Giraffes arrive for schools zoo project

Sportsafe UK, the educational sponsor of the event, is storing and delivering the giraffes to more than 80 Colchester schools Sportsafe UK, the educational sponsor of the event, is storing and delivering the giraffes to more than 80 Colchester schools

MORE than 80 blank-canvass giraffes are due to arrive in schools across Colchester next week.

 

The figures are being sent to more than 80 schools which are taking part in the Stand Tall scheme, which has been organised to mark 50 years of Colchester Zoo.

Each school will be being given one 1.3metre tall figure for its pupils to decorate in whatever way they want.

During the summer, the children’s giraffes will be put on show indoors across the town while larger figures, designed by professional north Essex artists, will go on display in the streets of Colchester.

At the end of the schools project, which is run by the zoo and Sportsafe UK, each 1.3metre high giraffe will be returned to its school permanently.

Anthony Tropeano, director of Colchester Zoo, said: "We're very excited about Stand Tall and really hope that the people of Colchester, its schools and our surrounding areas really enjoy the experience.”

Comments(3)

Gavin2z says...
4:47pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Do schools really need yet another excuse for more projects and time spent on anything bar academic subjects?

My own grandsons have spent whole weeks away on "character building" camps.

I have heard of a local school spending a week in the woods teaching children how to make dens.

Yet at the same time my 11 year old grandson cannot work out what five 20p's are worth.

By all means have projects and similar but they should be as well as academic teaching not instead of.

setbuilder says...
12:43pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Gavin2z wrote:
Do schools really need yet another excuse for more projects and time spent on anything bar academic subjects?

My own grandsons have spent whole weeks away on "character building" camps.

I have heard of a local school spending a week in the woods teaching children how to make dens.

Yet at the same time my 11 year old grandson cannot work out what five 20p's are worth.

By all means have projects and similar but they should be as well as academic teaching not instead of.
I don't think you'll find that these projects are instead of the proper curriculum. They will be included in the 'crafts' section (DT I believe it is called now) of the school's regular teaching process.
The 'character building' camps are normally done outside of school time and with the parent's consent. These are not part of the 'academic teaching'.
Perhaps you need to tell your own child not to give consent to him doing these courses (which the children themselves normally very much enjoy).
Have you considered explaining money to him yourself. If you have then maybe your grandson has a problem with the concept of either mathematics and/or money.
perhaps, if your 11 year old grandson cannot work out what five 20 pences are worth then he should be assessed for learning difficulties. Most children by that age nowadays are pretty astute when it comes to money.

Lawford Lass says...
10:27am Tue 29 Jan 13

Gavin2z wrote:
Do schools really need yet another excuse for more projects and time spent on anything bar academic subjects?

My own grandsons have spent whole weeks away on "character building" camps.

I have heard of a local school spending a week in the woods teaching children how to make dens.

Yet at the same time my 11 year old grandson cannot work out what five 20p's are worth.

By all means have projects and similar but they should be as well as academic teaching not instead of.
I have no problem with my kids going on week long school trips, it does their confidence a world of good, but then I back up their education at home. Even my 8 year old knows what five 20p's are worth so I think you should look closer to home for the answer to that one, maybe the parenting is lacking is someway??

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