Key Stage 2

A selection of the learning opportunities available out of doors for Key Stage 2

SCIENCE:
Life Under The Leaves
Investigate the feeding relationships or adaptations of invertebrates living on the woodland floor. Observation and identification using keys is central to this lesson. The role of minibeasts as decomposers brings possible links to ‘Roots and Shoots’. It is also an excellent opportunity to develop numeracy skills.
Links with QCA Units 3B, 4B & 6A
Possible links to the 'Roots & Shoots' Growing for the Future Project.

Underwater Life
The lake at Holt Hall provides an opportunity for a number of freshwater investigations. These include adaptations to living underwater, food chains, life cycles and the impact of human activity on aquatic life. Simple keys are used for identification.
Links with QCA Units 4B, 5B & 6A

The Power Of Plants
Children learn about the importance of plants to human beings. Observation skills are required to identify plants using keys and to put them into groups. Dissecting is a hands-on way to find out about the parts of a flower. There is also scope for investigation, e.g. How are plants adapted to living in different habitats?
Links with QCA Unit 5B
Possible links to the 'Roots & Shoots' Growing for the Future Project.

Tremendous Trees
Pupils work in groups to design and carry out an investigation into the ages of trees in Holt Hall's ancient woodland. This activity provides excellent opportunities for group work and developing literacy and numeracy skills. Findings are recorded and may be presented to other groups as a poster.
Links with QCA Unit 3B

On The Rocks
How are plants and animals adapted to life on a rocky shore? Do the hostile conditions influence where organisms choose to live? What are the implications of our study on this fragile habitat? This could make an interesting comparison to ‘Underwater life’.
Links with QCA Unit 4B

SCIENCE/GEOGRAPHY:
Rocks Rock!
Rocks create and shape our landscape, preserve the past and are a vital natural resource. This activity gives children the chance to investigate rocks, consider their properties and link this to their uses. Finally, what clues do rocks hold about the beginnings of life on earth?
Links with QCA Unit 3D

Digging Deep
A very practical lesson investigating soils. Children use observation skills and carry out a series of simple tests to find answers to questions such as what is soil, what are its properties and is all soil the same?
Links with QCA Unit 3D
Possible links to the 'Roots & Shoots' Growing for the Future Project.

Pollution Detectives
What is pollution? Why does pollution matter? What are the signs of pollution? Children look for evidence at the lake or the beach and think about how we can reduce this harm to the environment.
Links with QCA Units 8 & 11

'Roots and Shoots' Growing for the Future Project
Organic gardening, composting with worms and wildlife gardening are just some of the activities that make up this exciting new project. All take place in and around the walled garden and Victorian greenhouses. These activities work well on their own or as part of other related sessions.

GEOGRAPHY:
River Explorers
Follow the River Glaven from source to mouth and discover how a river changes as it winds its way to the sea. Bring this topic alive by allowing children to create their own visual memory. Links are made to the history of the Glaven and there are lots of opportunities to develop literacy skills. This is a hands-on approach – wellies will be required!
Links with QCA Unit 14

Coast Defenders
Children consider the consequences of erosion and subsequent management for people and places along the coast. A debate surrounding some of the issues makes an excellent follow up activity and will help develop speaking and listening skills.
Links with QCA Unit 23

On The Beach
This is a hands-on investigation of coastal processes. Children collect and analyse data from different sites along the coast in order to understand the effects of long shore drift and wave action.
Links with QCA Unit 23

Weather Watch
An investigation into the weather from the woodland at Holt Hall to the shingle ridge at Salthouse. Warm clothing is essential! Children use a variety of instruments to measure the weather, compare results and draw conclusions. There are also onsite opportunities for microclimate investigations including using our data logging remote weather station.
Links with QCA Unit 7

Human Habitats
This is an opportunity to compare Holt or other nearby town to where you live. A number of questions could form the focus of this investigation, e.g. Is Holt a tourist town? Is Holt a sustainable community? Possible fieldwork tasks include a traffic survey or survey of local shops and facilities.
Links with QCA Units 6, 9, 12 & 13

Farm Visits
Find out where your food comes from and how it was produced through a visit to a local farm. This is a new initiative to coincide with the Year of Food and Farming. A farm visit could form part of a themed approach including an activity based in Holt Hall’s walled garden.

HISTORY:
Glaven Ports
Five hundred years ago, many of the villages close to Holt were bustling ports on the mouth of the River Glaven. Children uncover secrets from the past in local churches and the surrounding landscape. How have people changed their environment? How have changes to the environment affected the work and lives of people in the local area?
Links with QCA Unit 18

Holt Hall in Victorian Times
Learn what it was like to be a Victorian living in Holt Hall. How can we use primary and secondary sources of evidence to build a picture of the past? A Victorian Treasure Hunt leads to an unlikely prize!
Links with QCA Unit 11
Possible links to the 'Roots & Shoots' Growing for the Future Project.

Living History
For two weeks of the year the clocks at Holt Hall are turned back. Children experience first hand life as a child from an 1870 workhouse or as an evacuee escaping the Blitz. This is a truly unique event which the children will never forget!
Links with QCA Units 9 & 11
Read our flier about this course

PE/TEAM BUILDING:
Map Reading and Compass Skills
We are able to offer a range of activities to suit children of all ages and abilities. Take advantage of Holt Hall’s 35 hectares of woodland and parkland by attempting one or both of our two permanent orienteering courses!
Links with QCA Units 19, 20 & 30

Now Get Out Of That!
Shepherd and Sheep, Wheelbarrow Wobble and Thunderstorm Approaching are just three of the short tasks that make up this activity. Teamwork and good leadership skills are essential if teams are to succeed. Marks are awarded for teamwork, planning, success, initiative and leadership.
Links with QCA Units 19, 20 & 30

Survival and Campfire Cooking
Would you be able to survive if you found yourself lost in the woods? Teams must work together to address their basic needs of food, water, fire, shelter and rescue! This activity moves on to building and lighting fires, gutting and cooking fish!
*Small additional charge to cover ingredients costs.
Links with QCA Units 19, 20 & 30

Winter Survival
How do animals cope with harsh winter conditions? This question forms the basis for a den building activity in Holt Hall’s woodland. The emphasis is on developing team building skills.
Links with QCA Units 4B, 19, 20 & 30

Raft Building
How to turn barrels, planks of wood, wooden poles and rope into something that will carry the team across the lake at Holt Hall is the challenge! Teams must come up with a design and work together to build a raft.
Links with QCA Units 19, 20 & 30

ART:
Green Man
According to the legend, the Green Man cares for the trees and plants in the woodland. Children create their own Green Man face using clay and powder paints decorated with leaves and seeds collected in the grounds. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about colour and form. There is also the potential to incorporate sustainability issues and drama.

Art in the Environment
The grounds of Holt Hall provide the perfect setting for art based activities. Children learn about colour and form in the natural world. They use items they have collected to create their own colour palette and make pictures and sculptures in the grounds.
Links with QCA Unit 1C