ks3 national curriculum fieldwork and outdoor learning · national curriculum ... please remember...

FSC Rhyd-y-creuau

The Drapers’ Field Centre Betws-y-coed Conwy Valley North Wales

LL24 0HB

01690 710494

[email protected]

KS2 Options

Please visit http://www.field-studies-council.org/rhydycreuau/

for alternative KS2, KS3, GCSE and A-level options, including Adventurous Activities and student and teacher resources

KS3: Learning

Outside the Classroom

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.field-studies-council.org/rhydycreuau/

FSC Outdoor Classroom KS3 Options: Science, Adventure and Geography

FSC Rhyd-y-creuau, The Drapers’ Field Centre, Betws-y-coed, Conwy Valley, Snowdonia, North Wales, LL24 0HB

Tel: 01690 710494 Fax: 01690 710458 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.field-studies-council.org/rhydycreuau

Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW

At Rhyd-y-creuau we aim to provide courses which meet your specific requirements and the individual needs of your students. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss how we can tailor a course for you. Our most popular KS3 sessions are outlined here. All have comprehensive risk assessments (available on our website) and are linked to the National Curriculum; ensuring students’ learning in the outdoor classroom is safe, exciting and fun.

Geography Modules Notes Possible Half Day

Mountains and Ice

A chance for students to visit the mountains Snowdonia is famous for. We prepare and plan a trip into Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve in the Centre of the National Park.

We will investigate this upland ecosystem, see how ice has shaped the mountains and visit the local farmer who will answer any questions about life as an organic upland sheep farmer. (There is a £20 cost for the farm talk.)

Links to: Geography, Science and Numeracy Field site(s): Cwm Idwal (transport needed)

Yes either meeting

the farmer or a trip to

the mountain

Investigating Coasts

We will visit the small coastal resort of Criccieth to understand how the sea shapes the land and how people defend the coastline. The group will see a number of coastal defences and consider how sustainable they are, as well as walking over a headland with cliffs, caves and stumps. We will also measure pebbles on the beach to see if there is any evidence of longshore drift.

Links to: Geography and Numeracy

Field site(s): Criccieth, on the West coast (transport needed)

Tourism Students complete questionnaires, land use surveys, traffic counts and carry out bi-polar surveys assessing the quality of the environment to help them to understand the main physical and human characteristics of the place. They will also complete a field sketch and consider how the place has developed over time. Students will consider how people are impacting on the environment and how tourism could be managed better.

National Curriculum Links to: Geography and Numeracy

Field site(s): Betws-y-Coed (no transport needed)

Yes

Investigating Rivers

Students will get in the upper River Conwy, to measure its width, speed and depth. Visiting different sites of the river, the group will see how a river grows as it moves towards the sea. We can combine this with a visit to Llanrwst to see the flood defences which have been built to protect our nearest town.

As well as developing map skills, students will also see a V-shaped valley and meander. We will draw field sketches at these and explain how these landforms were created by the River Conwy. When we return from the field we will calculate how much water was flowing past our measurement sites, and decide whether the discharge of the river increases with distance downstream.

Links to: Geography and Numeracy

Field site(s): River Conwy and the option of visiting Conwy waterfall (£1 per person entry fee) (transport needed)

Yes if you would

just like to visit a meander

site





Science Modules Notes Possible Half Day

Freshwater Habitats

Students will explore the freshwater streams and ponds around the Centre, catching and identifying the living here using simple keys. How different organisms are adapted to the environment in which they live. Games and discussion are used to help students understand the interdependence between different organisms, and how energy flows through an ecosystem.

National Curriculum Links: Science and Numeracy

Field site(s): Coed Hafod Woodland next to Centre (no transport needed)

Yes

Woodland Comparisons

Students complete an investigation in the two areas of woodland (Oak and a coniferous plantation), comparing and contrasting these two eco-systems, to help them understand the impact people have on our environment and the interdependence between species. This can be combined with a practical conservation system such as bird box building.

National Curriculum Links: Science Geography and Numeracy

Field site(s): Coed Hafod Woodland next to centre (no transport needed)

Yes

Rockyshore An investigation into the animals and seaweed which live on an exposed rockyshore headland. Students will see firsthand adaptation’s creatures have to survive ‘drying out’ during low tides and the power of waves.

Links to: Science Field site(s): Penmon Point, Anglesey (transport needed)

Content of other Evening/ Part Day Sessions Notes

Night Walk

Students explore the wooded hillside next to the centre under the cover of darkness (depending on the time of year), experiencing the nocturnal woodland as it wakes.

Location: Coed Hafod, woodland next to the Centre

Orienteering

A good way to use up energy and help a group sleep well on their first night! Students complete an orienteering course set up around the Centre grounds using a map and developing map skills.

Location: On Centre grounds

Team Building

A number of team building challenges set up around the Centre. Students rotate around the tasks, such as a spiders web, ski challenge and swamp crossing developing their ability to work effectively in a group.

Location: On Centre grounds

Small Mammals

Students prepare traps to catch small mammals living in the woodland. Then next morning see what has been humanely caught, then release the mice and voles.

