Key
Stage 2
SCIENCE:
Life Under The Leaves
Investigate invertebrates living on the woodland floor. Observation and identification using keys is central to this lesson. It is also an excellent opportunity to develop numeracy skills.
Links with QCA Units 4B & 6A
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
Follow in Darwin’s footsteps. Use observation and investigation skills to find answers to questions such as: What do plants need to grow? How are seeds dispersed? Examine the parts of a flower or seed under a microscope.
Links with QCA Units 3B, 4B, 5B & 6A
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 Units 4B, 5B & 6A
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 makes an interesting comparison to
‘Underwater life’.
Links with QCA Units 4B & 6A
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. There is also the option to hunt for fossils at West Runton beach.
Links with QCA Unit 3D
Digging Deep
A very practical lesson investigating soils. Children compare possible planting sites in the walled garden. This session develops pupils’ science investigation and questioning skills.
Links with QCA Units 3D & 6A
Possible links to the 'Roots & Shoots' Growing for the Future Project.
Hedgerow Hunters
Find out if hedges are good habitats for wildlife. Does the number of species increase with the age of the hedge? Why might hedges be important for some animals and plants as our climate changes? Simple keys are used for identification purposes. Possible links to the history of Holt Hall.
Links with QCA Units 4B, 5B & 6A
'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
Observe, measure and record how a river changes as it winds its way to the sea. Spend the day visiting different sites from the source to the mouth of the River Glaven. Links are made to the history of its valley and the effects of human intervention.
Links with QCA Unit 14
Coast Defenders
Consider the consequences of erosion and management for people and places along the north Norfolk coast. Children observe and sketch the sea defences and slumping cliffs at Overstrand.
Links with QCA Unit 23
Surfer's Paradise
Sea, surf and shingle! Investigate the idea that every 7th wave is the biggest, think about human impacts on the beach, make strandline pictures and compose beach poetry. This is a cross-curricular approach that fits well into a coast theme or topic.
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 15
Where do you Want to live?
Investigate if Holt or Cromer are places people want to live now and in the future. Are there enough facilities? Who do they appeal to? What would you change if you were in charge? What does the future hold? Practical activities can be applied to your locality and can empower your pupils to make a difference in their own community.
Links with QCA Units 6, 9, 12 & 13
Beach Walk
What makes you look? What makes you listen? What makes you smile? What makes you think? Children use digital cameras to record those things that interest them. These can be added later to a map of their walk. This activity encourages children to observe and reflect on their surroundings and improve their sense of place.
Links with QCA Unit 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.
GEOGRAPHY/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 Hist Unit 18 & Geog Unit 23
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 Hist Units 11 & 12
Possible links to the 'Roots & Shoots' Growing for the Future Project.
Mystery of the Vanishing Village
What happened to the village of Shipden? Children look at primary and secondary sources of evidence to solve this mystery. The fate of the village helps to improve their understanding of how the coast is managed. What is being done to prevent cliff erosion at Cromer today?
Links with QCA Hist Unit 18 & Geog Unit 23
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!
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. As part of this session children can also build insect homes or find a place to hibernate.
Links with QCA Units 19, 20 & 30
Science Units 4B & 6A
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.
Links with QCA Unit 5B
Art in the Environment
The grounds of Holt Hall provide the perfect setting for exploring a landscape through art. 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 6C
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