It has been a busy autumn term for LEAF Education’s trainee teacher programme in the East Midlands. The Food and Farming Inside and Outside the Classroom programme provides an opportunity for trainee teachers to update their own understanding of modern farming on a variety of different farms. The participants also learn how a farm visit can support and enhance their teaching. They review teaching resources, look at how to plan safe and successful visits to farms and enjoy an informative farm walk with our host farmers.
Working with Derby Teaching Schools Alliance and the Science Learning Partnership, seven secondary and 16 primary trainee teachers enjoyed spending the day at Matlock Meadows farm. A comment from one of the secondary trainees, 'I enjoyed thinking about how I could bring outdoor learning on a farm into my subject. I admit I had not thought about it previously but it would be really engaging.'
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society worked with LEAF Education and Stourton Estates near Horncastle to run Food and Farming Inside and Outside the Classroom for 100 first-year primary education students from Bishop Grosseteste University. One of the students said the day 'had lots of useful tips about activities to do with children including geography, history, movement and even music!'
In the spring term LEAF Education in the East Midlands will be running Food and Farming Inside and Outside the Classroom for trainee teachers from Nottingham University and Deepings SCIT. If you are part of teaching school alliance, or a university offering ITT, and would like to run a similar day for your students do please get in touch with your local LEAF Education Consultant.
