Learner Journey

Studying Scotland through ScienceOur Local Environment: Early Level

Studying Scotland through Science: Our Local EnvironmentLearner Journey: Overview of Learning

Possible prior experiences•Learners will have experience of their local environment from walking through it.•Learners will know the key features of their environment e.g. if there is a river, forest, cycle route etc.

Learning through lead curriculum area: Science•Bio-diversity (Some wildlife only grows in Scotland and some things can’t grow in Scotland.)•How to look after plants.•How to keep themselves safe.•The 5 senses and how to use them in their environment.•How to organise information that is collected.

Interdisciplinary Opportunities•Science•Social Studies•Mathematics•Health and Wellbeing•Literacy across learning

Skills •Managing themselves and others•Investigating•Analysing

Learner Opportunity A: Our Local Environment

Possible Learning OpportunitiesLearners identify the risks involved in an Eco walk and consider ways to manage that risk.Learners collect interesting objects while out on the walk.

Learning•Risk and how to manage it•Diverse range of trees and plants in the local area

Skills•Managing themselves and others•Investigating•Analysing

Trigger for LearningThe Eco Committee come to talk to the learners about working towards their green flag.The learners decide they want to help.

Possible Evidence of LearningQuotes from the children about risk, photos with annotations, objects collected.

Learning Opportunity B: Our Local Environment

Possible Learning OpportunitiesLearners could have a variety of experiences outdoors to explore their senses. e.g. observing interesting objects or animals like butterflies, birds singing, the smell of plants, tree rubbing (is it smooth, lumpy, rough?) etc.

Learning•The senses (identifying what they are and how we use them.)

Skills•Investigating•Analysing

Trigger for LearningOne learner says “I can still hear the cars on the road.”This leads to discussion about the 5 senses and using them outside.

Possible Evidence of Learning

Draw a picture of what they could see/hear etc, recordings of sounds in the local environment, annotated photos

Learning Opportunity C: Our Local Environment

Possible Learning OpportunityLearners complete a traffic survey.Learners use what they find to create a pictograph.

Learning•How to conduct a survey.•How to communicate findings.•How to understand those findings.

Skills•Investigating•Analysing

Trigger for LearningOne learner says that she doesn’t walk to school and that her mum gives her a lift.This leads to discussion about different ways to travel.

Possible Evidence of LearningSurvey, survey results, annotated pictures, learner quotes.