Examples of Keystage 3 & 4 Activities:

Site Tour—A Must For Any Visit!

A tour of the site forms the crux of a visit to Carymoor and provides a real insight into what happens to everyday household and commercial waste. The environmental impact of landfill and the management strategies to minimise this impact can clearly be seen.

The tour takes around 2 hours and incorporates:

*The capped and restored landfill.

*The operational landfill..

*Composting operations.

*Leachate treatment.

*Methane electricity generation.

*Replica round house.

The following areas of the National Curriculum are covered during the tour:
Science: KS3-Sc2: 5a, Sc4: 5a, c. KS4 Single-Sc2: 4b, c. KS4 Double-Sc2: 5b, c. Sc4: 5b.
Geography: KS3-1a, 4b, 5a, b, 6j. KS2-1a, 3d, e, 4b, 5a, b.
Citizenship: KS4-1j. PSHE: KS3-4g. KS4-4g.

Sustainable Buildings

The buildings at Carymoor Environmental Trust were designed and constructed to minimise their environmental impact. The main features of the Centre’s buildings are investigated and alternative/sustainable building methods are discussed and compared with more common non-sustainable practices.

Pupils can be given the opportunity to design and model their own alternative/sustainable building.

The following areas of the National Curriculum can be covered during this activity:
Design & Technology: KS3-3c. KS4-3c.
Geography: KS3-5b. PSHE: KS3-4g. KS4-4g.

Sustainable/Renwable Energy

Alternatives to fossil fuels are explained and discussed, with particular regard to their environmental impacts. The alternative (and sustainable) energy resources in use at Carymoor are emphasized as good examples.

Pupils can be given the chance to experiment with demonstration solar panels and wind generators.

The following areas of the National Curriculum can be covered during this activity:
Science: KS3-Sc3: 5a, b, c. KS4-Single Sc4: 4b. KS4-Double Sc4: 5b.
Geography: KS3-4b, 5b, 6j, k.
Citizenship: KS4: 1j.

Role-play

Pupils simulate and take part in a public meeting to determine the outcome of a site earmarked for a waste disposal facility. All pupils are given a role to take part in the meeting, with characters representing waste disposal companies, local residents, local clubs and environmental campaigning organisations.

This exercise highlights some of the environmental issues involved with different waste disposal options and raises awareness that there are many social and political issues also involved.

The following areas of the National Curriculum can be covered during this activity:
English: En1: 1 to 4. Science: KS3-Sc2: 5a. KS4 Single-Sc2: 4b, c. KS4 Double-Sc2: 5b, c.
Geography: KS3-1d, e, 2a, 4b, 5a, b.
Citizenship: KS3-2a, 3a. KS4-3a.

Facilities For Much More:

It is not all waste and pollution; schools can visit Carymoor Environmental Trust to make use of the 100 acres of capped/restored landfill, which is undergoing ecological research and habitat creation. There is also a large pond with custom built boardwalks. Activities can include ecological surveys using transects and quadrats, map making, mini-beast hunts and studies and pond dipping.