Sand and Swings

 Sometimes, if circumstances allow, a suggestion for the Outdoor Ed location can be made by the pupils. Hartlebury Common this week was one of those occasions.

Affectionately known by some of the Primary 2 pupils as "The Sandy Place", it is a great place for some really influential experiences. They enjoy creative play on the steep sandy banks and heathland.

Sand-Angel anyone?

After a while they have all spent time shaking sand from their clothes and tipping it out of their shoes.

They move on to challenge each other to climb a tree.

And when they have scampered up and down a number of the fantastic trees that the common has to offer, they helped put up the rope swing (taking time to double check everything is safe and secure).

The swing is a really great activity. It teaches the pupils a plethora of meaningful actions and subjects.

The science behind it (the interplay between kinetic and potential energy), gravity and friction (ropework and knots). It is a really good example of risk and reward ,showing them how to calculate the benefits of an exciting but potentially precarious activity.

What has been really worthwhile when the class are engaged in this activity is the reaction from members of the public. Hartlebury Common is a popular place for recreation and dog-walking and there is usually a steady stream of people passing by when our pupils are enjoying the excitement of the rope swing. Comments are always positive...

along the lines of "This is what they should be doing, enjoying themselves outside".

"They will remember this when they're older".

"Much more exciting than a computer game".

and my favourite... "I wish I could have done this at my school".