A ski trip can be the first time for many students to take a holiday without family members. It can therefore be a great way for students to gain independance and confidence. Taking your school group skiing can also have Educational Benefits detailed below:
PE
• Acquisition of new skills and techniques
• Develop mobility, balance, fitness, coordination
• Understand the effect of altitude on the body
• Develop physical strength and stamina
Citizenship/ Team Building
• Responsibility towards group – time-keeping, supporting others etc
• Experience sharing rooms and ski tuition groups
• Enjoy off-piste activities
• Engage with teachers in a different setting
• Consider sustainability – waste reduction and recycling
Language
• Practise foreign language skills with native speakers
• Practise reading and extend vocabulary
• Develop ability to receive and carry out specific and complex instructions in unfamiliar environment
Extreme Environment/ Outdoors
• Exposure to extreme environments
• Realise the importance of being properly equipped
• Understand extreme weather conditions (UV, wind, snow, ice, cold, cloud, fog, storms)
• Understand how to assess and minimise risk
Independence
• Take students out of their comfort zone
• Responsibility for self – time-keeping, being correctly equipped, personal hygiene, behaviour
• Reflect on personal performances and find ways to improve
• Develop mental determination
Culture
• Exposure to unfamiliar food, music, local customs, architecture
• Develop sense of ‘awe and wonder’
Geography
• Exposure to mountain and glacial environments
• Consider geological activities – rock formation and weathering
• Link to global warming and climate change issues
• Examine weather and meteorological systems and conditions
• Assess transport networks and pressures
• Investigate sustainability issues
• Assess environmental impact of winter sports
Mathematics/ Financial
• Manage own finances and budget
• Calculate exchange rates
• Calculate distances, speeds and angles
• Solve problems in the real world
Trip Projects
• Contextualise classroom studies
• Develop ideas and collect data for the classroom, for example: school diary, ski trip facebook page, photo album, art projects, school assembly
