I was really thrilled last year when Northern Learning Trust asked me to develop a series of workshops that linked numeracy and literacy targets at Key Stage 2 (upper primary) with sustainability. 

What a fascinating challenge it has proved to be.  My background is very much within the environmental and sustainability area and all the in-school teaching I have done has been within subject areas such as biology, science or geography.  So the first challenge was to get to grips with the current literacy and numeracy targets that young people need to learn about from Year 3 to Year 6. 

There is a lot in there and much of it really does lend itself to practical application - counting, measuring, collecting real information about something and then using it, carrying out eco-surveys as a basis for an eco-campaign in the school or community are just a few examples.

Then came the fun of trying to ensure that the workshops really did meet the things that teachers were looking for.  To help with this, I have been out piloting the workshops with schools around the region which has been incredibly enjoyable and rewarding.

There has been a huge enthusiasm from the young people I have worked with for this kind of practical learning and for the topics they have studied.  It has been great to see how children as young as 8 can work in teams, discuss issues and problems and come to solutions with their group or class.

I discovered that using real data can be problematic for younger children as the resulting numbers are not always so easy to add or multiply with.  From this, we realised that in order to use real data in a workshop, plenty of time needs to be provided to allow all students within the class to get to grips with using the data as then it will have a greater impact on them. 

At one school the students carried out an experiment using timing, measuring, addition, averages and multiplication and found that a dripping tap could waste 2 - 3 litres of water in one day.  Dripping taps were considered to be a problem in the school and in their action plan, the students proposed to tell the rest of the school about the problem and encourage everyone to turn off taps properly and report broken taps.  A great example of using maths skills to find out about an issue and literacy skills to tell others about the problem and a way of solving it.

The pilots are now over and the final workshops nearing completion.  So a big thank you to all the schools who took part, they have really ensured that these workshops will help illustrate how real-life, relevant and practical topcis such as energy saving, habitat creation, water saving, litter or biodiversity can also support and emphasise the value of curriculum targets in maths and literacy.

Nature Kids has been full of adventures this autumn.  Leaves have played a big role from making wonderful art-works with them to scuffling through them, using them as the basis for art and last week, making large piles of leaves for the small creatures to snuggle into over winter.  The autumn colours have been particularly stunning and long-lasting.  The first leaves started to turn towards the end of August, but now in November, we still have wonderful colour on many trees.

Sticks have also been popular.  A bundle of small sticks to make a broom to sweep the leaves.  One young man (of about 2) proudly carrying a stick twice his length at least to place it on the log pile house (is this where Snake will live?  We shall come back to find out!).  Little logs, kindly placed by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust to edge the woodland paths, have made excellent balancing logs and in the milder weeks, were good hunting ground for snails, slugs, worms and woodlouse.

Autumn berries provided some messy fun - collecting, squishing and then painting on paper, leaves and also the stones of St Nicholas Park Stone Circle.  My favourite colour was the deep purple from the elderberry.  The children seemed to favour mud over most!  Perhaps it is the texture.

A windy day nearly blew us away with the parachute, but didn't play ball when we tried to fly kites! 

We found some seeds to plant, but sadly many of our hazelnuts were no good.  How do we know?  Well, you drop them into a tub of water and if they sink - plant them, if they float then they are probably rotten so throw them out.

Vegetable lard for our bird-fat feeders was odourless and left our hands feeling soft, the birds were reported to be happy too.  In my garden the feeders emptied very quickly and I had to rescue them from the dratted magpies who are incredibly ingenious when tasty food is around.  They hang on the feeder directly, despite being too big; they try and pull on the string attaching it to the tree; they bash the small tub around trying to knock the food out and all the while scare off the little birds.

Only three weeks left and wondering if we will have snow before Nature Kids curls up deep under its winter blankets to hibernate until February.

Summer Wild Child Events have been brilliant.  Thanks to all the families who have taken part so far and also for the very positive feedback they have given.