Location: Woodland on the Centre grounds

Campfire

A great way to review and end a course, with everyone huddled around a fire singing songs and remembering their favourite achievements from the trip.

Location: Bonfire area at the Centre





Adventurous Activities

The Centre is AALA licensed and runs activities to develop team building and personal skills as well as give students a different view of Snowdonia and its unique environments.

Climbing & Abseiling sessions at the local crag above the Centre (half day challenge).

Gorge Scrambling where students experience the power of water by journeying up a series of rapids and waterfalls on a local mountain stream (half day challenge).

Mountain Walk where we can climb a local Welsh mountain (such as Snowdon or Siabod, (transport needed), weather permitting). This is a full day challenge, or we can climb the hill behind the Centre to get views across the National Park in half a day. (This second option requires no transport). This day can also be linked to a series of literacy activities.

Low Ropes Course adjacent to the Centre, a range of challenging obstacles are designed to develop communication and teamwork skills. Visits to the high ropes course adjacent to the Centre can also be organised.

John Muir Award We can also integrate the John Muir Award into 5 day courses, where students complete the four parts of the award (discovery, exploration, sharing and conservation) in the environments of Snowdonia.





What is included within the fee? Up to 10 hours of tuition a day.

Expert tuition by fully trained staff.

Full board accommodation including a cooked breakfast, picnic lunch, homemade cakes and an evening meal. Vegetarian and other dietary options are available.

Use of resources including library, workrooms, studios and the Centre grounds.

Rigorous and proven health and safety procedures including 24 hour emergency cover.

Access to risk assessments.

Specialist equipment and exclusive access to specially developed resources.

E-mail support before and after the course (on request). .

Please remember travel to the field centre and to fieldwork sites is not included in the programme fee.

Our Tutors All our staff complete a rigorous training process; including first aid, health and safety sessions, group management in

the outdoor classroom, site specific training relating subject knowledge to our outdoor environments and curriculum

content.

About the Centre At the gateway of Snowdonia National Park, the Centre itself is a Georgian house set in two hectares of wooded grounds

with Eco Centre status, allowing you to experience a sustainable lifestyle, only 1 hour 50 minutes from Manchester and

3 hours 40 minutes from the M25.

What to Bring (Old) Warm clothes - we may get muddy and wet.

Waterproof top, waterproof trousers, a comfortable day sack, gloves, cosy hat. (can be hired from the Centre.)

Note paper, calculator and stationary

Directions to the Centre

We are located on the A470, between Betws-

y-coed and Llanrwst. If you are coming from

the North Wales coast, go through the town

of Llanrwst and continue along the A470

towards Betws-y-coed for 3 miles. The Centre

is on the right at a bend with woods on both

sides.

Alternatively, from the A5 to the south take a right along the A470 just before you go into Betws-y-coed follow this road

for a mile and we are on the left.

To book a course, simply: 1. Choose the time of the year you would like to attend 2. Contact us at Rhyd-y-creuau by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone (01690) 710494 to

check availability and prices.

mailto:[email protected]





Why Come to FSC Rhyd-y-creuau?

Some of the most common reasons which our customers give for coming to our popular Field Centre are:

The centre’s stunning situation nestled in the Conwy Valley, at the entrance to Snowdonia National Park.

We are easily accessible from Manchester, Liverpool and London, with the good coach access to the Centre and Betws-y-coed train station 3 minutes drive away.

Expert tuition from our tutors who have a passion for the environment and are knowledgeable ecologists and geographers.

A friendly welcoming place to visit, with hearty meals and clean and comfortable rooms.

A unique blend of local habitats and environments to visit. Both coasts with craggy cliffs and expansive sand dunes and mountains shaped by ice and with unique ecological communities.

3.

External Recognition of Quality

Rhyd-y-creuau has been awarded the Quality Badge by The Council for Learning

Outside the Classroom. The badge is awarded to organisations that have demonstrated that they consistently

deliver high quality teaching and learning experiences and manage risk effectively.

This means that you will have to complete less paperwork when visiting our centre.

Quality Tuition

The tutor delivering the content plays a vital role in ensuring successful learning outcomes are achieved.

This is why we have taken great care in developing a qualified team of highly trained and CRB checked field teachers working full time, all year round.

Not only are they experts, they are gifted teachers with a real passion for the subject being taught. FSC field teachers are the reason why many schools return year after year.

Protecting Fieldwork Opportunities

Growing pressures on outdoor learning has led the FSC to take on an important role; championing the rights and opportunities for people of all ages to experience the environment at first hand.

The FSC has led in campaigns to reverse the continuing decline in fieldwork within secondary schools and to build opportunities for out-of-classroom learning. The FSC continues to work closely with the Government and other partners to develop out-of-classroom learning.

As a registered charity, the FSC receives no statutory funding. It relies solely on fees charged for courses and membership. Therefore, by visiting an FSC Centre not only are you receiving a high quality educational experience for your students, you are also helping to protect fieldwork opportunities for everybody.

ks3 national curriculum fieldwork and outdoor learning · national curriculum ... please remember...

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