Learning Outside the Classroom A Case Study from Lancaster Secondary School

A Specialist Sports and Arts College

On the 27th March 2009 a cross curricular day was held at the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre (LOPC) linking English and Physical Education. Twenty year 9 boys from the Lancaster School who were currently working at levels 4-5 in English, were chosen to take part in an Intervention day to help boost their creative writing skills in English and to develop a working understanding of skills needed for GCSE level writing.

For some pupils, when asked to take part in creative writing activities, the request can often be met with hesitation and a lack of self confidence in ability. As a result the pupils’ English teacher Mrs MacDougall and PE teacher Mr York decided to use sport as a stimulus, with a particular focus on activities of an outdoor adventurous nature to see whether this would make a difference – it did! The boys were split into two groups and took part in two ‘challenging’ activities one of which was land based and the other on the water. The land based activity was the ‘Leap of Faith’ – climbing up to the top of a very large pole and then jumping to catch a trapeze

and the other a kayaking session on the water.

The two groups did one task each in the morning and then swapped for the afternoon session.

After the boys had completed their morning activities they were paired together. Each pair were then given three minutes to discuss with their partner their thoughts and feelings about the morning’s activities.

They then had to fill out the following table choosing words to describe their emotions which they felt at each stage of their challenge (A pupil example can be seen). They were also given a word stimulus table to help them.

Your Challenge How did you feel:

Before During After

nervous tense

scared worried sweaty sick

fantastic alive magnificent

Words you could use:

Tense exhilarated frightened

Happy excited terrified

worried nervous confused

Anxious sweaty butterflies

The boys were able to share their experiences as a group and showed no signs of hesitation when asked to write about their morning. The group’s final task at the end of the day was to write a lively report for the school newsletter which informed their teachers, parents and the other pupils about their experiences at the LOPC. Mrs MacDougall provided the boys with a template to help them write their report.

Your report:Your report:

•• Use an effective title like Use an effective title like ‘‘My Challenge.My Challenge.’’•• Ensure you write in paragraphs.Ensure you write in paragraphs.•• Describe your challenge in detail and use Describe your challenge in detail and use

effective vocabulary to describe how you effective vocabulary to describe how you were feeling at each stage. were feeling at each stage.

•• Try to use a variety of short and detailed Try to use a variety of short and detailed sentences to make your writing effective. sentences to make your writing effective.

•• You could use humour to describe your You could use humour to describe your feelings.feelings.

All in all the boys enjoyed the day, writing and producing some fantastic work. Some of which is included.

A Day in Training

Kayaking

Before even stepping into the water or kayak, I was very nervous and scared, but some part of me told me that it was going to be good fun. Others were scared too so it didn’t make me feel lonely or “the only one”. Stepping into the kayak was really easy but placing it in the water was a challenge and it required the help from others. As soon as I got in I started to paddle away, struggling at first but soon getting the hang of it. After about an hour of paddling on our own the teacher called us in and we had a race followed by a game which required teamwork and bravery. We had to line our boats up and 1 person had to stand up, say their name and what their favourite programme is. This was very hard because there was a great chance of falling in the water. As we paddled time flew by and as soon as I knew it, it was time to get out!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Leap of Faith This was really good experience, jumping off a thin pole wasn’t going to be easy. We were all strapped with the safety belt and we all watched the teacher as he showed us the leap of faith. Pakadashe was the first to go up. He did it in a flash, so did everyone else. My turn came I was really nervous, I climbed the ladder and then I was on the pole. This thin piece of wood was all I had to climb before getting onto the platform to perform my jump. I was nearly there, I got onto the platform, and I could see the cars whizzing past on the motorways. I was very high, everyone was encouraging me from the bottom. I jumped and grabbed the bar. I felt glad I made it and letting go of the bar I slowly swung down to earth.

Trip to the Outdoor Pursuits Centre Just as assembly ended, Mrs MacDougall called some names out, I was one. When she asked us if we wanted to go on a trip to the outdoor pursuits centre, I was quite happy. When we got there at 9:00am, I got told I was going kayaking first. I was pleased because I had done it before and it was good then and so it was bound to be good this time. After we had got the kayaks out of the water, I was very happy because I had had a good time. Although I was freezing, I would do it again! After lunch, we went to the ‘leap of faith’. What you had to do was when the man had put your harness on; you climbed a big metal bar. When you had reached the top, you had to climb onto a wooden platform but the wind rocked it and so it was really hard to get your balance 30ft in the air! When you had got your balance, you had to jump and grab a metal bar then swing on it. Once you had hung there for a while, you let go and the man on the rope lowered you down. It was very scary at first but after you had done it a few times, it became a bit more easier. Overall the day was quite good, I would do it again.

You Think You Could Do It

It all started in assembly, Mr Rackley was about to dismiss us year 9’s so we could start our Wednesday school routine, but this Wednesday was far different than any other day. From the back of the hall Mrs MacDougall announced, “Could the following boys stay behind after assembly?” As my name was read out I had mixed thoughts going through my mind. At first I thought, what have I done wrong. But as the rest of the names were called out my thoughts were, I couldn’t possibly be staying behind for doing something wrong, most of the boys are very rarely in trouble! As all of the boys whose names were called out made their way to the front of the hall, Mrs MacDougall explained to us, “You boys have been chosen by your English teachers to take part in a trip to the outdoor pursuits centre”. Once the plans about the trip was announced I was feeling very excited. As it came to the day of the trip we found out what activities we would be participating in throughout the day. The first activity we had to do was the leap of faith which was where you had to be strapped into a safety harness and then you would have to climb a ladder up to a giant wooden pole with climbing ledges on that, once reaching the top of that there was a platform which you had to climb onto. Once you made it onto the platform there was a trapeze which was hanging in the air and from the platform you had to leap out and reach for the trapeze. I was a bit nervous at attempting the leap of faith as I had never tried it before. The other activity we were participating in was kayaking which I was really looking forward to. At first the man took us through a few safety precautions on how to use the canoes once they were told we got our life jackets and got going. Whilst in the water we done various activities that were very good fun. Afterwards we showered ourselves down and got on the coach back to Lancaster. My experiences of the outdoor pursuit’s trip were thrilling because it was something I had never done before.

Overall it was felt by the teachers that the chance to bring the two subjects together in an environment away from the school worked extremely well. The school have reiterated their desire to repeat this not only in English but other curriculum areas.