Curriculum goals
Meeting curriculum goals for excellence.
How can a climbing wall help you meet the curriculum goals for excellence, and encourage your pupils to be fit and active? We asked schools that already have our walls installed how they felt they contributed to the four capacities of education. We think that the areas that the traverse walls are most relevant to are; successful learners, confident individuals and effective contributors
Successful Learners
- Use literacy, communication and numeracy skills. Games are brilliant way to use the walls and children will invent an infinite variety, as well as using some that we have developed.
- Think creatively and independently. Route finding across the wall is a creative process, there is no prescribed way across and kids must, and do, find their own way.
- Learn independently and as part of a group. Again, route-finding can be a very individual activity, with kids deciding for themselves how they will make it across the walls. However, games that have blindfolded climbers rely on communication and group work. The climbing activity of "spotting", watching another climber and supporting them if they look unsteady, is a great way for kids to work and learn in pairs and groups.
- Make reasoned evaluations. Children can evaluate, for themselves, how risky their next move will be and decide whether they'll chance it. Evaluating the probability of achieving the next move successfully is ubiquitous in the sport of climbing.
- Link and apply different kinds of learning in new situations. Children obviously learn in different ways, and walls are ideal for kids who learn by "doing". Wall-time can also be used as a reward for "golden time" on a Friday afternoon. Learning about failure, taking in turns, success, and sticking to rules to keep yourself safe are all part of the sport of climbing.
Confident Individuals
- Pursue a healthy and active lifestyle. These walls obviously provide another way for kids to be active and healthy. The "Active Schools"¯ programme has recognised their benefits and have been instrumental in installing a number of walls throughout Scotland.
- Be self aware. Walls are great for children who don't enjoy playing football every play time, and are superb for those who enjoy playing by themselves or are not so good at mixing in. They are a fresh alternative for kids who are bored of traditional games.
- Develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world. Again, walls can be great for individual achievement and children can have a unique experience whilst traversing. This allows them to develop a quite personal understanding of climbing.
- Live as independently as they can &
- Assess risk and take informed decisions. We are in danger of removing risk completely from children's lives, "wrapping them in cotton wool", so that the thought of taking any risks is daunting. But risk is an essential part of teaching kids to live in the real world, and to become independent. Climbing is a safe way of teaching kids they have to take some risks, the consequence of disregarding risk, and the benefits when risk is properly taken into account.
- Achieve success in different areas of activity. For many children a climbing wall is a brand-new experience that they can achieve proficiency in. This success can be seen when they make their first traverse, progress to more complex manoeuvres, and develop their strength and agility as they improve.
Effective Contributors
- Communicate in different ways and in different settings. Play at the climbing wall is, for many children, an entirely different setting requiring different methods of communication. Discussing new games, helping classmates and acknowledging other's ability levels all require effective communication. These skill will develop as children become more proficient at using the wall, and as they develop their own ways to use the wall.
- Work in partnership and teams. Helping others and helping yourself are at the heart of successful climbing. An ability to recognise and understand other's ability levels is key when play team games, and "spotting" for each other is a classic trust partnership.
- Take the initiative and lead
- Create and develop
- Solve problems. For these three aspects of "¯Effective Contributors" finding a route across the wall and making up games to do on the wall are typical ways in which you will see children developing their communication skills. With games that require
Curriculum Goals
Maintenance
Past installations