Taking Flight - By the Puffins and Seals

Project Goal

To appreciate and make a difference to our skies at Liberty Woodland School

Project Overview

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Jane Goodall

Have you ever looked up at the sky and noticed birds flying, clouds drifting or the sun shining? Our skies are essential to life on Earth, providing fresh air, a home for birds and a space for nature to thrive. Yet, in the UK, air pollution from cars, factories and burning fuels threatens this balance, harming people, animals and plants.

Birds, vital to healthy ecosystems, are among the many creatures affected by air pollution. They spread seeds, pollinate plants and control pests that damage crops. Without them, ecosystems would falter and many species could struggle to survive.

That’s why it’s so important for us to protect our skies and look after the environment. Learning about environmentalism is vital for fostering our responsibility as future stewards of the planet. The habits we learn early - on reducing waste, conserving water and protecting wildlife, instil lifelong sustainable habits. Building an awareness of how humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected, helps us appreciate the balance needed to sustain life.

Through our project focused on environmentalism and sustainability, we can discover how small actions—like planting flowers for birds and insects, using less plastic or walking instead of driving—can make a big difference. It also helps us develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, nurturing creativity and leadership. Protecting our planet means creating a better future for everyone, and it all starts with understanding how everything in nature is connected.

At Liberty Woodland School, we’ve launched a project to explore why birds are so important and how we can protect them. Together, we’re learning how our choices can help keep our skies clean and safe—for birds, and for every living creature.

The Key Areas of Competence (KAoC)

This term, our cross-curricular project will develop the children's skills in the following curriculum areas:

ROOTS: PSED

TRUNK: Communication and Language, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Working Scientifically, Environmentalism and Sustainability, Creative Technology and Digital Communication

CROWN: Understanding the World - Science, Creative Arts and Design

Steps to Success

Step 1: What are birds, and why are they important?

Step 2: How do birds support the environment?

Step 3: In what ways have environmental changes impacted birds?

Step 4: What actions can we take in our school environment to encourage birds?

Step 5: How can we present our findings and educate the public at Save Our Futures?

If I were a bird, I'd sing a song
And fly about the whole day long
And when the night comes, go to rest,
Up in my cosy, little nest.

If I Were A Bird, by Jackie Silberg

Project Update - Friday 24th January

The Puffins and Seals have had a busy few weeks exploring themes for our new project on environmentalism and sustainability. We began with a walk around the school site, identifying areas where we’ve already made a positive impact on our environment, and noting opportunities for future improvements. During our walk, we spotted several bird species and started asking questions about the effects of air pollution. These observations sparked ideas and helped us develop our project proposals.

Each group outlined their areas of interest, what they already knew, the questions they wanted to explore, and suggestions for trips or visitors to support their learning. After presenting these ideas to the class, we collaboratively designed the steps for our project.

To guide our work, we decided to create a birds-eye view map of the school site. This map will help us track where we see different bird species, identify habitats already supporting birdlife, and highlight areas that could be improved.

We’re excited to see where this journey takes us as we work together to protect the skies and become Liberty Woodland School's sky guardians of the future!

Questions to discuss

Why do you think birds are important for nature and the environment?

How do you think air pollution might affect birds?

What could we do to make the sky a better place for birds to live?

If you could be a bird for a day, where would you fly, and what would you do?

What do you think would happen if there were no birds in the world?

"The Earth is what we all have in common." – Wendell Berry

Project Update - Friday 14th February

Over the last few weeks, the Puffins and Seals have been deeply engaged in exploring air pollution, its causes and potential solutions. Our journey has taken us through research, innovation, hands-on design and an exciting visit to the Science Museum to expand our understanding of the world around us.

We began by discussing the fundamental question: What is air pollution? Through brainstorming and class discussions, the children identified various causes, such as vehicle emissions, industrial pollution and deforestation. To deepen their understanding, they created detailed mind maps and bar graphs to visualize key contributors to air pollution.

Exploring real-world solutions, we looked at cutting-edge innovations aimed at reducing air pollution, including:

The Smog-Free Tower in the Netherlands, which filters and purifies urban air.
Green roofs and vertical gardens, which help absorb carbon dioxide and reduce harmful particles.
Solar-powered air cleaners that remove pollutants without contributing further emissions.
Catalytic converters and low-emission vehicles like electric and hydrogen-fuel cars.

After learning about these innovations, the children worked in groups to brainstorm their own creative solutions to combat air pollution. They carefully considered key questions, from defining the problem to brainstorming, planning, testing and improving their ideas.

