cooking at Habberley Valley with Year 7B

One of the pupils enjoyed cooking a bacon sandwich for their peers and staff members using two gas bottles and stoves, a metal tray, pan and spatula. The pupil started by using the knife to spread the butter all the way around the pan to stop the bacon from sticking. While the pupil was flipping the bacon over, a staff member got the rolls ready by cutting them in half and then putting butter on. Throughout the cooking the pupil asked the question "do you think it looks cooked?". The pupil began to identify the features of the bacon as they could notice the pieces were turning a different colour "that is done, it is pink in the middle and black round the outside". 

As the one pupil was cooking their peers enjoyed exploring the various sights and paths of Habberley Valley. The pupils showed an interest in walking through the forest areas and climbing to the top of the cliff. When the bacon sandwiches had been cooked the pupils enjoyed eating them. The pupil who cooked the food showed an interest in their peer's feedback of how the sandwiches tasted out of 10. The pupils rated their sandwiches by "5, 7, 9". After the pupils had eaten they took it in turns to roll down the muddy bank seeing if they could roll to the bottom. 

 

DoE expedition Bronze award with Year 9 and 10

Year 9 and 10 took part in the DoE Bronze award independent expedition where they participated in a two day canoeing adventure from Bridgnorth to Bewdley on Thursday and then Bewdley to Stourport on Friday. 

On the first day the pupils were introduced to the instructor who was going to be guiding them along the river as they sat in their pairs in their canoe's while the instructor explained how long they were going to be canoeing and what techniques they would need to use to operate the movement of the canoe by encouraging the pupils to work as a team. Next the pupils and staff members carried their canoe's to the end of the shore. 

As they got to the shore the pupils and staff members began to set off by using their paddles to push themselves from the shore. The pupils communicated between each other by allocating who was going to move their paddle on the left or the right as they started to float along the river. 

On their journey the pupils and staff members explored the adventures of travelling under bridges and through rapids of different speeds. 

Throughout the canoeing journey the pupils and staff members had regular breaks where they enjoyed eating their lunch and going for a swim as they practiced using the techniques of freestyle and backstroke.

After the first stint of canoeing the next part of the expedition was to camp over in a field while they worked in their pairs to set up tents and sleeping bags as that was what they were going to be sleeping in for the one night. Next the pupils took on the role of cooking their own burgers and sausages on two gas stoves. 

The next day the pupils and staff members cooked breakfast of a bacon and egg sandwich, dismantled their tents and sleeping bags, and then set back off for the last part of the canoeing journey to Stourport. 

walking up Waseley Hills with Year 7B

 

When we arrived at Waseley Hills the pupils noticed two horses as one pupil talked about their past experiences of horseback riding "I have ride a horse before". Next the pupils began to talk about what sights they could see as they walked up the hills. The pupils showed an interest in exploring through the forest areas by walking down steps and adventuring back up to the top along grass banks.

As we got to the top we talked about how you could see the Malvern Hills from the peak. After we had explored the sights the pupils  showed an interest in rolling down the banks as they took part in seeing who could roll down the quickest.

When we got to the bottom the pupils showed an interest in exploring a variety of equipment's displayed at the park. They worked together as a class to encourage their peers to climb a rock wall, see who could travel the highest on the swings and enjoyed moving the see saw up and down in symmetrical timing with each other. 

 

Year 7a building a den at Tiddesley Woods

The pupils showed an interest in walking along the paths at Tiddesley Woods as they talked about what sights were around them. One of the pupils asked the question "do any animals live here?". We discussed that sometimes you might see sheep lying on the ground eating the grass. 

Halfway through the walk we began to explore the forest areas. The teacher set the pupils a challenge of building a den out of logs. The pupils worked together to search for different sized logs, communicate between one another which tree they were going to use to build their den around and discussed as a group where they were going to place the logs with one pupil saying "shall I put mine here on the other side of the tree". After the pupils had completed their den they enjoyed playing a few games of tracker as they supported one another with finding various places to hide such as behind bushes or in between long grass.

