Themes and activities for Primary courses at Magdalen Farm
Earth travellers. Through a series of adventures, children use their senses and perception to help discover the wonders of the natural world. This introductory session helps children settle in to the residential experience and provides a foundation for the rest of their visit.
Farming and landuse. Exploring the workings of an organic farm with cattle, sheep, pigs and a large vegetable garden. There are opportunities to study changes in landuse over time and participate in farm activities such as milking, cheese making and lambing.
Winsham Village, a contrasting locality. Investigate how the physical and human features of this rural community have influenced its development. Explore the similarities and differences with the home environment and the wider world.
Coastal landscapes. The classic Dorset coastline is only 10 miles to the south of the farm enabling many exciting possibilities to explore coastal scenary and how it is formed.
Forde Abbey. Now a famous historical and formal garden, but once an Abbey influencing the local area, there are many possibilities to experience how the monks lived hundreds of years ago or study and record elements of historical architecture.
Survival in the Wild. This activity focuses on how people lived in the Axe valley thousands of years ago. Pupils have the opportunity to build their own simple shelters and investigate what ancient Britons would have eaten. The end of the day is celebrated by lighting a fire and cooking a simple evening meal.
Life and living processes. With a diverse range of habitats on the farm there are many different insects, mammals and birds to study. Different characteristics, adaptations and food chains can be discovered through simple field investigations.
Rivers and streams. The river Axe and its tributaries provide first hand experience of the effects of rivers on the landscape, their ability to erode, transport and deposit material as well as utilising their flow to produce electricity.
Maps and mapping. Within the varied farm landscape there are many opportunities to study plans, make maps and follow our exciting discovery and orienteering trails.
Weather climate and micro climates. Make a detailed daily record of the weather using our weather station and study how site conditions can influence weather conditions at our six micro climate sites around the farm.
Pollution and environmental change. Discover how and why people seek to manage, protect and sustain the environment focusing on air and river pollution and organic farming.
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