This resource is part of a series/bank of resources created to support

This resource is part of a series/bank of resources created to support schools linking and work in school on identity, diversity, community and equality. See more at https://thelinkingnetwork.org.uk/resources/linking-resources-area/ Or join our Teacher Facebook group for more resources and ideas or to ask a question. We are also on Twitter @Linking Network. Please get in touch if we can help [email protected] Happy Linking

The Secret Sky Garden This book is an excellent primary read for anyone wanting to weave caring for the environment into their Schools Linking class visits. The two main characters in this story, Funni and Zoo form a friendship while working together to plant seeds and grow a garden in a plot of land. Use this PowerPoint to discuss the impact planting trees and flowers can have on the environment. On a linking visit day, you may choose to decorate plant pots and plant seeds together or you could create shared garden collages

L.O. To discuss the themes in The Secret Sky Garden

If you wish to use the following slides and complete activities linked to The Secret Sky Garden, you will need to purchase a copy of this book.

Look at the front cover of this story with your partner. Can you predict what you think this story is going to be about? Can you give reasons for your predictions?

Funni liked the old airport car park. Look at pages 1 and 2. You could insert a copy of the page here (or give children a copy to look at together in pairs). Have a careful look at the image of the car park what do you notice?

What adjectives would you use to describe this place? deserted Do you think you would like this place? Why/why not?

What impact does the Secret Sky Garden have on the environment?

Why is it important to care about people and places?

Is there anywhere in school or in our local area that could benefit from having its own ‘secret garden’?

On pages 5 and 6, we see how Funni learns to play the sounds that she hears around her on her recorder. Go out into your playground and listen carefully to what you can hear. Make a class list of sounds you can hear and then see if you can create a ‘whole city of sounds’ using an instrument of your choice!

If you lived in the same city as Funni and noticed her lugging huge sacks of soil on her own, what would you do? What would you say to her? With your partner, role play what would happen if you met Funni

Even though Funni’s garden is beautiful, she still feels sad. Why is this?

After Zoo joins Funni in the secret sky garden, they are both much happier. But they’ve decided that they would like more people visiting their garden- everyone should experience the joy and get to fly their kite there! Imagine you are either child, can you write a postcard inviting others into the garden?

In your postcard, think about: - How you are going to describe the garden - Why should people visit this garden? - What makes it so special?

The Secret Sky Garden Themed Class Visit Activities

Compostable Seed Pots What do we need? Composable pots Felt pens or paints Pencil or light coloured felt pen. Compost Seeds such as: Forget- me-knots, cornflowers, French marigolds, primroses. What will we do? With your partner decorate a pot by taking turns to draw the design then colour with paints or felt pens. (You can each decorate a pot remember to make your design a shared one.) When your design is finished fill your pots with compost to 2 cm below the top. Sprinkle seeds onto the top, cover with more compost and water gently. Leave to germinate before placing in your school grounds or taking home to grow.

Here’s how other link pairs have decorated their pots

Decorated Plant Containers What will I need. Large terracotta pots Compost Posca Pens or ready mix paints Seasonal plants So that the pots can be shared so each school and each community has a planter, 4 pots will need to be decorated throughout the Linking day. What will I do? This activity will work best combined with decorating compostable containers and designing seed packets as gifts too. Place the terracotta pot in the middle of a table and decide as a group on a theme for the decoration: flowers, insects, fish, shapes etc Each pair of partners will take it in turns to add a small image to the pot, it is useful if one partner can hold the pot in position as the other partner works. Add compost and plants and water gently. 1 pot for each school 1 pot for each school community.

1. In pairs, imagine and discuss what your own Secret Sky Garden could look like. 2. Use a mixture of collage and drawings to create a shared piece of artwork. 3. If you are feeling ambitious, you could even make origami flowers.

1. In pairs, decorate a container of your choice. 2. If you are making a shaker, decide what you will use to fill it. 3. Once your instrument has been made, can you create a rhythm together? Why not form a Schools Linking Orchestra? What will your ‘whole city of sounds’ sound like?