Primary 1 walked along Wesley Hills and explored the park

The pupils showed an interest in walking to the top of Wesley Hills. When we got there the teacher explained to the pupils that in the distance was the Malvern Hills. They communicated between one another about having a 10 metres running race to see who could run to one end and then back to the starting point the quickest. Next we continued to walk by travelling in a different direction of walking to the bottom of the hills where the pupils enjoyed running down as a group. We followed the path which led back to the top as the pupils talked about what sights they could see. One pupil said "I feel like I am in a forest with all of these trees and muddy tree rots". After the pupils enjoyed exploring the park where they worked together to climb along the wooden obstacle frame, climb to the top of the rock climbing wall and took it in turns to have a go at moving the see saw up and down in pairs.

walk along the canal with Primary 2

 

The pupils enjoyed walking along the canal talking about the environment as one pupil pointed to a big tree which was hanging over the canal and asked "what tree is that". We discussed that it was a willow tree. The pupils also showed an interest in looking to see if they could find any boats floating along the canal. The pupils walked together as a group as they communicated between one another if they thought there would be any boats docked at the end of the canal and how many there would be. One pupil said "I think 20" when another expressed "I think 50". We discussed which boat was their favourite with one pupil saying "I like the blue boat" when another explained that "the one with wood on it is my favourite because it looks old looking". One of the pupils showed an interest in finding fishes swimming in the water. At the end of the walk the pupils enjoyed exploring the park as they worked in pairs and teams to see how fast they could spin around in a tea cup or merry go round, demonstrated teamwork to see how high they could go on the see saw as well as beginning to identify which of their peers weighed heavier than each other. The pupils also enjoyed playing a game of tag. 

Primary 3 walking up the Wesley Hills

The pupils showed an interest in walking up the Wesley Hills talking about the sights of "there is loads of trees here". As we were walking one of the pupils said "I feel like I am an adventurer in a forest". After the walk the pupils took it in turns to explore the various equipment's of swinging on the swings and travelling down the slide at the park.

sight seeing with Year 10 and practicing to build a tent for DoE award

The pupils enjoyed walking around Castle Morton Common discussing as a group what sights we could see.

Two of the pupils identified "I can see more trees, bushes and grass". We also saw a cliff and quarry which the pupils had competitions to see who could throw a stone the furthest into the water. While we were walking the pupils showed an interest in exploring the environment by walking over four big stones which were in bedded into the ground, climbing to the top of several small banks which were placed in different areas along the path and travelling in and out the forest areas. The pupils worked together as a group to encourage one another to achieve the goal of reaching to the very top and offered support of guiding each other with one pupil directing their peer saying "if you put your one feet onto that rock you will be able to push yourself up" as well as using the nature around them of "hold onto this stick and I will pull you up". The pupils discovered a building with a lid that led to a drain as they showed an interest in lifting the lid up and looking inside. 

After our walk the teacher explained to the pupils that they were going to practice how to set up the tent they will be using for the DoE expedition. The teacher first explained what equipment they would need to build the structure of the tent such as the shape of the tent, poles, inner covering and pegs. After the pupils watched as the teacher and staff members showed where each of the poles would need to be threaded through to help keep the tent up, which holes the pegs would need to be placed into and how to display them safely as well as how to attach the clips to the correct colour for the inside cover. When the tent was complete the pupils had a go together at sitting inside. The pupils showed their interest in the tent and the expedition with one saying "it is really comfy in here" when another said "I am looking forward to having a sleepover in this tent, look it even has windows so we will be able to see outside".

After the tent was put up we needed to dismantle it. One of the pupils showed an interest in supporting the teacher with taking the inside cover apart first and next to thread the poles through by taking them all out and then lying the tent down onto the floor before one person pulls the poles when the other pushes from the opposite side. Two of the pupils showed an interest in looking at the sheep at a closer distance. One of the pupils described the experience "I was literally stood at arms length that I nearly touched one but it ran off, it was sort of limping".