SUSTAINABILITY AT THE DAWNAY

As part of the Effingham Learning Partnership, The Dawnay School has been committed to raising their pupils’ knowledge and awareness of the importance of SUSTAINABILITY.

Three year groups took part in the project covering mulching, water catching and designing and making effective “slow waterers”.

We worked in conjunction with Three Valleys Water as well as linking the work to the Water Topic in Year 4.

Their work then formed part of the Science Gallery which was held and The Howard of Effingham School in July.

This project has enabled us to apply for Eco School’s Green Award.

The children gained a great deal of knowledge and skills from this project.

The project is continuing in 2007-2008 and all the teachers involved are pleased at the levels of scientific investigation skills achieved by their pupils and that through the Sustainability Project an increased awareness of the importance saving water was brought to the local community.

YEAR 5 SLOW WATERER CHALLENGE!

Our challenge was to turn a plastic milk bottle into a “slow waterer” so that garden tubs and hanging baskets could survive during a hose pipe ban.

First we worked with Three Valley Water and carried out a water audit in school. This made us think about the problem of wasted and dead water.

We then considered how to keep our gardens looking good in drought situations by using “dead” water. An example of “dead” water is water that you run from the tap before using it i.e. allowing the hot water to come through.

Group Work...

First we worked in groups and discussed how the bottle could be made to let water out gradually.

Each group had different ideas and these were put to the test with various results!!

Some bottles emptied almost immediately whilst others collapsed!!

More discussion and planning was needed!

The results ...

Finally a slow waterer was produced that lasted OVER 4 Hours!

Our work was presented at the science gallery in the form of a play and the finished and successful slow waterers formed part of our display in the Cyber Cafe