Teddy Bear Grylls helps teach Sunderland pupils about survival

Children at Valley Road Community Primary School had fun in the great outdoors as they took part in a whole week of activities on the theme of Teddy Bear Grylls.

Favourite teddy bears were invited along to make the adventure very special for the pupils.

Debra de Muschamp, headteacher at the Hendon school, said the children had a really great time celebrating nature and the outside world, and didn’t want the fun to end.

Pupils in Key Stage One and Two spent the week carrying out a range of survival activities such as making their own tribal flags, den building in and around the school grounds, and learning traditional fire-lighting skills around the fire pit.

The children also took turns to bake willow branches on the camp fire to make charcoal.

Ms De Muschamp said all the children came together to play and learn and staff were very proud of them.

She said: “Throughout the week, the children demonstrated great skills in leadership, team work, problem solving and determination.”

The week also saw pupils put their dance and movement skills to the test, by taking part in a two-day dance festival, learning dance styles from Bollywood to Brazilian from special visitors to the school.

Another highlight to the week was the children in Key Stage Two, who tried their hand at tie dying and created an Outdoor Week school flag.

The children looked at a range of different artistic techniques they could use to create different colours and patterns which would create an outdoor-themed picture on the fabric.

The delighted headteacher said: “At the end of the week to celebrate and showcase all the fantastic work, which the children had created, all the pupils took part in a traditional campfire sing-song.

“The winning Teddy Bear Grylls Survival T-Shirt was shown, and the tie dye Outdoor Week school flag was raised and celebrated.

“It was a fantastic week, with lots of fun and enjoyment for all the pupils taking part.

“The week ended with fish and chip Friday on the school field. Some children said that it had been the best week ever.”