NATURAL HISTORY STUDY

FOR HOME EDUCATORS

talk: Wildlife and the Forest School for Life have come together to offer a range of curricula-led and general natural history activities to support home school educators. Designed and delivered by talk: Wildlife, the activities combine talks, walks in the school’s natural surroundings and hands-on activities. Whilst the emphasis in on learning, the activities (listed below) are fun, informal and delivered in a relaxing environment.

LEARNING IN NATURE TOGETHER

As you are home educators, we understand it is important that you share the learning experience with your children. Therefore the activity price covers one parent and one child. This enables further learning, at home, after you have attended the activity.

The home educators activities cater for ages 5 to 12. When necessary for activities, equipment such as binoculars, magnifying glasses, pond dipping kits and sweep nets are provided.

Activities

I run the following activities from the ‘Nest’ at the Forest School in Wymondham and a farm in East Harling where I have access to the woodland with its refurbished pingo ponds. They include walks, talks and a combination of the two. The sessions last three-hours and include indoor and outdoor learning. Each session costs £50.00 or £25.00 for team: Wildlife members – see below for details.

Evolution over time

Explore the key events in evolution since the formation of the Earth, the huge timescales involved and the short length of time humans have been evolving.

From chord to column

There are only five classes of vertebrates – fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds. Through this craft, we’ll go from notochord to spinal column over 505,000,000 years.

Dinosaurs in your garden

From Tyrannosaurus rex to Troglodytes troglodytes (Wren) via Archaeopteryx siemensii, we’ll follow the dinosaur’s path to your bird table.

Change for the better

The world changes constantly, a good example being climate change. We’ll look at how organisms change physically and behaviourally to adapt to the new world they live in.

The cycle of life

All life goes through stages, from birth to death. Some life cycles are more complicated than others, such as metamorphosis which can result in a complete change in body structure, we’ll explore them all.

Who eats who?

Webs and chains are used to describe how food and energy move from one organism to another. We’ll do some exploring to see how this works and what happens if the ‘chain’ breaks.

Owl's lunchbox

Learn about the UK’s owl species before we dissect some Barn Owl pellets to discover what they feed on.

Flower power

Let’s find out about the structure and lives of the plants in the school grounds or farm, from the soothers to the stingers, the healers to the killers!

Blooms, bees and butterflies

Discover the many species of butterflies and bees found in the school grounds or the farm and investigate their intimate relationship with flowers. We’ll also look for unsung pollinators.

Home sweet home

A closer look at habitats, natural environments where animals, plants and other organisms live. From the very large (biomes), to the small (micro-habitats) we’ll explore them all.

Spineless Heroes

They may have no backbone but they come in all shapes and sizes and are crucial to our survival. On this walk we’ll look at invertebrates – large and small

A rose by any other name

Scientists group life based on shared characteristics, such as Vertebrates, which have a backbone) and Invertebrates which don’t. Let’s find out why and how life on Earth is classified.

Birds - the 'B' factor

There are over 11,000 different types of birds in the world. Let’s discover the ‘B’ factor – the one thing that makes birds different. Then we’ll go birdwatching to spot a few.

Eggs - inside and out

We’ll learn about the structure of eggs, their patterns, shapes, size and colour, using hen’s eggs and museum replicas.

Long distance travellers

Many migrants wing their way to the UK each year. This talk reveals their journeys before we take a walk to spot a few of these athletic visitors.

The hare and the porpoise

The UK is home to 126 mammal species, both on land and in our seas. Discover some of them on this illustrated talk and learn where to see some of Norfolk’s residents.

In a rut

A visual overview, using antlers and skulls, of the deer that can be found in the UK, covering the prehistoric, introduced and native species.

Dragon Attack

An introductory talk and walk to discover the dragonflies that can be found around the school grounds or farm. Let’s meet the most successful predators in the world.

Moths to a flame

Meet the moths we catch in the moth-trap and find out about their lives and relationship to butterflies. Do they really eat your clothes? No moths are harmed during this activity.

Rock and roll

Rocks form the backbone and foundation of the Earth, so let’s find out how they are made and where they come from. We’ll also take a closer look at minerals and the part they play in the rock cycle.

Life in cold blood

Amphibians and reptiles are both cold blooded but live very different lives. We’ll uncover these differences by discussing UK species.

Life under the ripples

Revealing the many different creatures that can be found in the school and farm’s ponds, from the fish to the microscopic mini-beasts.

Trampled underfoot

We take it for granted, but soil is key to our survival, so let’s get to know it and unearth the life it supports.

From sand and tide

The school may be miles from the seaside but this talk, using shells and rocks, will give you an introduction to life on Norfolk’s coastal habitats.

SAVE MONEY + EXTRA BENEFITS

team: Wildlife is a natural history club for families who love wildlife and learning outdoors, surrounded by the sights and sounds nature has to offer.

As members you can join in with the many natural history activities we run at the forest school at a highly discounted price. Members will also be entitled to discounts on other talk: Wildlife products and from other wildlife related product suppliers. Plus you get to attend the FREE members only away days.

Why join team: Wildlife?

Joining team: Wildlife costs £15.00 for adults and £10.00 per child annually. Member families then pay just £25.00 for each 3-hour session – saving 50% on the non-member price. Sessions are purchased in advance in blocks of five.
You will receive a member pack and your NATURAL HISTORY STUDY CHART.
Each of our activities has its own sticker, exclusively for members, which you can use to keep track of your learning. You can stick these on your chart to keep a record of the time you spend in the natural world.
In addition to the activities listed above, we will be running a number of other great free, members only, wildlife events at both the forest school and at other local sites.
We’ll organise members only field trips to other sites in the area so you can discover more about Norfolk’s wildlife and habitats. [Some venues may charge an entrance fee]
You’ll also gain access to the team: Wildlife WhatsApp group, our small Natural History library (books and DVDs) and receive a regular wildlife activity e-newsletter.

FEEDBACK

“Yesterday we had such an awesome time learning about Evolution with Allan at talk: Wildlife! The visual adventure he took us on as a family learning from 4.5 billion years ago until now was so incredible! Learning as a family in such beautiful woodland together with Allan who is so knowledgeable, we learned so much more than we ever imagined just walking through the woods together. He is a nature encyclopaedia with incredible sense of humour who makes learning accessible for everyone.”

Clare and family – Wymondham

“It’s was brilliant! So organised! Allan is fantastic! It’s by far the best home education club we’ve ever been to.”

Kirsty and family – Thetford