Team bonding is up to speed
Pupils at Coupar Angus Primary School had a visit from local community police officer PC Robbie Blackhall recently as part of a six-week project at the school run by Alistair Jelks, which aims to support the P7 pupils with their transition to Blairgowrie High School later this year.
The project saw youngsters work in teams to design and build cardboard body kits for go-karts, which they then raced.
PC Blackhall then visited the school to record the speed of the go-karts.
Alistair explained: “To emphasise and encourage the importance of working together you can’t get more engaging than go-karts.
“The first session starts in the classroom, where the young people begin by exploring feelings and emotions and how this affects behaviour and our thoughts and beliefs.
“They then undertake some group work and social skills.
“Working in teams, each young person uses their social and creative skills to work together to design and build a cardboard body kit for their kart.
“There is a technical element to the challenge too. It involves design skills, maths skills and project planning.
“Then on the final day they hold a race day.”
He added: “We have done this project for a number years at Rattray Primary School where it has always been a popular part of the school’s transition programme and this is the third time we have done it in Coupar
Angus now.”
Michelle Smith, headteacher at Coupar Angus Primary School, said that the pupils had all enjoyed the experience.
She said: “The children have thoroughly enjoyed being creative and having this very hands-on experience.
“They have learned about team work, competition, communication skills, art and creativity and design and technology – it has covered a lot of bases.
“I would like to thank Alistair for coming to the school, and the police for coming along and measuring the speeds.
“It has been a very worthwhile project and a lot of fun.”
Bev Leslie, headteacher at Blairgowrie High School, added: “The use of our go-karts to develop
essential skills is creative and fun.
“We are delighted that our community link worker, Mr Jelks, has developed this project and hope that more children can participate in the future.”
The fastest driver as clocked by PC Robbie Blackhall on the day was Abbie from team The Rats in the Homeless Man’s Car.
• Teams:
The Rats in the Homeless Man’s Car – Cassidy, Ben, Lesley, Abbie, Vinny and Aila;
Timmy the Lightning Engine – Kyle, Scott, Sara, Tyler, Nicola, Nina and Lily;
Lake – Aidan, Kieran, Esme, Lucy, Laura and Leila;
Candyvalstraxs – Corbyn, Molly, Zoe, Jack, Xavier, Elsa, Preston, Ahmed, Jamie and Logan.