CHILDREN at Applegarth Primary School are getting in touch with nature as they create their own documentaries about their school forest.
The project sees pupils from all year groups work together in groups to create a short film about a tree in the school forest, using iPads, trail cameras and microscopes purchased through funding from Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group (DECBG).
Giving more detail about the project, principal teacher Mr Doherty this week said: “This is all part of our application for the Leaf Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful. This will be our third time submitting a project; three years ago we got some more play resources for the forest and last year we started running our school chickens as a business with the profits going back into the forest, but this year’s is our biggest project yet because we’ve managed to get the windfarm on board, who kindly gave us £8000 towards the equipment.”
On Monday the aspiring film makers began planning their movies and learning how to use the new equipment.
P7 pupil Liliana and her teammates Jake (P2) and Murron (P5) were editing the first part of their movie on the new iPad. Liliana said: “We got to choose a tree to make a film about. We liked ours because it’s good to climb in, then we took a bunch of pictures and we’re going to see how it grows and changes, we’ve named it Jeff II.
“We’re going to use the cameras to see what animals live in the tree and come visit, so we might see some deer and birds and bugs.”
Meanwhile, Oliver (P6), Tilly (P7) and Sarah (P1) were getting to grips with the brand-new microscopes and are looking forward to collecting samples from their tree and using the trail cameras. Sarah said: “I’m hoping to see some squirrels, birds and foxes on the camera.”
Tilly added: “And we’re going to be looking at the bark and leaves during the seasons.
“It’s important to know about what else lives around you, and it’s been really fun learning about it.”
