Teach Primary Issue 18.7

78 | www.teachwire.net it provides a memorable experience of achievement, particularly for children who may initially be nervous. Physical development and coordination Archery and fencing are both excellent for hand-to-eye coordination, discipline, and focus, and are ideal for children aged eight–11. While archery requires precision and control, fencing combines quick reflexes with strategy, giving children a fun way to improve motor skills and concentration. For younger pupils (five– eight years), sensory trails are excellent activities that involve navigating through an outdoor environment using different senses. These trails promote coordination and fine motor skills in a fun, exploratory way, and are accessible to children with varying physical abilities. Resilience and perseverance Some activities are specifically designed to help children develop resilience and perseverance – key traits that benefit all age groups. Low rope courses are a A dventure residential trips offer a unique and enriching learning experience for primary-aged children outside the classroom as they combine physical challenges with the development of key life skills. For younger pupils (five–eight years), sensory experiences, simple teamwork tasks, and confidence- building activities are most beneficial, while slightly older children (nine–11 years) tend to thrive on more challenging physical tasks, problem-solving, and leadership opportunities. Building confidence and facing fears One of the most valuable outcomes of adventure activities is the boost in self-confidence that comes from overcoming physical challenges and fears. Climbing walls, abseiling and zip wires are all excellent confidence-building activities, especially for children who may be more reserved or hesitant to take risks. The climbing wall and abseiling tower help children conquer heights, gradually increasing their sense of accomplishment. These activities are suitable for older pupils (nine–11 years) who are physically capable of handling the challenge, but younger children (six–eight years) who are more confident may also enjoy them. Similarly, the zip wire offers a thrilling experience that helps children overcome their fear of heights while enjoying a fun, adrenaline-filled ride. It’s suitable for a wide age range (seven–11 years), as fantastic way for children to build resilience. At JCA ( jca-adventure.co.uk ) , the course consists of low-level obstacles that require children to balance, climb, and manoeuvre through different challenges. The incremental difficulty encourages them to persist and try again if they don’t succeed the first time. This is a versatile activity that can cater to all primary school ages, but it is particularly well-suited to seven–11-year-olds, who are more capable of physically demanding tasks. Likewise, JCA run an activity named Survival, where children learn basic outdoor survival skills, such as shelter building, helps develop both resilience and problem-solving in a real-world context. This activity appeals most to the nine–11 age group, who can appreciate the complexity of the challenges and the necessity of patience and perseverance. Solving problems Activities that encourage children to think critically, make decisions, and solve problems in a fun, low- stress environment are Adventure TIME Duncan Kemp offers expert advice on how to tailor your school’s next activity residential F EATURE S S CHOO L T R I P S Duncan Kemp is general manager for JCA – a leading provider of activity residential trips for schools that curate nurturing environments to enhance the physical, social, and emotional growth of primary school children. jca-adventure.co.uk especially valuable for cognitive development. The Laser Maze at JCA is ideal for building problem-solving and teamwork skills. This activity challenges pupils to navigate through lasers, promoting spatial awareness and critical thinking. It works well for older children (nine–11 years) who are more capable of handling complex tasks and extended periods of concentration. For promoting problem- solving and creativity, the Egg Protector challenge and Rocket Launch are standout choices for younger groups (five–eight years). In the Egg Protector activity, children must create a protective structure for an egg and then subject it to tests to ensure it can withstand impact. This task encourages critical thinking, creativity, and even engineering skills. Orienteering and Giant Cluedo also develop map reading, navigation, and logical reasoning skills. These activities provide a stimulating environment for children to practice real-world problem-solving in a fun and engaging way. TP