.
“I have been here before with my mum and dad,” she says. “Today we have been looking at animals and birds. We saw geese and swans then in the pond we found leeches and snails.”
And ten-year-old Tanesha Allen has also been looking at a whole collection of creatures.
“When we dip in the pond we found lots of insects and we found a snail,” she says. “And when we went to look for birds we sat in a place and watched them and saw lots of geese. “It is important to come and see birds because then you know they are there. It would be boring if there weren’t any birds.”
Friend Taranvir Bedi, aged 11, is a conservationist already.
“I really like birds and animals,” he says. “You need to know about them because you need to know which animals are endangered because then you can do something to protect wildlife.
“You need animals as they help keep the plants alive and you need predators to make sure you don’t have too many of the other animals.”
The visit with the school is only one of many Taranvir makes to Sandwell Valley with his family.
“I have seen lots of different birds here,” he says. “House martins, herons, seagulls, herons and oystercatchers. You can see a lot on the lake.”
* For more information contact on 0121 357 7395.