Celebrating our planet: Pre-Prep highlights from the Great Big Green Week

During this year’s Great Big Green Week, our school community came together to celebrate the environment through a vibrant array of creative and educational activities. The week was filled with hands-on learning experiences that inspired children to think deeply about their role in protecting the planet. Here’s a flavour of what pupils at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep have been up to:

Year 2: Art with a Purpose
Our Year 2 pupils collaborated on a stunning large-scale collage made entirely from recycled materials such as magazines and cardboard. The artwork depicted a lively garden scene buzzing with pollinators including bees, butterflies, and bird, highlighting their essential role in nature. To enhance their project, the children created a stop-motion animation that brought their collage to life, showcasing both their artistic talents and their growing environmental awareness.

Pedal Power: ‘Bring a Bike’ Day
Children were invited to bring their bikes to school for a day of cycling fun and skill-building. This activity not only boosted their confidence on two wheels but also sparked meaningful conversations about sustainable travel. The children learned how choosing to cycle instead of drive can help reduce pollution and protect the environment—an empowering lesson in how small changes can make a big impact.

Junk Orchestra: Turning Trash into Tunes
Led by Miss Thomas, the Junk Orchestra sessions were a hit! Children transformed everyday waste such as plastic bottles, tin cans, cardboard tubes, and bottle tops into imaginative musical instruments. Through tapping, shaking, and scraping, they explored rhythm, pitch, and volume, discovering that creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand. The sessions were a joyful reminder that reusing materials can be both fun and meaningful.

Year 1: A Buzzing Exploration of Nature
Year 1 children immersed themselves in a series of nature-inspired art projects. They painted stone bumblebees, designed colourful beehives, and created detailed pastel drawings. One standout activity involved crafting 3D bumblebees using lollipop sticks and tracing paper.

Visit from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust 
The excitement peaked with a visit from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. An engaging presentation and hands-on activities captivated the children, who learned about the different species of bees, their behaviours, and the importance of protecting them. The highlight was a Bumblebee Safari around the school grounds, where children spotted and identified bees in their natural habitats. Many described it as “the best day ever!”

Lasting Impact
Since the visit, the children have continued to explore their newfound knowledge through play and learning—drawing bees, building habitats, and sharing fascinating facts with friends and family. Their curiosity and respect for the natural world have blossomed, reflecting a growing awareness of the vital role we all play in protecting our environment. Through these hands-on experiences, the children are not only learning about biodiversity and ecosystems but also beginning to understand the importance of sustainability and caring for our planet. This year’s Great Big Green Week has sparked meaningful conversations and inspired eco-conscious actions, making it a truly memorable and impactful celebration of nature and environmental responsibility.

Want to learn more about how Berkhamsted Pre-Prep, Prep and Heatherton celebrated the Great Big Green Week?

Listen to our podcast episode with Sarah Blackmore and Laura Thompson here