To use the local area, i.e. the school site, to support and enhance learning, providing an opportunity for students to learn curriculum requirements through practical experience.
What is the project about?The pupils will investigate the properties of a woodland ecosystem, concentrating on soil, vegetation and climate. They will also investigate differences that exist within one type of ecosystem by investigating the properties at two different sites: one under trees and one on an open field site. They will also look at how the site has been managed as a place to be used and appreciated by humans.
The criteria by which they will assess this will be decided by the pupils themselves after an initial familiarisation visit.
This investigation forms part of our scheme of work on Ecosystems. The focus of this module is the characteristics of ecosystems and methods of managing them. The module begins by looking at the components of an ecosystem and the basics of biogeography. As it begins on a small scale, our first investigation is of a local ecosystem, hence the choice of the lakes environment within the school. As the module progresses, the scale of ecosystem becomes larger and more global, so we choose to carry out an investigation into the characteristics and management of the tropical rainforest environment.
When will the investigation take place?The first part of the Ecosystems module will start at the beginning of the Summer Term and will form the work for that whole half-term (4 weeks). This time slot has been allocated to the study of small-scale ecosystems.
Which staff are involved?Jenny Cox has set up the project and outlined the direction that it will take. Mike Rowe will gradually take over responsibility for the project, seeing it through to the final stages and evaluation.
What needs to be done?Organisation and preparation will be completed by Friday 4th April 2003 so that all subject staff have time to familiarise themselves with the investigation.
See schedule for further detail.
|
Time (week beginning…) |
Task |
Staff responsible |
|
17th February |
Investigation to be finalised Equipment to be purchased. Staff honoraria to be decided. Time off timetable to plan investigation to be arranged. ICT rooms to be booked |
JC, MR JC JC JC, MR, LH
MR |
|
Half-term holiday |
|
|
|
3rd March |
Cross-curricular links with Science to be checked Sites to be decided Fieldwork tasks to be tested |
JC MR, JC MR, JC |
|
10th March |
ICT activity to be decided |
All in dept meeting |
|
17th March |
Fieldwork booklet to be written |
JC, MR |
|
24th March |
Investigation write-up instructions and assessment guidelines to be produced. |
JC, MR |
|
31st March |
Timetable for classes to be organised. Digital cameras to be booked/liaise with ICT staff |
MR
MR |
|
7th April |
Final arrangements presented in departmental meeting. Fieldwork booklets and assessment–writing guidelines in for photocopying. |
MR
MR |
|
Easter holiday |
|
|
|
28th April
|
Ecosystems module begins: Lessons on ecosystem basics. |
All |
|
6th May (Tues)
|
Lessons on characteristics of deciduous woodlands. Fieldwork begins. |
All |
|
12th May
|
Fieldwork. Investigation write-up and ICT. |
All |
|
19th May
|
Investigation write-up and ICT. Initial evaluation of project in departmental meeting. |
All
All |
|
Half-term |
|
|
|
2nd June |
Project to be fully evaluated in departmental meeting. |
All, led by MR |
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