Natural Nations
Working with research schools across four countries, we have tested and produced a suite of resources to help schools identify and encourage wildlife in their school grounds. These include accessible resources to ensure that learning can be adapted for pupils’ different needs and ages, and instructional videos to support all those undertaking the surveys.
The Natural Nations project developed surveys to record bird populations, minibeasts, habitats, pollinators, and vegetation in school grounds. An evolution of the award-winning Polli:Nation project, Natural Nations was led by Learning through Landscapes in partnership with Naturskolan i Lund, Lunds Universitet, Birdlife Malta and Sociedad Espanola de Ornitologia SEO (Birdlife Spain).
Working with research schools across four countries, we have tested and produced a suite of resources to help schools identify and encourage wildlife in their school grounds. These include accessible resources to ensure that learning can be adapted for pupils’ different needs and ages, and instructional videos to support all those undertaking the surveys.
Use the buttons below to navigate to our surveys and educational resources for each season.
Surveys
Use these surveys with your class to identify the birds, minibeasts, pollinators, flowering plants, and habitats in your school grounds.
Working with specialist teachers, we have developed accessible versions of the surveys that can be adapted for the different needs of your pupils. The accessible surveys take a slightly different structure combining minibeasts with pollinators; and trees, leaves and flowering plants. Remember: our guidance and surveys are intended to support outdoor learning. The priority here is to engage young people with nature, so have fun!
School Grounds and Habitat Survey
The School Grounds and Habitat Survey is designed to evaluate the suitability of your school grounds for wildlife. Watch our video, and refer to the Practitioner Guidance, for more information on how to conduct the survey in your school grounds.
Bird Survey
The Bird Survey should be conducted during the spring, ideally early in the morning when birds are most active. Watch our video, and refer to the Practitioner Guidance, for more information on how to conduct the survey in your school grounds.
Minibeasts and Leaves Survey
The Minibeasts and Leaves Survey should be conducted during the spring for the best results. Watch our video, and refer to the Practitioner Guidance, for more information on how to conduct the survey in your school grounds.
Pollinators and Flowering Plants Surveyc
The Pollinators and Flowering Plants Survey is dependent on weather and time of day. Watch our video, and refer to the Practitioner Guidance, for more information on how to conduct the survey in your school grounds.
Educational Resources
Below, you will find lesson ideas covering birds, habitats and vegetation, minibeasts and leaves, and pollinators. They have been carefully selected to cover all four seasons to support learning throughout the year.
We have also developed a range of accessible lesson ideas that can be adapted for the different needs of your pupils.
Spring
After the long cold of winter, the flowers are opening, the bees are buzzing, and the world is coming back to life. Enjoy the season in your school grounds with our spring lesson ideas.
May Dawn Chorus
Flights and Forces
Plague Doctor Bird Masks
Make a Picture Using Feathers
Examine Feathers
Bird Chorus
Making Quill Pens
Spot and Shout
Snap That App
Compass Treasure Hunt
Big Space Fractions
Follow a Tree
Cardboard Minibeast Trap
What do Woodlice Eat
Discover Woodlice
Discover Spiders
Discover Cobwebs
Worm Charming
Parts of a Plant
The Guess Who Game
Summer
Nature is in full swing during the warmest season of the year! Enjoy the sunshine in your school grounds with our summer lesson ideas.
Birds in Religious Texts
Birds Through Time
The Flap Challenge
Egg Weights and Shapes
How Do Birds Move?
Make a Re-Filling Water Tray
The Shapes and Colours of Birds
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Murmuration Movement
Create Birds
Parts of a Tree
Plant Ecology
Worm Charming
Simple Compost with Worms
Papier Mâché Pollinators
Camouflaging Caterpillars
Bee-come a Pollinator
Autumn
The leaves are starting to fall from the trees, and animals are getting ready for colder weather. Make the most of the seasonal changes in your school grounds with our autumn lesson ideas.
Listen and Watch for Birds: accessible activity
Make a Nest a Home
What Makes a Bird a Bird?
What Do Birds Need to Survive?
Bird Species Discovery
Create a Log Pile
Sorting Leaves
Discover the World of the Minibeast
Wildflower Seed Bombs
Camouflaging Caterpillars
Butterfly Life Cycle Mobile
Bee-come a Pollinator
Winter
Much of the wildlife in our school grounds has retreated for the winter, but there’s still lots to be seen! Use our winter lesson ideas to guide your teaching.
Threats to Birds
Starling Game
Weaky Beaky
Brilliant Bird Poo
Create a Bird Feeder with Craft Sticks
Find Food for Birds
Different Birds in Different Habitats
Bird Beaks
Speedy Bird Cake
Migration News Story
Greenhouse Effect
Habitat Fragmentation Game
Habitat Settings
Potato Trap
Journey Beneath the Stones
Strange Creatures and Habitats
Papier Mâché Pollinators
Butterflies in Winter
Related Projects
Our projects showcase innovative outdoor learning and play initiatives.
Take a look at our related projects here or explore our full range of past and present projects.
This Place is Like a Building Site!
The project supports children to thrive and achieve through practical experiential learning and contribution to a shared construction project, whilst supporting teachers to develop the confidence and skills to lead similar work in the future.
SENSE – Sensory Explorations of Nature in School Environments
The SENSE project is a Learning through Landscapes partnership project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. It brings together academics and education specialists to explore the innovative use of prototype haptic digital devices to see if they can support the learning and development of children.