CANKLOW
WOOD - EDUCATIONAL USE
INTRODUCTION
As a result of its variety of habitats and its location less than
a mile from Rotherham town centre, and between the residential areas
of Canklow and Moorgate, Canklow Wood is ideally placed to be a
valuable education resource for both primary and secondary schools.
More detailed information to support education work in the wood
can be found in the Fuelling a Revolution education pack covering
Canklow Wood. Details on how to obtain this can be found in the
Schools section of this website.
SUGGESTED
ACTIVITIES FROM THE SCHOOLS SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE
The Schools section of this
website provides units of work covering a wide range of subject
areas and Key Stages. Although, all or most of these units, would
be suitable for use in Woolley Wood, some are particularly appropriate,
and for this reason, direct links to these downloadable materials
are provided below.
 |
The
branches of twisted Oak trees such as this one near the summit
of the site (and at point 6 on the trail)
could form a useful stimulus for artwork.
|
Key Stage 1 Science - 'Plants
and Animals'
The wildlife of wooded and more open areas of the site could be
compared using this unit. Alternatively, wildlife on the site could
be compared with that in nearby Boston Park or on the flat area
of grass behind Canklow Woods Primary School.
Key Stage 1 Geography- 'Our
Local Wood'
Being situated close to residential areas, Canklow Wood could be
easily incorporated by nearby schools into a walk around their local
area, looking at different land uses.
Key Stage 2 Literacy-'Read
All About It'
Devise a leaflet telling users of the site about the woodland and
describing what they might see when following the trail through
the wood described on pages 17, 18 and 19 of this pack.
Key Stage 2 Numeracy - 'Girth
& Gaps'
Canklow Wood provides many opportunities for the measurement and
comparison of trees in areas of younger and more mature woodland.
Key Stage 2 Science-'What
Lives Where?'
The range of vegetation types on the site provides a resource for
studying where on the site specified animal species might find shelter,
water and food.
Key Stage 2 Science-'Life
Cycles'
The range of ages of trees on the site makes it ideal for the study
of changes during a tree's life cycle, from seed through sapling
and mature tree to old age, death and decay. In general younger
trees are found on the upper parts of the site with the most mature
trees being restricted to its southern tip.
Key Stage 2 Geography -
'Do
you come here often?'
Because of its location, Canklow Wood is a popular place for both
formal and informal recreational activities, some of which are acceptable
and others of which are less so. This unit could be used to study
recreational activities taking place and to consider potential conflicts
between these and possible effects on the site.
Key Stage 2 Art - 'Signposts'
The rationalisation and waymarking of the network of footpaths through
Canklow Wood could be used to consider the design of signposts to
be used on a trail through the woodland, for example that described
on pages 17, 18 and 19 of this pack.
Key Stage 3 Science - 'Are
all woods the same?'
This unit of work could be used to compare the fauna and flora of
different parts of the site, for example younger and more mature
areas of woodland, or areas of different vegetation types such as
woodland and grassland.
Key Stage 3 Science - 'What
causes plants to change?'
The occurrence of holly at the site provides an opportunity for
the study of environmentally caused variations in leaf shape.
In addition, other useful resources from the Fuelling a Revolution
education packs and from 'get, set... Grow', the South Yorkshire
Forest schools' pack, can be downloaded from Downloadable
Pupil and Teacher Resources for Key Stage 2 in the Schools section
of this site.
The 'Tree File' CD ROM that accompanies the 'get, set... Grow'
pack contains identification details and background information
for all of the major tree and shrub species found in the wood including
Oak, Sycamore, Beech, Birch, Elder, Holly, Hazel, Hawthorn, Sweet
Chestnut, Wild Cherry and Goat Willow. For further information,
go to the section on printed
education materials in the Schools section of this website.
OTHER
ACTIVITIES
Key Stage 3 Science
The development of Oak/Birch woodland could be examined at different
locations including:
1. Areas of open grassland starting to be invaded by Bracken and
young Birches
2. Areas of young Birch woodland where stands of dense, even-aged
Birch act as a 'nurse-crop' for Oaks.
3. Oak/Birch communities where there are tall, mature, single trunked
Oaks with over-mature Birches.
4. Well established Oak-dominated
woodland near to the southern tip of the site
