School visits - Activities
Porthkerry country park has a wide variety of habitats:
extensive broadleaved woodlands, wildflower meadows, streams, a
small dipping pond, large recreational grasslands and access to a
fine semi-circular pebble beach. These make it an ideal place for
learning about our natural world.
What activities do we offer?
The Ranger led activities below give a taste of what to expect
during a session with the experienced Ranger Service. Each of the
sessions can be adapted for Foundation Phase, Key Stage 1 or Key
Stage 2. If, however, there are particular topics/areas you would
like the ranger on the day to cover they will be more than happy to
try and help.
Pond dipping
Water is an exciting habitat; there is a huge
diversity of pond life that can be found at Porthkerry. The
children will be amazed to see what they can catch with a net in
our dipping pond; stickleback fish, water boatmen, dragonfly
nymphs, water scorpions, whirligig beetles and lots more.
After a demonstration by the Ranger, the
children will work in groups, taking it in turns to dip with a net
and put the creatures in a tray. Towards the end of the session the
Ranger will help identify what’s been caught and look at how the
animals are adapted to their watery environment and investigate
their food chains and lifecycles.
Activity Time: 1
hour
Bug Hunt
During the spring and summer minibeasts can be
found everywhere, children will be amazed at the diversity they
will discover. Some they might find fascinating, others scary.
This is a hand on investigation into
minibeasts and where they live. Using nets, pots and shaker sheets
the children will be able to discover what’s jumping, crawling and
flying around the park. They will be able to classify creatures
into groups, find out how they’re part of a bigger food chain
within woodlands and meadow habitats.
Activity Time: 1 hour
Animal Homes
At Porthkerry we are lucky to have many
different habitats and associated wildlife, during this session the
children will learn what a habitat is and investigate the
interaction of plants and animals and the ways in which animals are
adapted to their habitat.
During this session children will also
discover what different animal homes are like, what they need to
survive and how we can make a home in the park or even in their
gardens.
Activity Time: 1
hour
Den Building/
Survival Shelters
This session is a team building activity,
where the children are encouraged to work as a small team to build
a survival shelter into which the whole team can fit. The session
takes place in the woods and each team is provided with basic
equipment and guidance.
The children will discover what you need to
survive and are encouraged to use their imagination to make life in
the woods more comfortable!
Activity Time: 1 hour
Forest School
Sessions
We have a dedicated Forest School site which
is available for groups of any age to use. You are able to book the
forest school site for use with your own qualified leaders. Please
contact the rangers for more information.
We offer a ‘Wild Woods’ session for schools
which provides a one off activity session based on the principles
and ethos of Forest Schools, and enables children to experience a
range of Forest School activities like den building, mud painting,
making animal homes and trails.
Activity Time: 2
hours
Beach
Art
The pebbly beach and foreshore at Porthkerry
make a fantastic location for children to investigate patterns,
colours and shapes, the children take a look at what outdoor
artists like Andy Goldswothy have done. They are then given the
opportunity to be inspired by the natural environment to create a
masterpiece of their own.
Activity Time: 1 hour
Self Led Activities
Orienteering
Routes
There are 3 orienteering routes to
choose from depending on how adventurous you are... they
are perfect for learning map reading skills. The children have
to use the map to find red and white posts located
on the country park. This activity is self led for schools to
explore separately without the need for a ranger. The routes can be
completed individually or in groups, and can be non-competitive or
a timed competition.
Footprint Trail
The footprint trail is an easy trail around
the main meadow and foreshore. Children are supplied with a map,
showing post locations, a footprint ID chart and answer sheet. The
children work in small groups using the map to locate the correct
posts, and then identify what animal might have made the footprint.
This activity is self led for schools to explore separately without
the need for a ranger. The footprint trail can be completed
individually or in groups.
Beach Art/ Den
Building -Both these activities can be self led by
schools without the need for a ranger.