Key Concepts: Difference, Respect

In Spring 2025, our children in KS1 explored more about how places all around our world can be different to each other. They compared our New Forest National Park to the Amboseli National Park in Kenya, Africa, and began by taking a 'flight' to Kenya during an immersive experience with a real-life pilot and air stewardess from Virgin Atlantic! They learnt all about the different climates of each of the national parks and why this is the case in relation to the equator. They also explored the differences between the animals and wildlife you would find in each national park, and learnt more about what plants need to grow. 

To help us with our learning, we visited Marwell Zoo to take a look at some of the animals up-close and learn more!

Key Concepts: Respect, Sustainability

During Spring 2024, our children found out more about their local area in the New Forest National Park, and explored how we can best care for it. During a visit to each of the schools, they carried out fieldwork to gather data about the local area in each - they found out that you can see more cars at Breamore, but more horses and donkeys at Hale and Hyde! They used this to compare the sites together. 

Through our Forest School and science sessions, we learnt more about the life cycles of living things in our school grounds, and what they need from their habitats to be able to survive. 

We challenged ourselves to complete a school grounds project and improve one area of our schools to make it more friendly for the wildlife that lives there, and other users of the space. 

Key Concepts: Diversity, Community

During Spring 2025, our Year 3&4 children learnt more about the diversity of planet earth in their exploration of different biomes and settlements. We learnt more about how the position of different places influences what flora and fauna can be found there, and discovered that some areas of the world are more hospitable to live in than others. We learnt about how different animals are more adapted to survive in certain regions, and found out more about classification and food chains.

Moving from physical to human geography, we found out more about different types of settlements - identifying local towns, villages and cities. We thought about why some towns are larger than others, and compared Fordingbridge to Bournemouth by gathering data during a fieldwork visit to our local town. We spoke to shop owners whilst we were there to find out what they thought about their local area, and what could be done to improve it - it was fascinating to hear what locals thought! 

Outcome: Social Action - Make a Difference Challenge

Our outcome for this project focussed around our concept of community and how we can make a difference to ours. We took part in the Young Citizen's Trust's 'Make a Difference Challenge' and each class of children thought of ways in which they could help their local community - including improving the care for wildlife, supporting a hospital and helping the elderly in local care homes. 

Key Concepts: Ambition, Resilience

In Spring 2024, our Year 3&4 children embarked on their most adventurous term yet. Our goal was to understand what has motivated adventurers and explorers throughout the ages to push the limits of what's possible, surviving in some of the toughest conditions. We studied the world's most iconic mountain ranges and learnt about the water cycle, which is a crucial part of what keeps us all alive. We learnt the little-known story of Matthew Henson, an African-American explorer who, in 1909, was the first man to stand at the North Pole. How did his ambition and resilience push him forward against all the odds?

Outcome: Expedition 

Inspired by such brilliant explorers, we also planned an expedition into the woods - previously we have been lucky enough to explore the bluebell woods of the Breamore Hulse Estate, and trek right across Hale Purlieu. Armed with our OS maps and compasses, the children are the navigators in charge. 

Key Concepts: Change, Sustainability

In Spring 2025, our Year 5&6 children explored more about how the world around us changes over time due to geographical processes such as erosion. We focussed our studies on the Jurassic Coastline in Dorset, discovering why this is recognised as a UNESCO site due to the array of fossils found there. We learnt more about the fossilisation process and the life of Mary Anning, and took a trip to Lyme Regis to search for our own fossils! We learnt about how coastal landforms, such as arches and stacks, are created due to erosion. 

We learnt more about evolution and inheritance and how characteristics are passed on between generations. We thought about Darwin's theory of natural selection, and how this can lead to changes in a species over time. 

After this, we learnt about the distribution of natural resources and the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources, particularly for energy. We thought about how our use of resources can be unsustainable, and how this can lead to climate change and the destruction of habitats around the world. 

Outcome: Social Action - Make a Difference Challenge

Our outcome for this project focussed around our concept of change and how we can make a positive change in their own local community. We took part in the Young Citizen's Trust's 'Make a Difference Challenge' and groups of children worked together to plan and deliver their own social action projects. 

Key Concepts: Adversity, Resilience

In Spring 2024, our Year 5&6 children explored more about natural disasters, what causes them, and how they impact communities around the world. Children used a combination of maps and data to find out more about volcanoes and the plate tectonics that cause them, as well as earthquakes. They looked at El Salvador and Tokyo, comparing how these places deal with natural disasters. Through a study of flooding locally and around the world, children explored the impact that this could have on local communities. 

During this term, we also embarked on our residential visit to Kingswood where we conquered our fears, taking on challenges such as the high ropes and assault courses. It was a great week! 

Outcome: Fundraising Event

Alongside this, children learnt more about other forms of adversity that impact people around the world. From watching Newsround, children selected a cause to raise money for linked to adversity that was happening in the world.