St John’s is situated in stunning landscapes – which brings all sorts of opportunities to engage with nature.
During lockdown, St John’s were still ‘determined to make a difference in the local environment’:
“So what was the plan? Creativity, constant individual support by all means available, and a host of practical activities from cooking, crafts, film production, on-line fitness to all year groups, wellbeing exercises and even fieldwork!
“While Key worker children explored our extensive grounds, using imagination, leadership and team work to create dens, build tree swings assisted by our supportive Maintenance team and relearn how to be children in ample space and fresh air; other classes undertook virtual fieldwork with our “Roving Reporter” (aka our PYP and Junior School Co-ordinator).
“One unit of work for Year 4 was “Where our food comes from”, so having discussed, researched, produced mind maps and asked their questions, our Roving Reporter walked them through a local farm, interviewing the owner who could describe not just the organic crop, but how it benefitted the soil and environment, which fauna and flora it protected, along with where the crop would be processed before it ends up on our plate.
“Other virtual trips included a local bakery and coffee roastery, with the luxury of an accompanying slide show and question/answer session.
What have we learned together? Every cloud has a silver lining, never underestimate the adaptability of children, and that true education “learns to learn, learns to do and learns to be” (Jaques Delors). We would add “learn to live together” and make our school and world, worthy of its children.”
How has Sidmouth’s St John’s School adapted during lockdown? | Great British Life
The school has been very much involved in the Devon Wildlife Trust’s #30DaysWild project:
The Wildlife Trusts’ big nature challenge – 30 Days Wild – is back this June | Devon Wildlife Trust
As shown in their very busy social media pages – just finished a couple of days ago!
https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsschool/?locale=en_GB
St John’s has a long tradition of engagement with the natural environment – and realising the positive benefits as part of a fully-rounded education:
Here at St John’s, garden clubs have proliferated over the past two years, with our children now growing beans, peas, maize, potatoes, garlic, onions, lettuce, fennel, artichokes, tomatoes, courgettes, a variety of soft fruit, and have even just planted Apricot, Plum and Apple trees. We aim to cook and eat most of the produce ourselves in Food and Nutrition classes, as well as donate to the local Food bank; but equally importantly, enjoy the physical exercise and natural surroundings where we are planting.
We are not alone in this thinking! A review in 2019 identified 28 nature-based interventions used in various countries to promote health and well being, from forest walking to birdwatching. On our grounds, we have identified over 20 species of birds, including a spectacular Tawny Owl and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 different species of butterfly along with our resident field mice, weasel, deer, hedgehog, foxes and badgers, not counting a wealth of insect life along our stream banks and in the woodland.
So what are the health and well-being advantages? Very obviously, ecological surroundings reduce exposure to pollutants, which evidence shows can affect the central nervous system. Socialising while digging and planting can reduce loneliness, anxiety, mood disorder and depression while in technical terms, the wide range of stimuli in our school woodlands, green spaces and fields, provide a restorative sensory environment that alleviates attention fatigue, so promoting concentration and focus.
Other positive effects of accessing natural surroundings, according to recent studies, include improved sleep with its own intrinsic benefits, reduced stress, reduced negative emotions, positive social interactions and at the same time it helps generate a sense of meaning in life. If you look at the studies by American Educationalist Daniel Pink “A whole New Mind”, then Meaning emerges as one of the principal attributes for successful and contented career futures – we all need meaning in our lives.