GREEN CLASS TRIP 2011

WHY A RESIDENTIAL?

Enhance curricular and recreational opportunities for our pupils

Provide a wider range of experiences for our pupils than could be provided on the school site alone

Promote the independence of our children as learners, and enable them to grow and develop in new learning environments

SETTING OUT!2004 Green Class Trip to the Chalet de Peyranére ,Col du Somport. We know the centre well – our first ever trip in 2004 was to this centre. I think this is about the 24th residential trip the ISB Primary School has run.

SITTING WITH FRIENDSThey don’t have to, but children may choose to bring a travel game, a book, or even a Nintendo DS to play with friends!

UNPACKING!When we arrive, children carry their things (with a little help!) and unpack into the rooms they have chosen. It helps if they have helped to pack their bags – so they know what they’ve got! NAME LABELS ON EVERYTHING!

BREAKFASTChildren eat breakfast together – they have to take responsibility for some of the organisation and tidying!

THE DINING ROOMThis is probably the most luxurious of the five centres we’ve visited.Our teachers supervise the children at mealtimes and they eat in the same room.

AFTER BREAKFAST – GETTING READY FOR AN ACTIVITY

Getting ready for a school morning is always a challenge – the children will return with new skills to make life easier! The main photo is at Somport, but was taken during a Ski Trip – it’s representative of how we get the children ready to go!

A VISIT TO THE ANIMAL PARKIt’s fun learning together. For most activities we split into two groups.

AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE ANIMAL PARKAll excursions are organised and led by the professional centre. Our teachers always accompany our groups.

MEETING THE WILDLIFE

THE THRILL OF A ‘MIDNIGHT WALK!’The teachers will do there best to make it fun – but it wasn’t really midnight!

A VISIT TO THE FISH FARMSeeing how agriculture works and how food is produced This year it’s to a Dairy to see how Cheese is made.

LISTENING SKILLSLearning in a different environment improves skills. Expert guides explain well.

FEEDING THE FISHUnique opportunities abound

RETURN TO THE BUSTrips are organised and controlled – safety is paramount.

MOUNTAIN BIKING! (FOR OLDER KS2 CHILDREN)The groups are carefully monitored and controlled. As with skiing activites, safety helmets are provided, but children may choose to bring their own if you prefer. The instructors are used to leading groups of children in this environment. It’s not a problem if a child can’t ride a bike, they join the other group.

EVENING ACTIVITIESIn the evenings the groups relaxes together. In the past, our teachers have run talent shows! Some children enjoyed the ‘optional’ ghost stories!

DISCOThe 2nd Night Disco is always popular

TIRED - BUT HAPPY!The trip will test children’s energy and endurance – we’d like to think of it as character building!

WHY THIS TIME OF YEAR?

Good for helping classes to bond When a trip takes place right at the end

of a year, there is a sense that many of the benefits are lost to the class