19 July 2010

Yorke Mead Primary School holds lessons outside
Students of a Croxley Green school were out in the sun today, learning about wildlife in new outdoor lessons.

Yorke Mead Primary School recently opened a new garden after the Easter holidays, so their students can see insects and amphibians close up.

Katie Holleyman, year four teacher, said: "Today we're looking at different habitats, the children use a blue ring and survey everything within it. They've already found a woodlice, ladybirds and a huge spider."

The school is currently working towards a National Sustainable Schools accreditation for their green-fingered work, and is currently working on a new bog garden to encourage amphibians.

Wendy Seabrook, assistant head teacher of the Dulwich Way school, said: "We worked with the children in areas they wanted improvements in the school. They wanted frogs and newts so we built a bog garden to encourage them."

The school also opened two new vegetable patches and kitchen this year, so the children turn the beans, carrots and potatoes they have grown into delicious dinners.

They decide what they want to make, set themselves a budget and try to make a profit which is then donated to charity.

This week children will run a French menu for their cafe, which will give them a chance to practice some of their vocabulary.

Ms Seabrook added: "The children are driving it, telling us what they want to do, and this gives us an environment they can come to without having to get on a coach. It's also used for art, story time, creative writing and drama lessons."

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