Initial Research

'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'

By: L.Frank Baum

Art by: Robert Sabuda

Publisher: Little Simon

'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' presents a elaborate title, in which the characters are involved with the words. The format of the book is a "commemorative pop-up" and new features such as a small pair of green-lens glasses and moving pop-ups are being used to make this book unique. 

This book is certainly a book children who learn visually would appreciate, however it's also appropriate for kinesthetic learners because, for example, the addition of glasses for the child to get involved with the story themselves. This book is also intellectual as there is a lot of writing involved. This book is ideally aimed for children aged 6+, but young children may enjoy it and understand it more with adult supervision.

Sight and touch are the primary senses at use with 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', other senses such as taste, sound and smell aren't really present/revelant, as sight and touch are so extensive and intriguing as stand-alone elements in this book.

We consider this to be an appropriate way to present the stoy of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', as the adventurous story is shown elaborately and in such a fun way that children of all ages will find something in the book that will appeal to them.

'A First Book of Nature/Outside Your Window'

By: Nicola Davis

Illustrated by: Mark Hearld

• Pen and ink – textured strokes, intense colours.• Encourages the target audience to venture outside and aids develop their knowledge and understanding of wildlife and their habitats.

• The children, whilst being able to read a narrative, they’re also learning more about the environment and wildlife using their imagination.

• Not quite an information book – more of a narrative, artistic but doesn't exaggerate colours of nature.

• Aimed at 7+

'George and Flora's Secret Garden'

By: Elizabeth Elworthy

Illustrated by: Ley Honor Roberts

• Collage and digital illustration (hand-rendered and coloured digitally)

• Includes practical tips and suggestion for fun outdoor activities.

• Incorporated into a narrative – real tips with make believe characters – relatable for children as central characters are children.

• Grandad giving tips to the children – book for grandparents and parents to read with their children.

•  Actively encourages children to have fun in the garden and learn about flowers and planting fruit and vegetables.

• Aimed at 5+

'Out and About in my Boots'

By: Christina Goodings

Illustrated by: Jo Brown

• Lift-the-flap books for young children to engage with.

• Introduces young children to the world around them.

• Encourages children to look after the planet and be environmentally friendly.

• Painted art style.

• Labelled animals throughout the book – teaching the children to read and teach them the names of animals etc.

• Colourful, bright intense colours used.

• Presents appropriate clothing for the children to use when out exploring.

• Aimed at 3+

How Children Learn

"I hear I forget, I see I remember, I do I understand"

Kinesthetic - Also known as 'tactile learning' is a preference to learning through practical, physical activities rather than listening or watching to the activities being shown.

Visual - This preference to learning is a style in which concepts are associated with a need for imagery. These learners have a tendency to use vocabulary such as "which looks like..."

Auditory - These learners have a preference - depend on - hearing and speaking as their main way of learning new information. They tend to be reliant specifically on rhythm and pace, hearing and tone.

Ideal books for Kinesthetic learners

As Kinesthetic learners have a preference to a hands-on approach and involving themselves in activities, examples of an ideal books for these young learners are tactile books such as the 'Touch and Feel' collection (shown below). These bring children into the story and allow them to remember the feeling of animals rather than just reading about them, or listening to parents talk about them. This way of learning isn't focused on the use of imagination, but more so about the memory of the child and how they use it to understand new information.

Ideal books for Visual learners

Visual learners are likely to find books highly interesting, specifically books intended for children with imagery and illustration included. The style of illustration isn't necessarily important to this learner, they simply thrive from any form of visual stimuli. 

Ideal books for Auditory learners 

Any book can be appropriate for an auditory learner - especially if the book is being read to them. This opens up a selection of different books. But among average children's books, are also the (arguably, perhaps slightly less popular) sound books, such as, 'What the Ladybird Heard' (shown below) in which children can read the story (or have it read to them) and press the corresponding buttons to hear and remember the sounds of (in this case) the animals.

Main Brief • Naturesbase

Who are they?

'Naturesbase' are and outdoor environment education experience organisation directed at children (and a few adults, alike!) to educate and get them involved in looking after our environment and enjoying days outside away from the busy world of technology. 

What do they do?

'Naturesbase' invite primary schools to their inspirational residential camp to learn about living in harmony and having fun with our environment and wildlife.

"one of the best ways to describe it is a 24/7 forest school experience
 where we live and learn outside, but with the comfort of our large stone barn from eating, teaching, relaxing and playing in if we need to."

