We all have a Place…
The PLACE project puts children at the heart of the action with Place Based Learning (PBL) as they respond to their community’s needs through active citizenship.
This Erasmus+ funded project offers schools locally the chance to work together with schools and partners in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Cumbria to explore their sense of place, and develop skills to be able to take action to look after and protect it.
From engaging with the community to reduce single use plastic, to designing and creating therapeutic and natural garden spaces for all to enjoy, to creating a Quest for others to explore, our children can make meaningful interventions as active citizens in their community.
What is Place Based Learning?
Place based learning (PBL) is about a deep connection with people and place through emotions and knowledge... it is concerned with the interconnecting systems of environmental protection, community development and social justice - the very essence of sustainability. (Cooper 2016)
Each project partner brings the experience of their Place-based learning approach:
Philosophy for Children - P4C develops in children the fundamental skill of being able to ponder and engage with deep questions about the world. P4C is about learning to think in Critical, Caring, Creative and Collaborative ways.
Questing – questing is an approach to interpreting local heritage. At the end of the quest, treasure may be found!
Natural and Therapeutic Gardening – where plants, food and nature grow in harmony
Community Activism – this means engaging young people in issues, supporting them to reach out and link with their local communities, and empowering them so their voices can be heard.
There is still time to get involved before the end of the project in June 2023. If you need help and support to create a school/community garden, would like to find ways to bring local active global citizenship to your class and curriculum, please contact Sarah.
You can find out more about PLACE here.
Why not get your school involved?
Take a look at the new Place Project Learning Guide.
Please contact Sarah to discuss how your school can access free staff support about this guide and the project before the end of June.
Sarah on a trip to Sosna in the Czech Republic
Litterpick in Wimborne
Pupils from Winterslow CE School weeding the raised beds
Place Project update - November 2022
It was a real privilege to take the Head and 2 teachers from Winterslow Primary, near Salisbury, to the Czech Republic in October for the Place transnational training event. We spent 5 days together with partners and teachers from Cumbria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic at SEVER’s Eco Centre in Horní Maršov.
The programme was packed with activities, and exploration of the 4 approaches the Place Project brings together. Jachym and Jakub from SEVER led us all to explore the local place through a Questing activity.
They also shared their new Climateville simulation game about climate change and adaptation measures which brought to life the reality of the impacts of climate change on our daily lives and communities
DEED led an activity exploring Active Local and Global Citizenship – themed around plastic pollution and the environment. Everyone had the chance to consider some of the environmental challenges/issues they face at school and the potential solutions which have the greatest positive impact. Reducing waste, tree planting and better recycling were some of the solutions considered to be the most effective and likely to happen.
The weather was unusually warm and dry so we took the opportunity to walk in the mountains. Led by Jakub and also Geoff from Cumbria DEC, teachers were encouraged to slow down, develop curiosity and explore the forest more deeply through Journaling.
The natural gardens at SEVER were productive and still full of flowers, herbs and fruit trees. Silvia from SOSNA guided everyone through the process of making a Mandala – once each group had chosen a person to create a Mandala for the creativity began!
Throughout the training event, each school was invited to share their inspirational work – from creating a Quest in school using QR codes, to making bug hotels, planting for pollinators and making wildlife ponds, the impact of the Place project on these schools and their communities was very impressive.
The PLACE project puts children at the heart of the action with Place-based Learning as they respond to their community’s needs through active citizenship.
Their project invites children to free their imaginations in order to lead with outdoor practical action in rebuilding from the Covid crisis. From engaging with businesses to reduce plastic, to designing and creating therapeutic garden spaces for all to enjoy, to creating a Quest for young families, our children can make meaningful interventions as active citizens in their community.
At Winterslow Primary School we have ‘Forest Fridays’ where the children learn in the local area. This takes place all year round so children understand the effect of the seasons on the environment. The activities include litter picking, mapping, building, whittling, art and collage as well as practical skills.
We have created a sustainability quest for children to find out about sustainability in their school. The children use iPads to find and scan QR codes. The codes were linked to information about their school environment. The next step is to extend the quest to the local community of Winterslow.