SOIL

What is SOIL?

Sensory Opportunities, Inspiring Learning

A 6 week programme (2-3 hours per week) designed for children and young people who require a flexible approach to learning within a therapeutic environment. Each week the group will engage in a variety of activities from a different theme. Themes such as Growing & Cooking, Animal Care and Nature. We use each topic to explore personal development such as; self-care, hygiene, well being and life skills.

Below are a few examples of the topics covered across the weeks.

We spend time getting to know the farm and its animals.

This involves a session in which the group will get up close with rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs and more. They will learn about their habitats and characteristics, their diets and their life style. Everyone will be given the opportunity to pet the animals, observing their different textures – from shells, to fur, long hair to scales, each animal has a unique difference to be felt and discussed.

We explore the micro world that is within our ecology garden

From pond dwellers to creatures crawling amongst the bark and soil, the garden provides home to an array of mini beasts, waiting to be found by those curious to explore it. The group learns about the biodiversity on their doorstop whilst getting stuck into the mud and greenery that makes up our ecology garden and they are given the opportunity to build a bug hotel (seasonal dependency).

We look at the needs and wants of animals

We strive to address their well being and put on our creative hats, to engineer a toy, which stimulates the chosen animal in searching for it’s food. We relate this week to self-care and what we do to enrich our lives and improve our wellbeing.