children in nature heritage project

It all started when…

Seaham Primary schools, local to Playology Beach School got together for an Early Years Network meeting of professionals. Together, Early Years Staff engaged with the idea of how to move learning forward outdoors, and ways in which to embed ‘Hands On, Feet In’ learning within their own practice at their school.

Then, Durham Heritage Coast invited Hannah of Playology Beach School along to a meeting with National Lottery Heritage Fund, and a project idea was born.

Children in Nature Heritage Project will be running during Summer Term 2020, involving over 100 school children between the ages of 4 and 5, in reception class at three local Primary Schools within Seaham. It will involve a series of visits to Playology Beach School, for a range of workshops including:

• coastal creativity:

  Using coal dust, sea glass and other foraged natural materials and resources, we will create some nature inspired art which children will display back at school.

• telling tales of local legends

  We will listen to historical stories that ignite the imagination and give an incredible insight into our community’s unique heritage. Children will be encouraged to write, retell or perform these stories as plays or poems or songs.

• saving the planet beach clean

  We will be marine bio superheroes and work in partnership with Durham Heritage Coast to clean up our beach, as well as collect relevant data on our findings. Children will be encouraged to present data in a developmentally appropriate way.

Our beach school sessions will be varied in content to explore the diverse, natural learning environment as well as the unique children taking part. Through activities such as shelter building, creating pebble & sand sculptures, beach games, scavenger hunts, rock pooling, channelling ‘rivers’ & campfire cooking, we will design sessions which are engaging, exciting and encompass true ‘hands on, feet in’ learning.

INDEPENDENCE - RESILIENCE - POSITIVITY

These all-important, transferrable life skills will be at the heart of the project, as we support children to engage with their natural heritage, as well as nature itself and all of the challenges and lessons being immersed in it brings. Children will learn about their heritage and about themselves.

We will work following the Playology Philosophy - which can be read about here.

Read more about the benefits to children of beach school.

…at the end of the project

Children along with their teachers and families will be invited to a celebratory event. At this event, schools will be able to showcase a selection of their works from involvement in the project.