Key Area 3: Curriculum Development
Outdoor Education at key stage 2
Curriculum development of outdoor and adventurous activities begun in the spring term 2003 with Dolygaer Outdoor Education Centre. Dolygaer specialists and teachers at Cyfarthfa High School and Caedraw Primary School formed a working group to develop the subject at Key Stage 2.
 |
Picture: Pupils searching for orienteering points at Dolygaer |
A specialist teacher from Cyfarthfa High developed a six lesson unit of work for year 5 pupils which was disseminated to staff at a training afternoon at Dolygaer centre to familiarise staff with the activities and unit of work.
|
Picture: Pupils referencing their map to find the location of the next point |
 |
The unit is based around team building and problem solving activities for the initial few lessons, leading to basic map reading and orienteering skills. The resource pack which was put together containing the lesson plans also includes visual teaching resources and additional ideas for future development.
Year 5 OAA unit of work.pdf
OAA y5 resources WELSH.pdf
The final two lessons of the unit gave the pupils experience of using the orienteering course as set up by the high school in Cyfarthfa Park doing star type orienteering, following on a session at Dolygaer centre taking part in scatter orienteering. The instructors from Dolygaer visited schools to help them set up their own orienteering courses within their school gounds to enhance the curriculum.
 |
Picture: Pupils heading back to the Centre at Dolygaer |
Resources for teachers to run the program at Cyfarthfa Park can be downloaded.
EV2 Educational Visit Cyfarthfa Park.pdf
Example risk assessment for Cyfarthfa Park OAA year 5.pdf
Guidelines Cyfarthfa Park Orienteering Course year 5.pdf
Year 5 Orienteering Map Cyfarthfa Park.jpg
Year 5 OAA Teacher Checklist.xls
A year 6 unit of work has been developed to extend the pupils skills from map reading and team building/problem solving skills learned in the year 5 unit of work and introduces the 8 cardinal points of a compass, the degrees of a compass and basic bearings.
Year 6 OAA Cyfarthfa DC.pdf
Year 6 OAA Cyfarthfa DC WELSH.pdf
The following resources have been donated by Cyfarthfa Junior School to accompany the year 6 unit of work. They are all in PDF format.
Cardinal Points Card.pdf
Cardinal Points Control Card.pdf
East.pdf
North.pdf
North East.pdf
North West.pdf
South.pdf
South East.pdf
South West.pdf
West.pdf
These resources have been submitted by Caedraw Primary for shared use.
Cardinal Points.pdf
Bearings Spelling.pdf
Cardinal Spelling.pdf
Pupil answer sheet.pdf
|
Teaching staff learning compass work at Dolygaer |
 |
Staff recieved training in the Autumn term 05 which was held in Dolygaer Centre and led jointly by PESS and the Centre instructors to give staff insight into using the compass and the lesson plans. Staff were also able to share existing knowledge and resources.
 |
Dolygaer staff training Cyfarthfa Development Centre teaching staff |
The children recieve five lessons at school led by their teachers and then enjoy the lesson 6 'team challenge' at Dolygaer OE Centre. The instructors reinforce the compass work, set them a new orienteering course and challenge their new skills by asking them to navigate the course using their compass and map.
|
Pupils from Heolgerrig Primary recording their control point answers |
 |
In light of curriculum 2008 changes and extension to this scheme of work, the piloting of units for years 3 an d4 are underway in Edwardsville Primary and will be available for staff to access through training during the spring term 2007.
If you require any further information about this exciting project in Merthyr Tydfil, please contact:
PESS Co-Ordinator
Integrated Children’s Services
Merthyr Tydfil CBC
Riverside Court
Avenue De Clichy
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8XD
Tel: 01685 725097
Fax: 01685 721965
Email PESS@Merthyr.Gov.UK