Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Primary Feathers
Fantastic free opportunity for 25 schools across the Cheshire region. Don't miss out, book now!
Pupils and Teacher having fun with 'Cheep, or no Cheep' June 2009
To book your Primary Feathers visits please contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Education Service.
We will book schools in on a first come first served basis so if your school would like to take part in this 2 day programme then please contact Jan Shone at Cheshire Wildlife Trust by email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 01948 822218 as soon as possible for more further enquiries and to secure you space on this project.
This project has been inspired by the publication of the landmark 'Birds in Cheshire & Wirral'. It is an Atlas of birds in our region for both wintering and breeding species. Cheshire and Wirral Ornithological Society wanted to make sure its information could be used in new and exciting ways to excite young minds and encourage them to reconnect with the natural environment around them. Cheshire Wildlife Trust were given responsibility to manage the project. Jeff Clarke Ecology is has been contracted as the delivery agent for this project in Cheshire, Warrington, Wirral, Thameside and Stockport.
This project will help your school identify which birds are struggling in your area and develop a school action plan to help them. The plans will be site specific but will involve activities such as setting up and monitoring species specific feeding stations for wintering species, putting up and monitoring species specific nest boxes for the breeding season and the development of wild area on their school grounds designed to be bird habit.
Project Background Information
Teacher Invitation & Additional Information
The project uses a variety of means and teaching aids to get across its message.
Educational Games: 'Cheep or No Cheep'
Based on a popular television programme format this game encourages the use of maths and an understanding of weights and measures, whilst inspiring children to remember facts about their local bird life in a bid to gain bird food for their school. The fun and excitement builds as the game reaches it's tension packed finale as teachers and pupils combine to outwit the 'Seed Merchant'.
Modern Technology: Using PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) we explore the potential of brand new software 'Wild Knowledge' to help us track birds in the school or local park grounds, make maps, tag images and use simple identification keys to help identify the birds local to your school.
Poetry and Paper: KS1 students make badges and headbands of their favourite birds in preparation for the game 'Cheep or no Cheep'. KS2 pupils use 'Kenning' poems to describe their local birdlife. This form of poetry encourages pupils to explore language in imaginative ways.
Biological Recording: At the end of each field session students will be shown how to add their observations to the new schools species recording forum though the rECOrd website.
