Ambassador School Resources

To support Peak District Ambassador schools we have created a new set of lessons aimed at connecting your school to the Peak District National Park. We have also selected resources from other organizations which provide a wider opportunity for learning and understanding. We want the National Park to be loved, understood and supported by schools and communities across the region and we hope these resource support you in that aim.

Peak District National Park, Special Qualities

Primary: What's so special about the Peak District? This lesson introduces students to the basics of what is a National Park? and how do we know what's special about them? This lesson leads on to look at your own location and thinking about what's special. The photos can be used as part of an in school display.

What's so special about the Peak District?: Teachers notes and worksheets (1MB), presentation (3.6MB),  photos (2.8MB)

Primary and Secondary: Peak District National Park Special Qualities display material. These documents can be printed out to use in lessons or as past of a display about the Peak District National Park. There are 7 A5 posters, one for each special quality. TIP: Please set your printer to print as A5.

Primary 7 Special Qualities Display Posters (1.4MB)

Secondary 7 Special Qualities Display Posters (1.8MB)

Primary: The Countryside Code, keeping special places special. This lesson includes teachers note, worksheets and a presentation to explore how we as citizens can play our part in keeping places special form our schools ground to National Parks.

The Countryside Code, Keeping special places special: Teachers notes and worksheets (782kb), presentation (4.9MB)

Primary and Secondary: Free Peak District National Park online talks

Peat in the Peak

This series of three Key Stage 2 lessons focuses on a very important habitat which we find across the Peak District uplands and beyond. Our peatlands are vastly important for a number of reasons and are also impacted by human activity with both positive and negative effects.

Peat in the Peak 1 – ‘Why is Peat Special?’ introduces these habitats and explores what makes them so important.
Presentation (2.3MB) – Teachers notes and worksheets (923kb)

Peat in the Peak 2 – ‘Peat in Trouble’ takes students through some of the ways humans can impact these habitats negatively leading towards a decision-making activity around how we could change to reduce these impacts.
Presentation (2.3MB) – Teachers notes and worksheets (1.1MB)

Peat in the Peak 3 – ‘Restoring our Peatlands’ shows students the positive impacts people can have on these habitats through restoring them. At the end students can work on a timeline showing the journey from degradation to restoration in one area.
Presentation (3.5MB) – Teachers notes and worksheets (1.2MB)

Connection to Nature and Wellbeing

Primary and Secondary: The John Muir Award, is a great way to learn, discover, explore and share wild places. The award is free and supported by a range of free resources including Mission: Explore John Muir.  A unique set of activities to inspire people to follow in the footsteps of John Muir - a founding father of the modern conservation movement. Featuring 20 activities that reflect his adventures.

Primary: The Scouts have developed a set of short activities designed to connect young people to nature through the Five pathways to nature connectedness. These simple ideas and activities promote connect, emotion, beauty, meaning and compassion. These have been developed as part of #generationgreen project.

Climate Change and Nature Recovery

Primary and Secondary: Taking part in citizen science projects for young people can be a powerful way to contribute to our collective  understanding. The National Parks UK Look Wild project encourage young people to take part in recording and documenting nature at school, in the local area or in a national park. The project uses the inaturalist app or Seek app.

Primary and Secondary: The WWF has a selection of resource on climate and climate change designed for schools, Shaping Our Future.

The Family of National Parks

National Parks UK Free download lessons covering a range of subject, including history of national parks, maps and more.

BBC Bitesize - Let's visit a National Park

Join the Change Champs, Amelle and Daniel, as they travel to the Peak District to learn about different geographical features.

Click on the image below to see the video...