Building bird boxes improving literacy

PUPILS at Dumfries High School have been making bird boxes in a bid to improve their literacy skills.

As part of their Leonard Cheshire ‘Can Do’ environmental project and the John Muir Literacy Award, the school’s National 4 English class read and followed instructions which allowed them to build nesting boxes for birds.

The idea behind the project is to show how reading and writing is used in everyday life.

The class also consulted the RSPCB website to find out he nest way to position the boxes on trees in order for small birds to use the nesting boxes.

The pupils each chose a tree within the school grounds for their nesting boxes and with the help of BJ the Janitor, the boxes were positioned facing the correct aspect for the birds.

One was even placed on a tree outside their English classroom so it would be easy to observe if a bird took up residence.

The remaining nesting boxes will be sited in the Leonard Cheshire complex at Charnwood gardens which is near to Dumfries High School.

Before building the bird boxes the group made apple feeders and bottle feeders by reading and following instructions which were obtained online.

The S4 group thoroughly enjoyed using their literacy and practical skills together to help the environment.