Early years staff at High School Yards Nursery School, inspired by their children's interest in some stripy caterpillars they found, began an environmental project which now provides the basis for activities and ideas in 'The Wee Green School Pack'.
Originally launched in 1993, the free pack has been republished with sponsorship from the Royal Mail and Scottish National Heritage. It is distributed via Scotland's school grounds charity, Grounds for Learning.
The guide aims to show how a wildlife garden can be created with a little imagination in even the smallest outdoor space and with few resources. It includes details of High School Yard's experiences and activities to help other children learn about wildlife and growing and planting in the nursery garden.
The guide provides many simple and practical examples to teach children about the natural world, including how to grow 'a one square metre cornfield' in a small tub. The children can follow the process through, from sowing the seeds to harvesting the crop, and can even make their own wholemeal bread from the recipe provided with the pack.
Also included are ideas for nursery and school trips to help children learn more about their outdoor environment.
Ness Kirkbride, advisor for Scottish National Heritage, said, 'Scottish National Heritage wants to ensure that children have the best opportunities to discover the wonder of the outdoors, to encourage their innate curiosity about the natural world, from watching the smallest bugs in a damp corner of their school yard to the enjoyment of helping in the garden and seeing their garden grow. Such early experiences encourage children to value their outdoor surroundings, growing with them as their horizons develop from their childhood neighbourhood to the wilder world of Scotland's natural heritage.'
The pack was written by Gill McKinnon, head teacher at High School Yards Nursery School, and environmental adviser Sudheer Carroll, with the help of children, staff and parents.
Copies are available free to early years settings and primary schools in Scotland from Grounds for Learning. To order phone 01786 445 922 or e-mail gflscotland@stir.ac.The guide is also available as a free CD-Rom and can be downloaded from the Scottish National Heritage website at www.snh.org.uk.
