Let’s ‘Play to Learn’
- Set up a trail of a large number of clues over a large area
- Encourage the children to travel from clue to clue as quickly as they can
- Children have things to find or questions to answer / problems to solve at each location
- Children compete as a team to solve the problems
- Gradually increase the length of the trail
- Introduce the concept of timing the trail
Safety & Organisation
Ensure:
- the surface is clean and free from obstructions
- children move safely when trying to move as quickly as they can
- children work in small groups
- all children can be seen all of the time
Opportunities to
- sustain activity for longer periods of time
- co-operate in solving problems when working with others
- recognise and describe how their breathing changes and how they look and feel when they exercise
Questions
- What is the quickest way to get to the next clue?
- Why is it important to be safe even when you are trying to move as quickly as possible?
- How did you feel towards the end of the trail?
- What did you notice about your breathing?
- What did you notice about your heart rate?
- What could you do to help you run faster next time?
Can you see the child?
- Sustaining activity for longer periods of time
- Co-operating in solving problems when working with others
- Recognising and describing how their breathing changes and how they look and feel when they exercise
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Most of the time
- The child is timed for their completion of the trail – record the times and try to improve next time
- Collect objects from each clue point that can be used in a subsequent task, e.g. letters to make a word, numbers to complete a sum, shapes or puzzle pieces to make a whole puzzle, etc.
- Encourage the child to identify why the changes are happening to their bodies
- Children create their own clues/trail using ‘Outdoor Learning Cards 2009’
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Sometimes
Encourage the child to:
- walk when they need to and try to run for at least 30 seconds before walking again
- focus on one aspect at a time, e.g. red face, breathing heavy or deeper; ask them to feel their heartbeat and listen to somebody else’s breathing, etc.
- co-operate with others by working with them