Week 4
The other half of their session was skilled based. The children watched as Mr Oakey demonstrated how to split wood using a hunting knife. The children were able to make this 'high risk' activity 'low risk' by following the safety code to the letter. Being able to self-assess and lower risk themselves empowers children and gives them confidence in not just their learning, but in life. Once the branch was split the children explored the science around plants- how sap moves around and how trees create food using leaves. Although the children were learning vast amounts they also had lots of fun.
Year 5 also built shelters. Again almost all were well constructed. One group engineered a huge gap and created a shower system for two children (Mr Oakey didn't think that was an intended design)! After the shelters the children did some Maths. However, in Outdoor Learning Maths can look very different to Maths in the classroom. The children explored eight giant catapults. They fired balls at numbered targets and added the scores as their team went along.
All in all, a great day. Mr Oakey would like to say a huge thank you to all the incredible staff out today. Thankfully no teacher was injured by catapulted balls, although the children seemed intent on aiming at the defenceless teachers!
