CHANGEMAKERS
Here at Patcham Infant School, we believe passionately in looking after our planet and being nature protectors.
We were delighted to join the Brighton and Hove Climate Change, Sustainability and Environmental Education Programme - Our City Our World project in 2023 and have been able to make some significant changes to our curriculum, teaching and grounds.
The vision of Our City Our World is ‘To use the power of education to advance environmental literacy and social engagement to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. We will work with young people, educators, community organisations, the council and relevant partners to promote a just and sustainable city where environmental and social responsibility drive individual, institutional, and community choices.’ And this vison really resonates with preparing our children for the future.
Why not take a look at the OCOW website for further information about the programme
https://www.ourcityourworld.co.uk/our-city-our-world/
We've selected inspirational books to excite, spark interest in the natural world and encourage us all to make small changes and inspire others to do the same.
During our Wellbeing week in July 2024, children spent the day working with Al Start to write our very own song about being a Changemaker - I'm sure you'll agree they really did a fantastic job and it's a delight to hear children singing this all over the school!
During that same week, children had their curriculum enriched further with Dance sessions, linked to their current changemaker focus, opportunities to take all their learning outside and had a visit from one of of favourite author and graphic designer, Owen Davey. Everyone who visited during that week were local and we were proud to support the amazing local talent and ensure they didn't have too far to travel! Owen even decided to come on the train to really show his green credentials.
Themes so far...
Our first whole school theme looked at Consumption and Waste, we encouraged the children to think about the 10 Rs, thought about each one in turn during our assemblies and in class.
We decided to set up a pre-loved uniform shop to make sure our clothes could have another life, we ran a coat swap and a winter jumper swap before Christmas. The children thought carefully about what they could do with their toys that they no longer played with, again we set up a swap, and what was left was donated to a local charity.
For those clothes that are beyond repair, a clothes bank was installed just outside the school gates. Money that is raised from this goes straight back into our school to help fund all sorts of activities linked to Changemakers. It's also great to share just how many clothes are taken to be repurposed and the children love hearing the weight of each collection!
We then moved on to thinking about Transport - the children had so many ideas about how we could reduce the use of petrol cars. We carried out a community pledge to walk to school each day and made posters to put up all over the school.
Year 1 children had a fantastic time learning to ride bikes with Bike-it Lucy and Y2 children designed some fantastic sustainable modes of transport for the future.
Our Final theme last year was Biodiversity, a real drive in our school as we are blessed with fantastic grounds and of course our own on-site Forest School. With support from Sussex Wildlife Trust we installed our very own B-Bank. Bee and butterfly banks (B Banks) are miniature reconstructions of chalk grassland habitats found on the South Downs. They are full of wildflower species important to pollinators and we are the only school in Brighton and Hove to have one!
We decided to rewild parts of the grounds, again to encourage the all important pollinators. Children take real pride in these areas and very much enjoy seeing which creatures we have managed to attract.
Our community pledge during this theme, involved "no mow May" asking everyone to leave their gardens to grow a little longer and support the wildlife our gardens support.
Real life Changemakers.
As part of children's learning, we have made sure that they have the opportunity to find out about local people who are already making a real difference to our community and planet. This has included a visit from a Marine Biologist, Visits from Sussex Wildlife Trust and our very own Mrs Vincent! In assemblies, children have also been introduced to stories of changemakers all over the world, and many of them children themselves, fantastic inspiration!
Messages of hope. It's so important to use all that we inspire our children to be nature protectors but we must also consider how overwhelming looking after our planet can feel. We always make sure we share and celebrate messages of hope and give time and space for children to reflect and respond to their feelings. Here's a fantastic message of hope and well worth a watch.
Find out more about why living in Brighton and Hove is just so special and unique. https://thelivingcoast.org.uk/
