The Big Landscape eXperiment
www3.hants.gov.uk/the-blex
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Priestlands’ Big Landscape Experiment
Diary, Feedback and Evaluation
Day 1 – Monday 1st June
Location – Noah’s Arc
Green
Met our volunteers approx.
10 – 15 students at 8.45am
in reception.
Blex was stored in the gym
and so with one member of
staff in the gym and one on
the green we ferried out the
equipment. We had 45
blocks of different sizes,
Four umbrellas with stands
and two mats in the
equipment.
At break time and lunch we had the radio on and did not differentiate between year
groups.
There was a real buzz about the equipment and it was busy very quickly.
Socialising, fun and play were facilitated very effectively by the equipment.
The green soon became the hub of the school and engaged the whole school
community very effectively.
Supervision was an issue and we realised that we needed at least two to three staff
members on duty to quieten the over enthusiastic students and allow for a staff
member being left on their own should another incident arise in adjoining areas.
Staff members were in favour of the blocks and pleased with the general atmosphere.
We had established ground rules of no throwing or stacking but some students were
naturally inquisitive and we needed more staff to monitor the area.
Umbrellas were identified
as being fragile as one blew
over in the wind today.
Territorial behaviour began
to evolve with the younger
year groups and owner ship
of blocks was noted but the
overall feeling was that of
fun, community and
enthusiasm.
Blocks were counted back
into the gym and secured at
the beginning of period 6
with our volunteers.
Day 2 – Tuedsay 2nd June
Location – Noah’s Arc Green
We had the radio and no age
restrictions again the overall
feeling was good and
enthusiastic.
However today the territorial
aspect grew and there were
repeated “flash points” during
the break and lunchtime
period making it difficult to
monitor.
At the end of the session the
students had enjoyed the
blocks so much that they
milled around instead of
getting back to lessons and
one student ran off with a cube.
We decided at this point not to
leave the equipment out after
lunch.
All equipment was counted in
to the gym again and secured.
Day 3 – Wednesday 3rd June.
Location – Wardens Piece.
Today we trialled the equipment
on Wardens Piece which is only
open to years 10 & 11.
This was a huge success. The
atmosphere was enthusiastic but relaxed.
The area was easily monitored with only one or two members of staff being sufficient.
“Usually this is a difficult area to monitor because of balls being thrown against
windows etc. but today it’s easier as everybody is congregated on the blocks in one
area so they are easier to monitor and there
are no balls in sight. The attitude of students
is more chilled out and not as feisty as usual.
The blocks work well in this area.”
Miss Andrews
Science Teacher
“I think that they’d be good just for the older
students.”
Mr Bolsin
Co-Assistant Head of Year 7; Geography and
Leisure & Tourism
Feedback from students on Wardens Piece:
Raw form as heard:
It’s different and new.
Year 11’s just leaving would have liked to have used it.
Potentially extravagant, waste of money, should have had them last year and would
rather have a swimming pool or water fountains outside.
Picnic benches and umbrellas fixed then you wouldn’t have to put them away every
day.
You can’t stack them anyway so may as well be fixed.
Comfortable, lovely to have a lesson outside.
Picnic benches wouldn’t be as flexible.
Blocks can be put into circles which is nice.
Years 7 & 8 fight over them.
Separate year groups preferable.
Geographically could separate the year groups i.e. Wardens piece is currently only for
years 10 & 11. Lower school could have their blocks on Noah’s Arc green or in
separate place.
Much more civilised on Wardens piece.
Need to look prettier.
They should come with cushions.
Nice to lay down without getting dirty.
Like Umbrellas.
More of them.
Separate groups, location. Upper school and lower school.
Bit babyish in appearance.
Like umbrellas.
Could they be softer.
Couldn’t we have vending machines instead?
Would like to have them.
We need more.
Think we should have two sets one for upper school and one for lower school.
More umbrellas for shade.
Trampolines please.
More shade.
Flexible is good.
Can we have tables?
Winter, heaters and open fires please.
More shade / awnings from the music block.
Different colours.
People come to this area specifically to use these.
Like that they are flexible.
Tables please.
Can we have two sets please one for years 10 & 11 and then one for lower school or
maybe just one for the upper school and the younger ones grow into it.
Curriculum Use
Art
The blocks were a valuable
teaching resource for art lessons.
Miss Denning, Art Teacher, used
the blocks to teach landscape
drawing.
Drama
Mrs Emmel.
Assistant Headteacher
“Great fun, easy to use as a
teaching resource because they
are flexible and light weight.
Useful for creating scenes and
enhancing role play in Drama.
Years 10 and 11 considerably
better behaved with the blocks
during break times and lunch
and the territorial aspect was not
seen with them at all.”
Revision
The blocks were well used for revision
during the week with students
commenting that it was somewhere
clean for them to sit and revise together
outside but in the shade.
Conclusions
Generally the blocks have worked well; enhancing teaching and learning,
socialising and fun and engaging the whole school community.
They’ve been great fun!
We have found that the equipment can bring out the territorial aspect of the younger
years during break time and lunchtimes but that the older students have been able to
use the blocks creatively and enthusiastically.
All year groups were able to use the blocks as a successful teaching resource adding
an outside classroom to the school and helping to develop creative ways of learning.
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