Churcher's College pupils walk in the steps of Gilbert White

Y5 at Churcher's College Junior School ventured out to The Selborne Study Centre to experience plant life cycles first-hand, among the flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside.

After making flowers from locally sourced clay, the children worked in house-teams to collect specimens from the kitchen garden of the Gilbert White Field Study Centre. Staff from the study centre acted as guides, revealing some of nature’s secrets as we walked the paths and gardens. The children used the equipment at the study centre to examine, dissect and catalogue their finds.

After lunch, the children ascended the zig-zag path to test their hypothesis whether leaves from the Hearts Tongue Fern were longer at the top of the path or at the bottom. After hundreds of data points and much mental calculation we were none the wiser (!) but our investigative skills have improved!

The children thoroughly enjoyed their time at the study centre and by seeing and experiencing plant life cycles in the natural environment they have cemented their first term’s scientific knowledge and understanding.