We discovered Big Waters in sun and rain, finding lovely flowers, wavy-edged leaves and even blackberries for our sticky discovery sheets!  We hid out at the Northumerland Wildlife Trust hide for a few minutes to escape the rain and looked out over the huge natural pond which is home to numerous birds and even otters - not that we saw them!  Mirrors made raindrop magic for some of the youngsters on the walk back, glistening drips on leaves and grasses catching the light in the mirrors.  They also helped us to look under leaves and catch views of trees we wouldn't normally see.

Weetslade started damp and gradually became wetter.  This didn't deter the hardy youngsters and their parents.  Puddles were wonderful for jumping in and the long flower meadows provided a wealth of insects and other bugs.  We found diamond encrusted spider webs (well that's what they looked like), grasshoppers, craneflies, lady birds and many more.  We decided that we wouldn't want to be a slug when we found that they ate dog-eggs - YUK.  Everyone managed to squeeze into the tent to make elfin crowns with grasses and flowers and we discovered that some bugs were also hiding in there from the rain.

A sunny day for pond dipping at St Nicholas Park and lots of beasties to be found both in and out of the water.  There is a special kind of excitement when you scoop a net full of water-weed and possibilities of weird and interesting creatures.  Youngsters were quite fascinated by the pond snails and the tiny fish were a popular catch.  A wiggly blood worm, dragonfly larvae and a small frog added to the catch.  The wildlife garden provided more fun with bug-pots and pooters - parents and youngsters catching an array of invertebrates and exploring along the trails.

This week we are off to Fencerhill where we will be making a Woodland Wand and discovering leaf magic amongst other things.  Just hoping for dry weather...

Then to plan the Autumn Term of Nature Kids. 

Thank you to Marina who kindly posted these comments about Nature Kids on Netmums:

I've been taking my 3 year old to Nature Kids and have been really impressed. It makes a refreshing change to get outside and I've picked up lots of simple ideas to try at home. The combination of bug hunting, mud, exploring and the 'base camp' tent really appeals to the little ones and Philippa's enthusiasm and knowledge makes her a great leader for the group. We are looking forward to the 'wild child' events over the summer too. Definitely worth a try!

Mud Mud Glorious Mud was the title of the final Introductory Nature Kids session and it lived up to its name!  We had mud painting, mud soup, mud pies, mud tree spirits, mud squelching whilst on a Bear Hunt and mud all over the youngsters and me!  I was quite amazed at how clean (most) of the mums were at the end. 

Luckily they had changes of clothes and everyone was soon cleaned up! 

Getting excited about the Summer Wild Child events and having a lovely time re-exploring each of the sites.  Work was not going that well yesterday afternoon, so I took off on my bicycle to Fencer Hill Woods.  This is a fabulous woodland on a small tributary of the Ouseburn and right on the edge of suburban homes. 

As I walked into the woodland, the stresses of the day left my shoulders and the magic of the trees enshrouded me.  I felt at peace.  It was so quiet I could hear a tiny leaf falling, tapping against other leaves and twigs before falling into the small stream with a quiet plop. 

Towering trees, draped in summer finery lent a fabulous coolness to the air and I felt the contrast when in the clearing around the pond, where the sun beat down on the glistening water and a small stickleback swum hunting for food - or perhaps just enjoying the sun. 

Really looking forward to sharing this magical area with children and their families.

Gorgeous sunny weather and stunning spring blossom brings a smile to my face these days.  The bees and butterflies are buzzing and flitting around my garden and in nearby woods and grassy parks.  This has to be one of my favourite times of year.  Winter has finally gone and natural areas everywhere are celebrating.

I live on the outskirts of Newcastle and am often amazed by the variety of wildlife I see when out walking with my dog - in the last few weeks I have seen hares, deer, herons, kingfishers, swans, greylag geese and even the other day, a dipper - on the Ouseburn too. 

I was very suprised to see this bird as it is usually associated with more upland areas and fast flowing streams.  It was a definite double take situation as it was a grey windy morning and my eyes were streaming.  At first I thought it was a blackbird, but then it perched on a log in the stream and bobbed up and down - the characteristic behaviour of dippers.  I walked slowly closer, wiping my eyes - yup, white bib, with brown and black on head and back, constantly dipping.  Why do I never have a camera on me at such moments.