Problem Solving – an essential life skill
At the start of every academic year, we use some of our Sport Premium funding to hold an inspirational event for the children. This year we invited the Problem Solving Company into school, who specialise in Outdoor Adventurous Activity.
Each class, from Year 1 to Year 6, was broken into four groups and asked to solve a number of practical problems. For each situation the children were required to work as a team, and presented with challenges that could only be solved with excellent cooperation and communication skills. One of the tasks was to pick up a bucket, without using their hands, so that water could be poured into a tall funnel. Another was cross an area without touching the ground by moving and throwing discs to stand on. A third example was trying to pick up wooden cylinders and balance it on a box. This had to be accomplished with a rope contraption attached to each member of the team. The contraption had hook that was held in place by tension and manoeuvred into position. If a single member of the team did not hold the correct position, the rope became slack and the wooden cylinder fell.
All the tasks were incredibly challenging, requiring the groups to co-operate with each other to be successful. Most children had lots of ideas, so the main learning point was trying to listen to others and take turns. Throughout the day, groups began to recognise the value of sharing ideas.
The event was highly successful, and all children developed their teamwork, co-operation and communication skills, so we are going to invite the Problem Solving Company back next year.
Mr Rivers
