Environmental Studies Policy
Rowanfield
Environmental Studies Policy
Written 3/2005
Environmental Studies Policy
Environmental Studies at Rowanfield provides children with an opportunity to learn about the world around them. The aims of Environmental Studies for children are:
to develop an understanding of their environment, their place within it and the factors that shape it;
to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to interact effectively with the environment;
to recognise the knowledge, understanding and skills associated with social subjects, science and technology;
to develop informed attitudes and values relating to the care and conservation of the environment;
to gain an understanding of issues relating to the use of resources; and
to become aware of the importance of active citizenship in a democratic society.
(Environmental Studies 5-14 Guidelines)
How the aims are met
The Environmental Studies Curriculum at Rowanfield follows a thematic approach. A programme of study has been developed based on the CEC programme. All the components and the attainment outcomes within these components:
Social Subjects ?
People in the Past
People and Place
People in Society ? which includes Citizenship
Science ?
Earth and space
Energy and forces
Living things and the processes of life
Technology
Technological capability
are taught in this programme of study.
Every attainment outcome involves setting targets for:
Knowledge and understanding
Skills
Developing informed attitudes
Appendix A shows a summary for Environmental Studies that is followed at Rowanfield.
Enterprise Education also features within Environmental Studies. Enterprise Education is an entitlement for all children. Enterprise Education benefits children by:
making learning experiences real;
giving responsibility for making decisions; and
offering experiences to enhance future employability.
Enterprise Education activities fall within 4 categories: Selling, Event, Display of Knowledge and Campaign.
Staff have incorporated enterprise activities into a variety of Environmental Studies topics.
Environmental Studies involves cross-curricular links. English Language, Mathematics, Personal Development and Social Development individual learning outcomes and success criteria are taught within an Environmental Studies topic. Learning and teaching styles and effective assessment are also taken into account.
The learning needs of each child are taken into account and any barriers that may occur are addressed in order to ensure that learning takes place.
Forward Plans (which include a cross curricular link to English Language and Mathematics targets) are written 3 times a year (August, January and April). Learning outcomes, success criteria and next steps will be discussed with children and shared with parents.
Achievement of learning outcomes will be celebrated in school and communicated with parents. Rowanfield will have high expectations for all children and will use praise and extrinsic rewards to motivate and encourage children.
Staff Roles and Responsibilities
Teachers:
use the programme of study to forward plan for Environmental Studies which will include cross-curricular links to English Language, Mathematics, Personal Development and Social Development;
ensure that learning outcomes, success criteria and next steps are shared with children and parents;
ensure that the learning needs and styles of all children are taken into account;
ensure that children?s learning is progressive and continuous;
have high expectations for all children;
use effective assessment to formulate next steps with children;
ensure that children?s success is celebrated both in school and with parents; and
manage resources.
The Principal Teacher of Effective Learning and Teaching:
monitors and evaluates forward plans and cross-curricular learning outcomes and success criteria;
identifies need for staff development; and
is available for consultation.
The School:
provides feed forward to staff in regards to forward planning;
provides staff development opportunities; and
monitors and evaluates learning and teaching.
Appendix 1
Component
Attainment outcomes
Knowledge and understanding strand
Skills strand
Developing informed attitudes strand
Technology
Technology capability
Needs and how they are met
Resources and how they are managed
Processes and how they are applied
Preparing for tasks
Carrying out tasks
Reviewing and reporting on tasks
A commitment to learning
Respect and care for self and others
Social and environmental responsibilities
Social Subjects
People in the past
People, events and societies
Change and continuity, cause and effect
Time and historical sequence
The nature of historical evidence
People and place
Using maps
Physical environment
Human environment
Human-physical interactions
People in society
People and needs in society
Rules, rights and responsibilities in society
Conflict and decision making in society
Science
Earth and space
Earth in space
Materials from earth
Changing materials
Energy and forces
Properties and uses of energy
Conversion and transfer of energy
Forces and their effects
Living things and the processes of life
Variety and characteristic features
The processes of life
Interaction of living things with their environment
Overview of Environmental Studies Skills Strand
Social Subjects
Science
Technology
Preparing for tasks
Planning tasks
Identifying appropriate sources of information
Understanding tasks
Planning an activity
Designing fair tests
Predicting
Analyzing
Researching
Planning
Carrying out tasks
Selecting relevant information
Processing information
Judging uselessness and reliability
Observing
Measuring
Using measuring devices and units
Recording findings
Developing ideas
Creating solutions
Reviewing and reporting on tasks
Presenting findings
Presenting conclusions
Describing tasks
Presenting findings
Evaluating
Identifying patterns
Understanding the significance of findings
Testing
Evaluating Back to top