Western Morning News (Saturday)
Students to learn science fundamental to farming
SCHOOL pupils from the South West and beyond will take part in a series of ‘Science Farm Live’ lessons being organised by the National Farmers’ Union.
In the lessons, set to take place next month during British Science Week, farmers spanning the breadth of the country will take children through real-life farming situations while covering core science topics.
More than 30,000 students from across England and Wales have signed up for the scheme.
The programme has become the newest addition to NFU Education resources, joining projects like #LockdownLearning and the popular Farmvention competition, and provides the opportunity for British farming to reach its biggest ever virtual classroom.
Minette Batters, president of the NFU and a Westcountry farmer, said: “It’s absolutely incredible to see so many students already registered for our Science Farm Live programme. Our education projects and teaching resources have always been incredibly popular among both teachers and pupils, and the swell of enthusiasm for these live lessons is a golden opportunity to put food and farming in front of more children than ever.
“These lessons are a fantastic way to give schoolchildren a taste of real-life farming and inspire them about the scientific opportunities within agriculture, while covering key elements within the curriculum.”
The free lessons will be held between March 8-12 and are designed so they can be easily delivered if children are still learning from home or back in school. The programme includes: Live lambing with sheep farmer Sioned Davies; Discovering future farming tech with experts at Harper Adams University; The life cycles of chickens, starting with hatching, with the founder of Eggucation, Deb Howe; Vet school with dairy vet Navaratnam Partheeban; A farming-themed climate science show with Welsh science museum Techniquest.
Mrs Batters, who runs an arable and livestock enterprise near Salisbury in Wiltshire, added that the lessons offer a “chance for children to get excited about science and learn about farming”, while also taking some of the pressure off educators. “The past 12 months have been really tough for teachers, pupils and parents alike,” she said.
“We still have a few weeks to go until British Science Week and we want to get even more pupils signed up. I ask all farmers to reach out to their local primary schools and encourage them to get involved.”
Find out more about the Science Farm Live programme, what the live lessons include and how to sign up by visiting the website www.encounteredu.com/live-lessons/science-farmlive