Outdoor and adventure activities are facets of the physical education curriculum concerned with walking, cycling, camping and water-based activities, orienteering, and outdoor challenge activities. Orienteering is an exciting activity that combines the geographical skills of map work, the physical activity of walking or running and the adventure of exploring unfamiliar locations. It can be introduced through preliminary exercises on the school site.
Outdoor challenge activities include trust or co-operative activities, group problem-solving exercises, and physical challenges such as those presented by rope courses and adventure play apparatus. Water-based activities may be included in the programme, providing opportunities for canoeing or sailing. These activities, which are mainly non-competitive, offer alternative avenues for pupil achievement and encouragement to adopt a healthy life-style based on an enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoors.
Primary School PE Curriculum, page 5
- PDST Outdoor and Adventure Resources
- Other Outdoor and Adventure Resources
This resources outlines activities to develop orienteering skills, different types of orienteering, considerations when teaching orienteering, map creation and further practical tips.
This resource explores cooperative challenges, walking and orienteering.
Warm up activities, walking, cooperative team challenges and orienteering across class levels explored in this resource.
Sample controls to print and laminate to hang at each point marked in an orienteering activity.
Sample controls cards to print for use by pupils in an orienteering activity.
Activities related to Outdoor challenges, team building activities, cooperative games and relays as well as parachute games.
Sample controls and control cards for infants. These controls can be marked by coloring in place of writing.
Sample walking activities, scavenger hunts and matching activities.
Article outlining a variety of co-operative games including parachute games.
Move Well Move Often Physical Literacy website with resources which can be used to develop FMS of running, jumping and throwing, motivation and confidence as well as knowledge and understanding in PE.
The PDST Primary PE team has developed non contact activities to support the teaching of Physical Education across the primary school.
6 sample outdoor and adventure lessons across all primary school class levels.
Resource which highlights specific Move Well Move Often skills and activities suitable for the outdoor and adventure strand.
Sample lesson plans highlighting how fundamental movement skills can be embedded in outdoor and adventure lessons.
Sample inclusive outdoor and adventure lesson plan focussed on walking and orienteering.
A series of video clips that aim to complement strand based learning in PE at home. 6 outdoor adventure lessons for pupils to complete at home are included.
PE homework activities and charts to complement PE strand based learning undertaken in school. Specific outdoor and adventure activities included.
PE homework videos and activity packs to compliment PE FMS learning undertaken in school.
A short video clip explanation from the PE at Home resource of different types of shelters that can be made outdoors using natural materials.
A pupil explanation from the PE at Home resource on how to build a simple debris shelter using natural materials in the environment.
Description of how a point of reference can be used to make sure you have your map oriented correctly i.e. facing the right direction.
Demonstration of how the free app ‘Map Run F’ can be used to create and print a map and simple orienteering course in your school or home.
An Inclusive Approach to the Development of Physical Literacy for All Pupils. This resource is full of strategies for inclusion for pupils with physical disabilities and learning needs and pupils who are autistic, blind or vision impaired, or deaf or hard of hearing.
Cooperative learning is an instructional approach which supports pupils to work and learn together in PE. Cooperative learning can be used across any strand of the PE curriculum and has been shown to positively impact PE.
Selected open access resources which may be adapted to the Irish context from other organisations are linked below. Please note these are external resource not designed by the PDST and teachers should ensure they are appropriate for their own classes before use.
Resource to support introduction of orienteering to primary school.
Introductory skills and games for cycling in the playground as well as bike and helmet safety information
Introduction to the origins of orienteering and a basic explanation of how to participate in orienteering.
A set of 6 videos which explore sample cycling safety skills and cycling activities for pupils to practice.
Animated video which provides an example of planning a route on a beginner map.
Animated video to provide an introduction and explanation of basic map features.
Action for Life is an Irish heart foundation PE and SPHE programme for primary schools. The programme includes lesson plans with activities and resources. This resource links to PDST Move Well Move Often and physical literacy development. It includes outdoor and adventure strand lessons for junior, middle and senior classes.
Animated video with explanation of how to keep your map oriented.
This online resource highlights practices, strategies and resources to support teachers to include all children in primary PE lessons, with a focus on children with additional needs. Gross/Fine motor skills, sensory, communication, physical capabilities, attention/concentration and social, emotional, relational are some of the areas explored.
The Irish Orienteering Association has various downloadable resources to help support the development of orienteering in primary schools.
PE Support Agencies
