Introduction to the John Muir award & UK National Parks

This power point resource is designed to introduce the John Muir award and National Parks to SEN learners who are working at entry level. The presentation provides three group activities, lots of opportunity for group discussion and assessment through questioning. There is another word document attached which contains the images, sentences and logos required, in order to make the practical activities work.

Learning Objectives:

• To enhance team work skills.
• To establish the key facts about John Muir.
• To gain an understanding of the John Muir Award.
• To identify key features, benefits and locations of National Parks.

Practical task delivery:

Assessment task 1 / The four sections of the award.

• A group discussion takes place around the meanings of the words: Discover, Explore, Protect/Conserve and Share.
• Groups are provided with 8 sentences which they must put under the headings they are describing, within a time frame.
• Group discussion and marking.

Assessment task 2/ Identifying National Parks

• A group discussion takes place around the key features of a National Park.
• Groups are provided with 8 images which they must identify as either being a National Park or not, withing a set time frame.
• Group discussion and marking.

Task 3/ Locations of National Parks - Active learning relay race

• Provide a National Park map to a group (I used groups of three).
• Put 15 logos on the other side of the room.
• Identify roles ie students who are running and students who are sticking.
• The runner collects, the sticker puts it in place and the next runner goes when this is done, the winning group is first to complete.

*To cater for lower level learners I cut the logos into different shapes and drew a fine line next to the park on the map so they could match up the two. Other methods could include numbering the parks and logos, or words with blanks on the map and answers on the other side of the room to improve literacy. Either way there will be a bit of cutting out to do! I advise printing the map in A3.