The Big Jurassic Classroom
05 Dec 2011
The Jurassic Coast is celebrating the 2012 London Games in a big way! In Spring 2011, the schools programme called "The Big Jurassic Classroom" was launched, the programme is part of the Jurassic Coast Earth Festival 2012.
They want every school in Dorset and East Devon to take part in The Big Jurassic Classroom through teaching their children and young people about the Jurassic Coast, UNESCO and the Olympic values, and here's the catch, all at the same time!
They have been asking schools to sign up to get involved with The Big Jurassic Classroom through attending special, free teacher training events that they will be organising through school pyramid or cluster structures. At the training events they will be using our new Jurassic Coast: Rocks and Fossils education pack to help teachers learn the essential skills and knowledge to deliver The Big Jurassic Classroom in their schools. In addition to this, they will be giving away a free education booklet especially designed to help teachers use the Jurassic Coast within the context of the 2012 Games and the Olympic Values (excellence, respect, friendship, courage, determination, inspiration and equality).
The pack will include ideas about how to structure celebrations in school (like organising a Jurassic Week) to where to get out and about on the coast and how to be inspired by the landscape. For example after a visit to Lulworth Cove, children could create podcasts (perhaps even in a foreign language), talking about their favourite natural features, which tourists could download as part of their visit to the site. A project like this could inspire children with the beauty of the natural landscape and help them to respect how important it is to look after the Jurassic Coast for everybody.
The Big Jurassic Classroom is a chance for every school in Dorset and East Devon to get involved and learn about how we should value where we live.
For more information visit the website and take a look at the latest newsletter.