Virtual camp a hit with pupils

A Perthshire primary ditched its usual online lessons in order to give their primary sevens a week to remember.

Growing scunnered with remote learning, P7 teachers at Viewlands Primary“took”their pupils on a week-long adventure to Camp Stangall instead.

Pupils swapped sums and spelling for building dens, stargazing, scavenger hunts and even learnt how to turn a carrot into a flute.

The idea was the brainchild of class teachers Mrs Stanger and Mr Scougall who combined their names to create Camp Stangall.

P7 teacher Graham Scougall explained:“Online learning was quite a steep learning curve for most in the school but thankfully, as I am digital leader, we had been using the online tools for a while with P7 and they had helped the entire school get set up.

“The engagement level had been excellent from the offset with pupils tackling the situation head on and really getting involved.”

But early last month, the teachers noticed a dip in enthusiasm.

He said:“We noticed about the start of June that the P7s were getting a bit weary. It was tough for them to be missing their final term of school which should have been filled with their final big school musical production, transition events and leavers’events so we wanted to do something a little different and fun for them to take them away from the traditional academic learning.”

Together with Mrs Stanger, the P7 teachers devised a plan.

Mr Scougall said:“I saw the idea for the virtual camp on a teachers’ page online and I managed to get my hands on a version. Mrs Stanger and I spent some time editing it all to suit our classes. It was a huge success and many of the pupils said it was their highlight of lockdown.“

Pupils were set a variety of challenges each day which they shared online via messages, videos and photos, rounding it off with a review of the camp when it was all over.

One pupil wrote:“I loved camp Stangall. It was a great to have a fun week as we have had lots of work. There were a variety of activities from a scavenger hunt to den building, an obstacle course and lots more too. My favourite activities were the scavenger hunt, the sock challenge and the marshmallow challenge. In this experience I have learnt how to make a good paper aeroplane since every one that I had made before had gone straight to the ground. I would give this camp 4.5 because it would be even better if we went somewhere to stay and camp out.”

Another P7 said:“I especially loved the movie night. I had popcorn and chocolate fingers.”