All Saints Infant pupils get hands-on experience of their Sidmouth seashore environment

OH, they do like to be beside the seaside.

Pupils from All Saints Infants School, Sidmouth, are undertaking a five-week environmental project aiming to promote education for sustainability through ‘seashore school’.

Each Thursday, led by Lisa Rosam, in partnership with teachers Cath Edwards and Emma Johns, children from reception and first year, to pre-school and Year Two will be enjoying their outdoor experiences.

Lisa said: “The project aims to cascade learning about sustainability through the school and develop opportunities for outdoor first-hand learning about geographical and environmental issues.

“The children have done a knowledge harvest of what they know about the seashore and developed questions that they would like to investigate to develop the project.”

Lisa said the first session involved following the River Sid, observing cliffs and learning what they were made of.

“They found out about erosion and the sea as a force. We learned about the parts of plants as we observed roots that were visible in the eroded cliffs, investigated pebbles and discovered what they were made of and how they came to be on the beach.

“We looked at sea defences on the beach and how they help prevent flooding that hindered the town in years gone by. We made some Oogly monsters from the pebbles, decorating them with things we had found on the beach.”

The children also collected and sorted pebbles into colour and size, made a shelter and last week investigated the strandline, learning about what can be found there. They also learned about tides and how they are controlled by the moon.

Last Thursday they focused on sustainable fishing, looking at local fish in the sea and how they respond to high and low tides.

Sidmouth Trawlers showed pupils local fish caught and how they are caught and they were taught the consequences of over-fishing marine life.

Mrs Rosam added: “The children have already noticed rubbish on the beach and are very disappointed.

“They would like to find out more about how they can remind the general public about taking rubbish home and would like to make posters about this. They will do a survey for the Marine Conservation Beachwatch.”

A parent has offered to do a Seashore storytelling workshop and pupils will be having a workshop from Young Peoples Trust for the environment.

Each child will receive a “Beach Buddy” certificate for all their efforts.