Grounds Day

In addition to the environmental science and horticulture strands of learning running through our curriculum where children can regularly be found outside, four times a year they also spend the day outside connecting with nature and with seasonality.  The jobs and learning for each Grounds Day are slightly different as many have linked learning with the wider curriculum, such as writing, art or science.  However, there are also always jobs for every child to get involved with and to learn about stewardship of the wider school grounds.  By encouraging stewardship, the children respect the various areas of the school and also engage with the seasonal jobs of any garden. 

Nature Journal

Nature Journal Y6

Y6

Nature Journals are kept by all children at Wicor.  The younger children in YR and KS1 kept class journals whereas the children in KS2 kept individual journals.  These books provided places for everyone to keep their notes about their school grounds throughout the seasons, noting and documenting the changes.  As you can see from the Nature Journal in the video, these books also allowed the children to present information in their own individual and creative way without losing the rigour of the science behind it.  Inspiration was taken from John Muir Laws on how to keep a Nature Journal, which taught the children about the need for close observation and scientific rigour, alongside awe and wonder.   

Y6 Nature Journal

Y6

Nature Journal Y5

Y5

Y5 Nature Journal

Y5

Summer Grounds Day 2024

These stunning minibooks have been made using our plentiful grounds as inspiration.  The detailed work was completed over the course of 4 seasonal grounds days across the year.  The children worked outside learning about flora and fauna in each season and documented the information, including the Latin, in their own individual way using close observational drawing, research and attention to detail. 

Tree mini book

Summer Grounds Day 2023

Spring Grounds Day 2023

YR

Y1

Y2

Y3

Y4

Y5

Y6