With ideas in place, the children moved into the design phase, bringing their concepts to life using a variety of materials, including cardboard boxes, wooden sticks, foam balls and paper. In small teams, they collaborated to construct prototypes of their air pollution-reducing products. They concluded this part of their learning by reflecting on the following

What is air pollution, what causes it and why is it an important issue to tackle?
What were the successes and challenges of designing their own solutions?
How has their understanding of the environment and sustainability grown?
What might they change or improve in future projects?

Trips and Visits

To enrich their learning, the children took part in exciting educational experiences:

Teach Wild Workshop – Find Your Flock: A hands-on session where students explored how birds communicate, built nests and learnt how to create safe spaces for them. This activity helped them consider the importance of cleaner air for wildlife.
Science Museum Visit – IMAX Screening of A Beautiful Planet: Watching Earth from an astronaut’s perspective helped the children connect air pollution to global warming, inspiring a greater appreciation for environmental responsibility.
Flight Museum Visit: A fascinating look at how airplanes function, their impact on air pollution and discussions on future innovations to make air travel more sustainable.

We look forward to seeing where their passion for sustainability takes them next!

Questions to discuss

What are some of the main causes of air pollution, and how do they impact the environment and wildlife?

Which real-world innovations did you learn about, and how do they help reduce air pollution?

How did the Teach Wild workshop help you understand the connection between birds and air quality?

If you could improve or redesign your air pollution solution, what changes would you make and why?

Project Update - Friday 14th March

Since our last update, the children have been busy exploring the following steps of our bird project.

Step 1: What are birds, and why are they important?
Step 2: How do birds support the environment?

We learnt about what makes birds unique and why they play such an important role in our world. To deepen our understanding, we had a special visit from a zookeeper from London Zoo. They explained the many ways birds contribute to the environment, including their role in pollination and insect control. (Did you know that birds eat an estimated 400–500 million tonnes of insects each year? Amazing!)

Our learning continued with a focus on bird migration. The children explored how and why birds travel across the world and the challenges they face along the way. To bring this to life, they designed and created board games about swallow migration, helping players learn about the journey these birds take, the things that help them and the obstacles they encounter.

Next, we got creative! Inspired by the work of Mark Hearld, a British artist known for his colourful and nature-inspired collages, the children made their own bird collages. Hearld’s work celebrates wildlife using mixed media, including layered paper and paint, which the children experimented with in their own creations.

Birds of Prey Workshop

One of the highlights of our project so far was an exciting birds of prey workshop. The children had the incredible opportunity to hold real birds of prey and watch a live flight demonstration. Seeing these magnificent birds up close helped us appreciate their power, beauty and importance in the ecosystem.

We are so proud of the children’s enthusiasm and curiosity during this project, and we look forward to sharing more of their discoveries soon.

Questions to discuss

How do birds help keep the environment balanced?

What challenges do birds face in their habitats, and how can we help them?

Why do some birds migrate, and what makes their journey difficult?

What was your favourite part of the birds of prey workshop?

If you could ask a zookeeper one more question, what would it be?

Project Update - Friday 4th April

What a fantastic journey the children have had as part of our bird project! This week, we’ve delved even deeper into some truly exciting topics, and it’s been wonderful to see how much the children are learning and growing.

Step 3: The Impact of Environmental Changes on Birds
Our exploration of how environmental changes affect birds led us to the Wetland Centre in Barnes, where the children witnessed first-hand the challenges birds face, from climate change to habitat loss. They learned how these changes are impacting bird populations and began to understand how delicate the balance of nature is. It sparked important conversations about how we can help protect our feathered friends.

Step 4: Encouraging Birds in Our School Environment
Inspired by what they learned, the children have been working hard to create welcoming spaces for birds at school. They’ve been putting the final touches on their birdhouses, which they’ve painted and personalised with care. These houses will soon be installed around the school, providing safe homes for birds. The children have also brainstormed ideas for other ways to support wildlife, like planting native plants and adding bird feeders. Their creativity and thoughtfulness are truly inspiring!

Step 5: Sharing Our Findings at Save Our Futures
The children are also busy preparing for Save Our Futures, where they’ll present everything they’ve learned. They’ve been designing an exhibition that will showcase their research, from models of their own flying machine ideas to interactive displays about bird migration and the importance of protecting the environment. The children have worked hard on their designs, blending technology with nature, and they can’t wait to share these ideas with everyone. It’s been amazing to watch their passion and creativity come together as they think about the future of flight and how we can protect our planet. They’re excited to share their discoveries with friends, families, and the public at Save Our Futures, and we can’t wait to see their hard work on display!

Stay tuned for more updates—this journey is just getting started!

Questions to discuss

How do you think changes in the weather and environment can affect birds, and what can we do to help them?
How can our flying machine ideas help both the planet and birds, and what would the world look like if we all worked together to protect nature?
How does making birdhouses and planting trees or flowers help us feel more connected to the world around us and the animals we share it with?

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