Children can get involved with tasks such as;

• Sleeping in large safari style tents
• Singing and roasting marshmallows around a campfire circle
• Collecting eggs from chickens and feeding the animals
• Making lunch for later
• Warm up games
• "West Wales Adventure" - Using a map to journey around the farm
• "Survival in the Wild" - Getting into "tribes" and learning how the Celts survived
• Lighting small fires with a spark
• Writing haiku-poems
• Locating the best place for a wind turbine
• Outdoor pizza making - made with ingredients from the farm
• Learning about farming skills by creating hurdle fences, feeding animals, creating scarecrows, mucking out, grinding corn, making flour and bread (for supper), churning butter and sowing seeds before a taste tour of the veg patch
• Exploring the woodland, hedgerow, meadow, and stream habitats for a range of bugs
• Having fun in the "Muddy Messy Obstacle Course"
• Going on a "Celtic Safari" collect clues, and then navigate the way back to camp
• Paddling in streams
• Learn how to filter water
• Learn to light fires
• Follow an explorer's trail to Aberaeron Harbour town
• Crab fishing in Aberaeron
• Raft building on the beach
• Visit a Welsh speaking school
• Night-time safari
• Hunting for bats
• Orienteer around the site by torch light
• Listening to stories under the stars

Creating;

• Native American map lines
• Natural paint
• Shelters next to a stream
• Herb tea
• Pots from the riverbank
• Dream catchers
• Cob/earth bricks
• A solar oven
• A 'bug hotel'
• A float a solar-powered boat
• Natures palette
• Sculptures
• Wet clay faces and puppets
• Natural tie-dying
• Name plates collages
• Mobiles
• Leaf bowls
• Aboriginal art paintings
• Nettle paper
• Cob bird boxes
• Masks
• Beads and bracelets
• Stick carvings
• Willow dragon flies
• Hedge row pencils
• Tree people and animals
• String

What's the brief?

Key Objects
> To design elements of a potential children's book which will act as an introduction to exploring the natural world through activities and associated information.
> To suggest best or most appropriate art styles, type use/formatting and/or added features through research to help the audiences best engage with the subject matter.

Target Audience(s)
There are 3 age group catergories available from which you must select one for your book to be aimed at:
> 5-7 year olds (emerging readers). To be read and sued with adult assistance
> 7-9 year olds (confident readers). To be read and used with some adult assistance
> 9+ (confident and competent readers). To be read and used independently with minimal adult assistance.

Deliverables Summary
You are required to produce 1 x cover (front, spine & back) and 2 x internal double page spreads for a book that introduces children to, and activities within the natural world.
Sizes: After research you are to decide whether to use A5 of A4 sized pages.
Paper use: Your client as that you consider the use of recycled papers and board as he is keen that the printing of this book ultimately takes in as many 'eco print' considerations as possible.

Final Presentation
All elements to be mounted and annotated clearly with module number/name visible, on a sheet of black A1 mount board.


Are the any other similar courses to 'Naturesbase'?
There are the so many different activities for children to get involved with and enjoy, but 'Naturesbase' aren't the only organisation of its kind.

Another example is 'Arthog' -- an outdoor education centre aimed at children aged 11+ (but take on a lot of younger secondary school year groups)

Their aims are highly similar to that of 'Naturesbase', to educate children and to involve them in outdoor activities. The activities that 'Arthog' present are perhaps a little more challenging, with tasks such as;

• Trail Quest
• Raft Building
• Gorge Scrambling
• Rock Climbing
• Mountain Walking
• Paddle Sports
• Board Surfing
• Mountain Biking
• Mine Exploration
• A Camping Night Out
• Nightline
• Orienteering
• Photosearch
• Night Walks
• Beach Games

Having been to 'Arthog' three times in the past, I have a first-hand experience at an outdoor activity organisation, so I'm looking forward to putting design and outdoor education/activity together.

Other examples of outdoor education adventure organisations include:

Kingswood
Howstean Gorge
Live the Adventure

Initial thoughts and ideas for 'Naturesbase'?

After doing some research into 'Naturesbase' and their aims, and also reaching out into further similar organisations, my initial thoughts are that I want to create elements of a children's book that really engages with a child and makes them excited about what lies outside their front door and beyond technology. Something that makes them want to know more about the different activities you can take part in not only in your garden, but in fields, forests, streams etc. I'm looking forward to getting started with this brief.