Monday 26 February 2018

Oak House's Forest School project for Reception (P4) pupils..

Over the next few weeks, Reception will be returning to the local woodlands as part of our Forest School programme. The forest is an extension of our school environment and we consider it to be a wonderful outdoor classroom. We use this context to learn about nature and our local environment, identifying different species of trees, learning about mini beasts and observing seasonal change. Each visit we make helps the children to find their place in the world and learn more about the features of their classroom in the forest. We use storytelling and imaginative play to help our students become excited about learning in the outdoors and improve their own storytelling skills, both oral and written. Throughout the term, the children will be meeting the ´little people´; imagined friendly folk living in the forest. They will discover that the troll has accidentally knocked down their homes and being the kind, well-mannered and responsible citizens that they are at Oak House, the children will offer their assistance and expertise in building new homes for their Forest friends. All this creative thinking enables the children to learn about animal habitats, scavenge for natural materials, problem solve and learn collaboratively to build a free standing structure.
What's more, the Japanese practice of forest bathing is scientifically proven to be good for you. With this week being our focus week on Mental Health it seems more important than ever to underline how our Forest School trips also increase our pupils' well-being. In fact, being in nature can relieve stress levels and has even been recommended as part of the treatment of attention disorders in children.
So, Reception are off to the forest to pick up a rock, put a problem in it and leave it behind them. Peace at last.

Thursday 22 February 2018

Environmental news this week....

First evidence of surprising ocean warming around Galápagos corals.


The Ocean around the Galápagos Islands has been warming since the 1970s. A new analysis of the natural temperature shows that the temperature has been rising.  "People didn't know that the Galápagos or eastern Pacific was warming. People theorized or suggested it was cooling,"said lead author Gloria Jimenez. 

Scientists thought  that a strong water stream of cold waters spared the region from the warming seen in the other parts of the Pacific.


Eating our own produce from the Batx roof!



Harvesting radishes from the Batx roof!

In Environmental Enrichment Project yesterday we harvested the radishes which were planted by some IB2 students as part of their CAS project, and took them to the kitchen where they will be made into a salad for the teachers! 

Thanks to Valeria, Marina, Gabriela and Lola from 2º ESO for taking them to kitchen. 

We are giving everyone in Secondary the chance to join our Eco Projects at a meeting on Wednesday 28th February - Everyone is welcome to come along!



Thursday 8 February 2018

Exhibition related to Climate Change at the CCCB in Barcelona....




During Challenge week the students visited this exhibition at the CCCB related to Climate Change. The exhibition continues until the 29th April so you have time if you want to go!
 Thanks to Abril and Gabriela for sharing their reflections on the exhibition:

Que nos ha gustado mas?

Abril
A mi me ha gustado muchas cosas, pero lo que más me ha interesado ha sido una actividad que ha consistido en ver un documental que trataba sobre cómo el cambio climático afectaría a los humanos o animales y que animales sobrevivirán y que no, en el cambio climático.
Gabriela

A mi me ha gustado toda la exposición, pero si tuviese que eligir algo que me ha impactado más seria la habitación del futuroEsta habitación consiste en cómo tendría que vivir un humano en el futuro y el escenario es, bueno... un poco inquietante. Tendríamos que vivir rodeados de plantas ya que será la única alimentación que tendremos (además de que tendríamos que cultivarlas nosotros mismos)
LO QUE HAREMOS PARA CAMBIAR A MEJOR...
Abril

1) Intentaré aprovechar toda la luz posible durante el día para no gastar electricidad. Esto ayudará al calentamiento global.
2) Intentaré acordarme de apagar todos los electrodomésticos cuando no los este utilizando.
Gabriela
1) Intentaré ir por las mañanas al cole en transporte público y esto la haré despertándome más  pronto. Esto ayudará a la contaminación del aire .
2) Comeré todo lo que me pongan en el plato ya que esto ayudará al malgasto de alimentos 

Measuring the Air Quality around our school



Wednesday 7 February 2018

Environmental News this week....

So killer whales can talk. Welcome to a brave new world of cross-species chat!!


Researchers have managed to teach killer wales to say simple things!!