Written by Kate Littlewood, 12th October 2021
University of Gloucestershire Erasmus+ project PAPPUS (Plants and Play Promoting Universal Skills) partners up with Sheepscombe School in a live-streamed training programme for EU partners in Hungary.
The University is lead partner in the programme that aims to promote children’s knowledge of the natural world as well as their emotional and mental well-being.
As travel prevented us from joining our EU colleagues in Hungary, Kelly Conibere (Project Officer) and Kate Littlewood (Drama and Performance Practice) from UoG, and Felicity Robinson (Play Learning Life) teamed up with the Year 6 Class at Sheepscombe School who demonstrated via live-stream to the delegates in Hungary, how to map their outdoor environment, and how to use seasonal, natural resources (such as acorns and beech nuts) for some hands-on algebra and place-value exercises.
School Head, Vicky Dangerfield, took an online Q & A session with the delegates who had gathered in a woodland location near Budapest. The School’s ethos which promotes outdoor learning as an integral part of the weekly curriculum, highlighted the objectives of PAPPUS and brought a physical element to the training.
Leonie Burton of UoG who leads the project commended the team for their innovation and determination to resolve the technology challenges to bring the UK training elements to life for trainers in Hungary, whilst also creating a wonderful experience for the children at a local school.
As a thank-you, the children were given an apple-picker for their Apple Celebration Day; this helped them gather fruit from the out-of-reach branches around the playground!
The University and Play Learning Life will be hosting an information event on Monday 8th November at 4pm for UoG staff and students, school teachers, playworkers, youth workers, forest school staff and any adults working with young people to come along to the event to find out more and get involved. Visit our event page to book a place.
Going forward and further building our partnership, the school plan to work with Kate Littlewood on their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, creating a flowerbed of the plants that appear in the play.