News

Survival in the Wild!

1st May 2009


An exciting day of team building was the learning intention for Year 6 and 7 pupils when they visited The Magdalen Project, based at a farm in Chard."Survival in the Wild" was the main theme of the day which gave the students a chance to compete and work in House teams.


Pupils in Slessor House sit proudly in their shelter!

They began by discussing what resources they could find in the wild before painting their faces in tribal (House) colours before setting off to the woods.  After receiving instruction from the Magdalen Project staff, the teams went off to select a suitable site, construct a well-camouflaged shelter as well as build and light a fire on which they later toasted marshmallows!



Ewan and Luke busy at work!

Mrs Shillito, Mr Newbery and Miss Williams, who accompanied the children, had the difficult job of judging the finished shelters - there was so much to consider.  Was it well camouflaged?  Big enough? Shower proof? Large enough for the whole team? And then there was also the level of teamwork to consider.  Pupils in Ashley House certainly succeeded with camouflaging their shelter as it was basically a holly bush!  Livingstone pupils could stand in theirs such was its height, Slessor's was snug and Shaftesbury's positively palatial. Unfortunately, no one's shelter passed the rain shower test so all the occupants got wet! 


Hannah and Lucy help to herd the pigs!

After much deliberation it was decided that Shaftesbury took the top prize on the basis that their chosen position was good and their shelter certainly fitted them all comfortably.  A very active day ended by making 'dream catchers' and visiting the piglets on the farm and all the pupils agreed that they had had a wonderful day.