Outdoor Learning is not always outdoors but does incorporate building on many different skills. Y5 was challenged to create the tallest free-standing structure in 45 minutes. In small groups, they were provided equal resources (recycled from other activities) and allowed a maximum of 1m of tough tape for construction. Working in separate areas, the groups’ designs were very different and the outcomes varied.
Whilst the winners of the tallest structure were easily identified, credit had to be given for the thought applied to all of the designs both aesthetically and structurally.
The problem-solving element of the challenge demanded that the students worked efficiently in their group, communicating their ideas and listening to others, agreeing on a final build design and sometimes adapting this as they went. Regardless of the strength and stability of the final structures, all of the groups achieved success in this process.
