Learning for Life Programme (LLP)

Character Development through Outdoor Education (OE)

1. Purpose of the programme

To provide deliberate and purposeful opportunities for students to display the school’s values of Care, Integrity, Resilience, Respect and Responsibility
To equip students with outdoor skills, knowledge and values and apply them in authentic experiences
To develop students’ 21^st Century Competencies and leadership skills through OE programmes

2. Quality OE in PE Curriculum

Hougang Primary School (HGP) has a comprehensive and structured programme to provide every HGPian with a multi-disciplinary and varied experience of Outdoor Education (OE) that suits the ability of each child. Over the six years of education in HGP, students spend an average of about 20 hours per year on OE experiences. The OE in PE curriculum and P1/P2 PAL OE provide the foundation for every HGPian from P1 to P6. Students develop appropriate outdoor skills through physical activities while cultivating an attitude of care and appreciation for the environment, and thoughtful consideration of the risks and safety of self and others. The OE in PE curriculum is supplemented by the OE curriculum that the school has crafted to enhance the learning experience. Besides equipping the students with outdoor skills, knowledge and experience, the main focus of OE is to imbue in every child good character values and leadership skills that will serve them well for the future and helps them make the right decisions.

3. Signature OE Programme for Every Level

Level-wide programmes are planned for mass participation so that every student, from P1 to P6, is given the opportunity for exposure and to ignite their interest. The P4 to P6 OE Enrichment Programme, P4 Sustainability and the Environment Programme, P5 Outdoor Education Camp and P6 Kayaking Expedition are some of the examples that provides students with the skills, motivation and encouragement towards life-long participation in such healthy activities.

To augment the level-wide programmes, students with specific interests, skills and talents are given the opportunity to develop further through specific programmes, such as overseas learning journeys and sport climbing competitions. Please see the table below for the description of some of these programmes.

Activity

Character Development

P1 Zoo and P2 River Safari Trails

Students are given the opportunity to go on an outdoor trail where they are expected to apply knowledge learnt in class to real life.

Joy of Learning – First hand interaction with the animals while going on a learning trail.

Objective(s):

i) Students to develop a sense of place and manage and assess risks of self and others.

ii) Students to be able to learn interesting facts about animals.

iii) Students to develop empathy and compassion for animals and understand the impact of human activities on them

Outcome(s):

Students imbued with the values of Care and Responsibility (Concerned Citizen)

P3 and P4 Sustainability and the Environment Programmes

This programme aims to raise awareness of climate change and global warming in our students and educate them on sustainability and lowering their carbon footprint and being carbon neutral. We also hope to instill in students the school's core values of care, integrity, resilience & responsibility.

Strengthening the Singapore Spirit - Caring and doing our part for our future generation.

Objective(s):

Students should be able to:

i) Connect students to place, community and nature and to cultivate in them an appreciation for different places (sense of place) through orienteering.

ii) Build resilience and a sense of responsibility in students by learning and protecting our natural spaces, scarcity of natural resources and the need to live sustainably.

iii) Know how they can play their part in being carbon neutral (SG Green Plan 2030) through concrete and meaningful hands-on activities.

Outcome(s):

Students should be able to demonstrate school's core values of care, integrity, resilience & responsibility, teamwork and discipline through the programme

(Confident Persons and Active Contributors)

P5 Outdoor Education Camp

This a 3D2N camp where they experience camp-life with their peers and away from the comforts of home.

Entrepreneurial Dare – Physical and mental challenges in teams

Objective(s):

i) Students to be actively involved in a fun and rugged Outdoor Education Camp that encompasses the 4 core values of the school.

ii) Students to develop leadership and team-building skills as well as confidence through participating in a series of challenging activities.

iii) Students to be more aware of climate change and global warming and how they can play their part in lowering their carbon footprint and being carbon neutral.

Outcome(s):

Students imbued with the values of Care, Integrity, Resilience and Responsibility

P6 Kayaking Expedition

Students are given the opportunity to experience an expedition that incorporates sea expedition in Singapore. The sea expedition provides exposure to new challenges which may not be encountered on land. This is a progression from the water activities of Swimming and Snorkeling that the children undergo in P3.

Entrepreneurial Dare – Physical and mental challenge especially when things do not go their way. For many primary school students in Singapore, they do not have a chance to kayak at that age.

Objective(s):

i) Students to be equipped with kayaking knowledge and skills

ii) Students to develop SEL and 21^st CC Competencies such as Communication, Collaboration and Information Skills

Outcome(s):

Students imbued with value of Resilience

P4 – P6 OE Enrichment Programme

The OE Enrichment Programme provides all students with the opportunity to challenge themselves through participation in activities like the Challenge Pillar, Zipline, Rock-climbing, Abseiling and High Rope Elements.

Entrepreneurial Dare – Physical and mental challenge

Objective(s):

i) Students’ confidence to be developed through the high ropes courses and learning of belaying techniques.

ii) Students to be given the opportunity to lead and exhibit the school values of Resilience and Responsibility

iii) Students to develop SEL and 21^st CC Competencies such as Communication, Collaboration and Information Skills

Outcome(s):

Students imbued with the value of Resilience

National Primary Schools Sport Climbing Championships

Students are given the opportunity to compete with the best from different schools in the sport of Sport Climbing. The values of integrity, fair play, perseverance, courage and hard work are inculcated through this platform with the objective of learning from one another and spurring one another on to greater heights of performance.

The organisation and participation rate has shown tremendous progress as the competition only started with 8 schools in 2012 and has grown to 38 schools currently.

Entrepreneurial Dare and Joy of Learning – Making new friends through the spirit of competition.

Objective(s):

i) Primary school students to be given the opportunity to compete with their peers from other schools.

ii) Cultivation of the values of Integrity and Resilience and promotion of the Olympic values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship.

Outcome(s):

Students imbued with value of Resilience