Getting active outdoors is helping Beaufort Primary School pupils remain engaged with their learning.
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These eager grade one and two pupils have chosen to participate in fishing, as part of the term four clubs program.
Beaufort Primary principal Tameeka Rush says the outdoor learning can be translated back to the classroom.
“We have a lot students who if you could teach outdoors all the time they would be happier, so it is about having them engaged in something they are interested in and linking it in with education,” she said.
We have a lot students who if you could teach outdoors all the time they would be happier.
- Tameeka Rush, Beaufort Primary School principal
“In our writing program they will write about what they do in their clubs rather than just be given a worksheet.”
Many Australian students are disengaged in class – as many as 40 per cent are unproductive in a given year, according to a Grattan Institute report.
Research has shown boredom is an issue.
Ms Rush said she had found the clubs program to improve student engagement.
The Beaufort Primary School clubs program runs in term two and four. The term four program started on Monday.
Pupils from prep to grade six were able to put in their club preference, with choices from photography, gardening, woodwork, making friendship bracelets and meditation.
Ms Rush said pupils of all ages worked together during the program which runs every second Monday.
“It is good for the younger students, but it is good to develop the older pupils leadership skills as well,” she said.
“We are trying to bring community members into it. Hopefully we might get some dads come in and help out with woodwork and some people in the community gardening club.
“There is a local fishing club so we are hoping some of their members will be a part of it as well.”
The Beaufort Primary School buddies program runs in term one and three. Older pupils are paired with younger ones to offer mentoring and support development.
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