Perth & Kinross CI
RHET Perth and Kinross Countryside Initiative can help you add a further dimension to your learning and teaching by providing learning experiences which can be linked with Determined to Succeed, Enterprise in Education and Eco-schools for example.
Services are FREE to Schools and we can often help with travel costs.
We can provide:
- Curriculum-linked resources on farming, agriculture and food production.
- Farm Visits - bespoke visits to enhance and reinforce project learning (fully risk-assessed in line with HSE & SEED guidelines for excursions
- Classroom Speakers - trained speakers from the farming community who will visit the classroom to deliver a talk to your students.
Our aim is to provide unbiased information on food production, agriculture and the countryside.
All of our services are FREE to schools and we are often able to provide funding towards cost of bus travel.
We offer a number of ways to add value to your teaching on farming, food and the countryside in your local area...
FARM VISITS
For Primary and Secondary schools.
A farm visit can support many areas of the curriculum such as environmental studies, IT and business studies, technology, science, mathematics and enterprise. It supports the principles of A Curriculum for Excellence and complements many initiatives such as Eco Schools, Determined to Succeed and Health Promoting Schools.
We carry out regular risk-assessments of all participating farms to the standard recommended in the Health and Safety Executive’s Guidelines on Educational Excursions. Around two weeks prior to the actual visit, the class teacher will visit the farm with our Project Co-ordinator to meet the farmer, walk the route and check over the risk assessment.
In 2009/2010 RHET Perth & Kinross CI facilitated 13 farm visits.
To book please click here to visit the Farm Visit page, or contact the RHET Forth Valley CI Project Co-ordinator (see bottom of page).
CLASSROOM SPEAKERS
For Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools. Also see Nursery Resource Box.
We have a number of trained classroom speakers who can visit your school and bring farming and the countryside to life. Once a booking has been confirmed, the speaker will contact the teacher to tailor the talk to meet individual needs.
In 2009/2010 RHET Perth & Kinross CI facilitated 23 classroom speaker talks.
To book please click here to visit the Classroom Speaker page, or contact the RHET Forth Valley CI Project Co-ordinator (see bottom of page).
RESOURCES
RHET Perth & Kinross has a range of curriculum-linked resources available FREE to schools.
Please see the resources page of our website for a list.
Nursery Resource Box:
For Nursery schools and classes.
The Nursery Resource Box is usually provided in conjunction with a classroom speaker.
This is a treasure chest for children! Filled with dressing-up clothes, CDs, DVDs, toys, puppets, books and farm products, it gives children an early experience of what is seen and heard on the farm and farming life in general.
The classroom speaker will bring the box to the school or nursery (usually on a Monday) and talk to the children about food and farming for about 15 minutes. The box will then be left with the establishment for two weeks and collected on the second Friday by the Project Co-ordinator.
To book, please contact the RHET Perth & Kinross CI Project Co-ordinator (see bottom of page).
PROJECTS & COMPETITIONS
As well as our farm visits, speakers and resources, RHET also run a number of competitions and curriculum-based projects throughout the year...
As part of the wider Farmhouse Breakfast Week promotion, the HGCA and Tesco sponsor a recipe competition for Primary 6 and 7. Pupils are asked to devise a healthy breakfast recipe using local produce, where possible. The pupil who devises the winning recipe wins a healthy breakfast for his or her class and an all-expenses paid trip to a local farm.
The winning entry from the Perth & Kinross area goes forward to the national final.
Details of the competition are circulated to schools in October with a closing date for entries in mid November.
The Clydesdale Bank sponsors the Count & Grow project, which is aimed at primary children working towards the first level of numeracy in A Curriculum of Excellence. This maths and numeracy project is based around planting and growing potatoes and involves counting, weighing and measuring.
Classes taking part can choose to enter the associated competitions, but entry is not compulsory. There are two prizes - one for the school with the "heaviest crop", and the second for the winning project submission based on the provided worksheets.
RHET Perth & Kinross CI will provide all the materials for the project, including a supporting farmer and a briefing session for teachers.
Schools are asked to express interest in the project in December, followed by a briefing in February and the potato planting.
NEWS & EVENTS
Click here for a copy of the latest RHET Perth & Kinross CI Schools Newsletter (Spring 2010)
JULY 2010:
Perth & Kinross CI Supporters - WE NEED YOU!
RHET Perth & Kinross CI are always looking for supporters and volunteers from the farming and local community.
If you would like to host a farm visit, become a classroom speaker, provide advice at committee meetings or show your support through a donation please contact the Project Co-ordinator below.
CONTACT RHET PERTH & KINROSS CI
If you would like any more information on RHET's projects and resources, or would like to get involved with RHET Perth & Kinross CI, please contact the local Project Co-ordinator:
Anna Dickinson
T: 07801 710048
