Food and its relationship with the environment is often overlooked

Farm to Fork Workshop – Key Stage 1-4

As a class we discover how far food travels by tracing the journeys of different varieties of fruit and vegetables. We discuss how food is grown, the benefits of fresh food and the responsibility we all share to reduce the huge amount of packaging and food thrown away every day.

This workshop is completed by making paper pots planted with vegetable seedlings or growing micro greens. Pupils will also be shown how to make an up-cycled watering can. The seedlings can be taken home or grown at school enabling pupils to observe how the plants change and develop over time. This hands on activity demonstrates how easy and fun it can be to grow seasonal food and thereby reduce food miles and packaging. The session emphasises the value of healthy eating for us all.

Please note that for early years pupils we adapt the session content and length, focusing on exploring colourful up-cycled objects and making paper pots during a 30 minute session.

This workshop is also available as an online option. Please get in touch for further details.

In this workshop we explore a number of topics and themes:

  • Seasonal Food
  • Growing from Seed
  • Food Miles
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Caring for Plants
  • Composting
  • Recycling
  • Waste Packaging
  • PSHE
  • STEM
  • Science Week
  • Eco Week
  • Off-timetable Days
  • Local Food
  • Inclusion & Participation
  • Citizenship

This workshop lasts from 30 minutes to an hour with up to 35 pupils in each class. At the end of the session everyone will take a paper seedling start pot or a tray of micro greens home to enjoy.

Growing Seasonal Food Workshop  Key Stage 1-4

During this session we get outside and get growing together.

Autumn and Spring

The advantage of growing in your school’s vegetable patch during this time is that the summer holidays have passed and the risk of unattended vegetables is no longer an issue. The autumn and spring will bring plenty of sunlight to produce fantastic early crops for your pupils to feel proud of and enjoy.

We supply leeks, rainbow chard, berries, brassicas and many other interesting edibles for an autumn and spring learning experience. The workshop includes practical planting and an exploration of issues including nutrition, food miles, the seasons and what is needed for good growing conditions. This combination of theoretical and practical work delivers an unforgettable experience and wide ranging learning outcomes for pupils.

Spring and Summer

This workshop will help children develop new skills and learn about the science of plants by growing their own food. During this workshop participants are taught how to use the school’s raised beds effectively and are introduced to plant growth cycles throughout the four seasons. After observing and watering the crops, the fresh vegetables can then be made into a heathy snack or taken home to cook and eat.

We supply the class with a wonderful range of seasonal and heritage seeds and seedlings, which can be planted and harvested before the school holidays.

The benefits of learning how to grow food:

  • Responsibility – from caring for plants
  • Understanding – as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants)
  • Self-confidence – from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown
  • Love of nature – a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place
  • Reasoning and discovery – learning about the science of plants, animals, weather, the environment, nutrition and simple construction
  • Physical activity – doing something fun and productive
  • Cooperation – including shared play activity and teamwork
  • Nutrition – learning about where fresh food comes from.

In this workshop we explore a number of curriculum aligned topics and themes:

  • Growing from Seed
  • The Four Seasons
  • Plant Identification
  • Care for Plants
  • Citizenship
  • Composting
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Science Week
  • Eco Week
  • Citizenship
  • PSHE
  • STEM
  • Off-Timetable Days

 

Grow an Outdoor Classroom – CPD Sessions for Teachers

We are thrilled to be able to offer practical training sessions designed to empower and inspire teachers to make the most of your school’s outdoor spaces to support wider curriculum teaching.

This training will help you maximise the use of your school’s raised beds and greenhouses, and explore new approaches to using outdoor spaces as green classrooms with your pupils. Each training session covers top tips for low maintenance school gardening, planting throughout the seasons, harvesting food in term time and setting up pest-free compost heaps. All seeds and seedlings are provided and free gardening advice is offered after the sessions.

CPD Options:

  • Up to 10 teachers and TAs in each session.
  • The opportunity to invite staff members from other schools.
  • The opportunity to order quality affordable seedlings for planting sessions with classes.
  • Best plants provided for ongoing easy harvests.
  • Sessions can be given during school hours or after school.
  • Help setting up a pest free compost heap and worrmery to make free compost and cut down on waste at school.
  • Optional Bug Hotel and Natural Bird feeders element.
  • Growing from Seed
  • The Four Seasons
  • Plant Identification
  • Care for Plants
  • Citizenship
  • Composting
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Science Week
  • Eco Week
  • Citizenship
  • PSHE
  • STEM
  • Off-Timetable Days

  • "The children at Elm Grove Primary School had a fantastic morning learning about the importance of recycling. There was a good balance of listening, discussion and practical activities. The children learnt how to make plant pots from old newspapers and planted seedlings to take home. It was great to have Philip come to our school and we are looking forward to our follow up visit to the Earthship in the summer."
    Claire CampbellElm Grove Primary School
  • Thank you very much for coming in and working so hard with our young children! They all had a great day and we will do our best to build on the enthusiasm the children have for gardening!
    Sally OvereadSt Thomas More’s school – Hampshire
  • The workshop was pitched at just the right level for the children. They were interested and engaged. They enjoyed the hands on experience of making the newspaper pots and handling the objects. Thanks for a great workshop!
    Gaynor HopeNelson Primary School
  • "We really enjoyed our workshop with Philip Hunton it was thought provoking. The students were engaged to think about, food waste, packaging, nutrition, and global perspective. They thoroughly enjoyed the workshop this will be a good reminder for them to think green."
    Mrs Diane CalvertChichester Cathedral School
  • "A huge ‘thank you’ to Philip Hunton (Green Up Your Act) for providing each and every class in our school with an entertaining and educational workshop for our Eco Day. In keeping with our theme of ‘Recycling Waste‘ the younger children enjoyed the ‘Green Shoots’ activity, finding out about the importance of composting and planting a seed in their own recycled pot. The older pupils had a great time learning all about ‘Upcycling’ and produced a recycled notebook to take home. We will certainly be inviting Philip back in the near future."
    Sue QuinnThe Granville Inderpendedt School Sevenoaks
  • "The Green Shoots workshop was excellent! Teaching the children about food, and where it comes from in a fun and interactive way. I’m sure we will all think twice about  food miles. Many thanks we look forward to working with you again."
    Mrs GoodwinOur Lady’s Catholic School
Green up your Act
07739318569