Big WoW
The next Big WoW will take place in October 2010. For 2009 event details, see below!2009
What is the Big WoW?Over 20,000 pupils across London will be exploring British nature on their walk to school as part of the Big WoW 2009.
The Big WoW is a celebration event to launch the 2009/10 WoW campaign. It is a fun activity for your school to be a part of and can help promote the WoW campaign to pupils. Your school can take part whether you are already
a WoW school or just thinking about joining.
The Big WoW can either be a one day event or run over the course of the school year – you decide according to the lesson plans you choose to do from the resource pack.
Organising your Big WoW Day
Ideally we would like it if all schools could take part in the Big WoW on Wednesday, 30 September but we understand if you can't. If you haven't already, please let your School Travel Adviser know which day you will be participating.
The Big WoW Resource Pack 2009 – Exploring British Nature
The Resource Pack is your guide for running a successful Big WoW. This pack will support you in encouraging your pupils to walk to school, discovering British Nature along the way.
This pack has been created to support teachers. Lessons are aimed at Key Stage 2, in particular Year 5 pupils, although they could be adapted for other year groups. There are four lessons which can be expanded or shortened depending on time available. There are pupil worksheets, teacher fact sheets and resource links to assist you with your lessons.
There are four lesson plans including:
• Lesson 1 – Planning your journey
• Lesson 2 – Animals and plants
• Lesson 3 – Urban Safari Field Trip
• Lesson 4 – Collage
The Big WoW Collage Competition
If you have signed up for the collage competition, don't forget to encourage your pupils to work on the collage throughout the year. Pupils can collect, draw or make rubbings of natural objects on their walk to school during Autumn, Winter and Spring.
The competition is aimed at Key Stage 1 and 2 students. While more than one entry will be accepted from one school, only one per class can be submitted. For more information about the Collage Competition see below for the Terms and Conditions.
To keep the Big WoW as environmentally friendly as possible, we are asking schools to email images of their collage to the Big WoW team. Please complete the Collage Competition entry form and email it along with some good quality photos of your collage to bigwowcompetition@felton.co.uk by Friday, 19 March 2010.
15 collages will be short listed with the winner announced at the Transport for London and Living Streets WoW award ceremony in June 2010. In support of the Big WoW 2009, Merlin Entertainments Group has donated a fantastic first prize for the winning class of the WoW Collage Competition to LEGOLAND® Windsor – the perfect setting for a 'hands on, minds on' learning experience. The second prize is a trip for one class to the London Zoo, and the third prize £250 of art supplies for one class.
We look forward to receiving your entry!
Earn more rewards with Generation Green
By registering for the Big WoW your school is now eligible to start earning rewards with Generation Green. Generation Green is a programme bringing together pupils, parents, teachers and schools to help make the world a greener place – rewarding leaves to schools that demonstrate 'green' behaviour. Leaves collected through the programme can be redeemed for a range of prizes for your school, including waste composters, bike sheds and weather stations. To make sure your school is able to collect your free leaves, sign up now at Generation Green and the free leaves will be awarded to your school in October.
Great days out with Merlin Entertainments Group
The Merlin Entertainments Group provide great days out to millions of visitors every year to their top attractions including LEGOLAND. In addition, they offer a comprehensive range of out-of-classroom educational experiences especially aimed at schools. Further to the Big WoW Collage Competition prize, Merlin are offering the chance to win a class trip to an attraction of your choice if you register online at Merlin Learning. Once registered you’ll also gain access to free educational resources and fantastic money saving offers too!
Further information
For further information about the WoW Campaign contact your School Travel Adviser or click here.
Click here for identification sheets and ideas.
Links
Planning your journey
Transport for London Journey Planner
Walkit.com
Google Earth
Bing Maps
Streetmap
Multimap
Find out more about animals and plants
London Wildlife Trust
The National Trust
What’s in My Back Yard (WIMBY)
Young People’s Trust for the Environment
London Natural History Society
Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL)
The Mammal Society
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
RSPCA
Natural History Museum
Kew Gardens
The Woodland Trust
Royal Horticultural Society
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
The London Biodiversity Partnership
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
Downloadable resources
Big WoW Teacher's pack containing lessons linked to Nature in the UK
A powerpoint assembly that can be delivered to pupils who will be taking part in Big WoW
Notes for teachers carrying out the Big WoW assembly
Terms and conditions for the Big WoW collage competition
Entry form for the Big WoW collage competition
