Artists in Residence in the Pentland Hills(Cockenzie P5’s #3) March 23, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Cockenzie Primary School, Experiential Learning, Outdoor Learning, Personal Portraits , add a comment
The second half of Miss Daly’s class ventured into the hills accompanied by Headteacher Mrs Gordon. No snow today so no giant snowballs to transport. A great feeling for all to be at the summit and some of the excitement on a short podcast at summit (testing camera so just a wee broadcast) . On the descent the pupils became highland warriors hiding in the heather followed by a highland charge. Some more subdued moments involved their own picture portraits made from natural materials. I will send the photos to the school but a few posted here- great to see such great artistic talent in the class
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Cockenzie P5 #2 March 23, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Cockenzie Primary School, Experiential Learning, Outdoor Learning, Teamwork , add a comment
Another group of Cockenzie mountaineers scaled Scald Law and they too were determined to get their “snowball” which grew in size throughout the ascent to the top. The group who were from Miss Daly’s class really worked together to get the giant snowball to the top well done - a real feeling of satisfaction once the snowball was placed on the trig-point. A speedy walk back to the van to get back to school on time really tested the pupils and the did themselves proud. I look forward to hearing the comments from the pupils. It’s amazing how a team task can just evolve and as more pupils got involved the more important the task became and the more focused individuals became - some persuading needed by class teacher Mrs Hall before we could leave the snowball on the trig point.
Social Networking - “No man is an island” March 20, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Networks, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
Just had an email from a friend who has been working in the HRM/Management development sphere for some time and has launched a new website and rebranded 7-Team as The Social Network Company.
Well worth a look at the recently developed website. Some great models on the networking theme and some good products looking at teams and development i.e. mind-software. Certainly an innovative and exiting way of looking at people and team enhancement using the whole digital world network. Make sure you click on the video of the day which has some interesting thoughts on digital links and the whole power of blogging. As I blog more I am becoming aware of just how much this whole thing is evolving and how it can be used for teaching and learning in East Lothian and the potential for the Outdoor Education team to use this as a learning tool.
“Giant Hailstone lands in Pentland Hills” March 20, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Cockenzie Primary School, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
Well,,,er..not really! Today I had a fantastic walk with a group of P5’s in the Pentland Hills. They climbed Scald Law and South Black Hill with ease. The hailstone is in fact one of the snow mascots carried by the pupils - one of which made it back to Cockenzie PS. Great to get P5’s out and about and over the next two weeks the whole year group will climb hills in the Pentlands. Class teacher Mr Woods will also be blogging about the trip with the pupils over the coming days and I will of course make some links as soon as its posted. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the P5’s and staff and I think a podcast or two will be in order.
BELA Course Starts…. March 20, 2007
Posted by Bill in : BELA, CPD, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
We have just started a new BELA course. We have a full compliment this year and are in fact running two courses side by side. You can view some snaps from there first day at Bonally orienteering and getting to grips with compasses and pacing.We wish them well with the course. It is certainly a useful course for teachers and facilitators in East Lothian who want to get out and lead groups in the surrounding countryside or just get their skills updated as part of CPD.. Many teachers and staff in east Lothian have done this course over the last few years and gone on to further qualifications. I will post some more stuff on their progress over the next couple of months.
Pencaitland Primary Pitch Camp During Health Week. March 9, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2comments
One of the best things about working as an Outdoor Education Teacher in East Lothian is the variety of groups that we come into contact with. I spent a morning with some fantastic pupils, full of enthusiasm, at Pencaitland PS on Wednesday as part of their health week and have just read their blog.It was a brilliant surprise to find on the blog comments that the P3 pupils have posted on how they thought the activity went. The comments from the P3’s on the activity are posted on the Pencaitland PS blog.
The P1’s have also written about their session Orienteering with Alastair on Monday. We look forward to seeing them at the Orienteering Competitions in the future. (Thanks for the link Lynne)
Its a great blog to visit with lots of input from the pupils on the health week and other goings on at Pencaitland PS.Great to see some feedback and comments from the pupils on a fun session. Future D of E students ?
CPD Winter Hill Walking (Podcast from the Cairngorms #2) March 5, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Adult Education, Cairngorms, Experiential Learning, Outdoor Learning, Winter Skills, podcast , 2comments
Last weekend I posted a podcast from some Knox pupils on a winter Hill walking Skills Course. This weekend Liz and I took some adults out mainly from teaching and youth worker sector in East Lothian. I took a chance to ask a few of them some of their thoughts on the course. This podcast is a bit sketchy at first (wind) but stick with it it gets more audible. Will also post a video of a Ruchst Block snow test later.
Haddington Infants P3 Climb The Law. March 1, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Berwick Law, Haddington Infants, Outdoor Learning , 2comments
I have just had a couple of days with 2 classes from P3 at Haddington Infants. We have been scrambling up Berwick Law in the wind. A refreshing experience for all concerned. The whole of P3 will ascend Berwick Law over the coming weeks in small groups. It’s great to get P3 out and about. When I first came to the role If found that many schools were using their Outdoor Education allocation for the “orienteering in school grounds option”. Although there is a lot of value in the orienteering there is plenty of “come and try it Orienteering” run by the service - so why not use the days for a more powerful learning experience and do the orienteering in the school grounds with school staff . We can train and advise on how to do this (There are even courses on the OE CPD brochure).
Yes there is sometimes a tear or two when P3’s set out - but the rewards of the day in terms of shaping confident individuals, relating to endless curriculum links, promoting teamwork, encoraging self and group awareness are well worth it. I appreciate that it’s often difficult to get staff cover, transport costs etc, but it can be done and we help out whenever we can in those areas. Lets get the young uns out! all too often in Outdoor Ed we concentrate on the older pupils thinking that the infants are too wee to do stuff- in my experience in OE this has always been proved wrong. Thanks to all at Haddington Infants for making it happen.
I will get a podcast from the next class to see what the pupils think and post it soon- the feeedback during review with the pupils this week has been fascinating - I just need to remember to push the record button.