So you cant always get the gym hall for PE. Not a Problem
I know that many of you operate a with a multi-purpose hall, and sometimes timetabling 2 hours of PE in that one hall for every pupil can be impossible. There are many solutions to your problem. I have done my best to detail some possible solutions below. Not all of them have to involve money but having access to some finances or funding can really help you make the best of your outdoors. The big push for outdoor learning and making use of your outdoor environment means that there are pots of money around for that exact purpose. Remember I am available to come out and show you how things can work in a practical way...... sometimes seeing is the only way of believing.
This booklet is an excellent resource, however, pages 27 - 31 provide links to curriculum for excellence, the four capacities and gives a template risk assessment and a daily hazard check off list.
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This link takes you to Education Scotland's resource for outdoor learning page. Section 4 of the download resource gives advice on how best you can use your school grounds to create the perfect outdoor learning classroom or gymhall.
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wYse Zone
4 years ago I created a really simple but effective gymhall and playground line marking and organisational system that makes it really easy to teach any sport or activity whether indoors or out! I called it wYse Zone. Theresa Campbell at the University of Glasgow and Will Kay from the University of Stirling, as well as some really nice guys from Glasgow University and Heriot Watt Business Development centres were involved in the consultation period and were very much enthused by the idea. Unfortunately, I then changed jobs and didn't get a chance to role things out further.
Springside Primary school in the Greenwood cluster, North Ayrshire, were the pilot for these markings. They are still using them to date and Margaret Sheddon (HT) recently commented on how successful they have been (Jan 2013). Since developing the markings I have added lots to the system, I just need some schools to try them out now!!
Could wYse Zone be the solution for your school?
Glebe Primary, Brisbane Primary and Whitehirst park Primary are involved in the current review of the wYse Zone markings and system. I will keep you posted on how they are finding things.
Springside Primary school in the Greenwood cluster, North Ayrshire, were the pilot for these markings. They are still using them to date and Margaret Sheddon (HT) recently commented on how successful they have been (Jan 2013). Since developing the markings I have added lots to the system, I just need some schools to try them out now!!
Could wYse Zone be the solution for your school?
Glebe Primary, Brisbane Primary and Whitehirst park Primary are involved in the current review of the wYse Zone markings and system. I will keep you posted on how they are finding things.
If you want to trial out my wYse Zone, you can pick up a 33metre line marking tape (all colours except orange and purple, which you can replace with grey and black) for £10.71 online. Approx £60.00 for both indoors and outdoor line markings! Floor lines can be difficult to lay down - you do have to have a steady hand and good eye for accuracy, but it's worth a go as a temporary meaure.
Alternatively you can buy 50metres of Duct tape for £7.93. Duct tape (which is very durable) is available in all the colours you need. |
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Glebe Primary School wYse Zone
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glebe_wyse_zone_evaluation.docx | |
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Whitehirst Park Primary School wYse Zone Gym Hall ideas
In school support March 2013
Having spent quite a few full days at the school sorting out their equipment cupboard and working with the staff to order new equipment, Whitehirst are embarking on their journey to adopt my wYse Zone system.
We havent set a date for the full staff training but we are almost ready to go with the equipment, line markings and outdoor clothing. I will keep you informed as we progress.
We havent set a date for the full staff training but we are almost ready to go with the equipment, line markings and outdoor clothing. I will keep you informed as we progress.
Brisbane Primary wYse Zone
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Evaluation of Brisbane outdoor gymhall ideas
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No such thing as unsuitable weather, just unsuitable clothing!
Possible Solution = A portable trolley with coat hooks and boot racks filled with colour coded various sized rain jackets and water proof trousers, with boxes stored underneath for trainers or wellies. The trolley could be easily accessible near the fire escape for the gym Hall? Jackets on one side and Trousers on the other. Blue = small, Red = medium and Black = large.
You can even use this trolley to store trainers/gym shoes/wellies that pupils can use if their shoes get wet/or they have forgotten theirs. Again best to colour code these to make life easier for finding a pair. i.e. blue = size 7 and 8, red and white = size 9 and 10, black = size 11 and 12, grey = size 13 and 1, etc
Pupils can grab a jacket as they go out or better still you can wheel the trolley out with you in case of a heavy shower. If they need trainers these are easily accessible in the colour coded boxes that match the colour of the shoes inside. As soon as they are finsihed they all get hung back up and off they go back to class being refreshed and revived ready to settle for their next lesson :o)
Brisbane and Whitehirst Park primaries and currently working on developing a solution to increase the use of their outdoor space. I will keep you posted as they progress.
You can even use this trolley to store trainers/gym shoes/wellies that pupils can use if their shoes get wet/or they have forgotten theirs. Again best to colour code these to make life easier for finding a pair. i.e. blue = size 7 and 8, red and white = size 9 and 10, black = size 11 and 12, grey = size 13 and 1, etc
Pupils can grab a jacket as they go out or better still you can wheel the trolley out with you in case of a heavy shower. If they need trainers these are easily accessible in the colour coded boxes that match the colour of the shoes inside. As soon as they are finsihed they all get hung back up and off they go back to class being refreshed and revived ready to settle for their next lesson :o)
Brisbane and Whitehirst Park primaries and currently working on developing a solution to increase the use of their outdoor space. I will keep you posted as they progress.
Here are some ideas or suggestions of equipment and storage that may help you.
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Good Old Scottish Weather means we need to be prepared for the rain..............some outdoor shelter suggestions;
The above cycle shelter is a great solution to creating a barrier to adverse weather, helps to keep boundaires for pupils to understand where they are allowed to go, keeps the balls inside your working area and they are relatively cheap to buy and install.
I have uploaded some pictures to let you see how varied your playground can be with just a little bit of imagination (and possibly some cash!)
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Natural Play
I attended a workshop with Steve from Natural Play in Feb 2013 and was amazed at how simple it was to create a great outdoor environment that we can easily use to deliver physical education.
Basic things like, tree logs, old tyres, sand, large ropes, tarpalun, bread crates, old wooden planks and large pipes can be used as outdoor equipment that doesnt really need to be protected or stored away from the weather.
Of course there can be a cost to make things more structured, but lets face it, with no cash and a little imagination, we can do a LOT to make our OUTDOORS a little more exciting even if its raining
With the new Play Risk Strategy 'Go2Play' we dont even have the excuse that its not safe anymore!
Basic things like, tree logs, old tyres, sand, large ropes, tarpalun, bread crates, old wooden planks and large pipes can be used as outdoor equipment that doesnt really need to be protected or stored away from the weather.
Of course there can be a cost to make things more structured, but lets face it, with no cash and a little imagination, we can do a LOT to make our OUTDOORS a little more exciting even if its raining
With the new Play Risk Strategy 'Go2Play' we dont even have the excuse that its not safe anymore!
New Legislation to revolutionize our 'cotton wool' and 'Risk Assessment crazy' culture
The 3 documents to look out for are:
- go2play - government strategy policy; investigates play and the importance of PLAY having to have some RISK!
- HASEE (health and safety education excursions) - this includes our playgrounds. This has been re-written and will be launched in March 2013 and will empower and enable active and adverturous play back into our schools again :0)
- 'Good places, better heatlh for scotlands children' - health legislation