Y 8 OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Course Outline
The Outdoor Education course is a compulsory 4 day program run exclusively at the Silver Sands
Beach Club in Obhur. The program offers students opportunities to gain internationally recognized
Sailing and Kayaking qualifications and outdoor life skills during two day courses in each sport.
Content
The Year 8 Sailing Syllabus is divided into two content headings:
1. Practical, which covers the following: Launching and Recovery, Rope work, Sailing
Techniques and manoeuvres, Clothing and equipment and Capsize
Recovery.
2. Sailing Background, which covers the following: Sailing manoeuvres, general
Knowledge, Rules of the Road, Meteorology.
The Year 8 Kayaking syllabus is an introduction to leadership theory and practice. Skills leant in Y7
will be revisited and more technical skills will be learnt and ‘stress tested’ in more demanding
environments. Tides and basic open water navigation will be discussed.
Skills
The following represent some of the skills gained during the sailing and kayaking courses.
Sailing: can rig a sailboat, can launch and recover a dinghy in an off shore wind, can sail upwind
and a shallow triangle across the wind, can right one type of dinghy, has knowledge of Port and
Starboard Rule, can tie a round turn and two half hitches and a reef knot.
Kayaking: students will be using a variety of turning strokes in windy conditions. Moving sideways
will be introduced. ‘X’ rescues will be performed and led by students. Introduction of ‘Spray Decks’
and coping with the increased distance covered in kayaks.
Assessment
Students receive a Self-Assessment Record Certificate in which they record daily skills learned and
award themselves a personal grade. Other assessment methods include: Question and Answer
Sessions, Tests and Quizzes, Presentations, Video analysis, self and peer assessment.
Resources
Five Laser Fun Boats, five Laser Picos, fourteen Windsurf Boards, twelve Kayaks, twelve Sit On
top Kayaks, Raft Building Kit, Radios, Rescue Boat, Buoyancy Aids, Whiteboards, Video Camera,
Storage Facilities and a School Cabin.
Effort Evaluation
Descriptor
& Criteria
1 – Very
Poor
2 - Poor
3 – Mediocre 4 –
5 - Good
Satisfactory
6- Very
Good
7Excellent
Behaviour
Tries to distract
others in the class.
Does not remain
seated at all times.
Frequently asks to
leave the room. Is
easily distracted.
Spends most of
class time
socialising. Often
displays
disrespectful
behaviour.
Sometimes tries to
distract others in the
class. Does not
remain seated at all
times. Asks to leave
the room. Is fairly
easily distracted.
Spends significant
amount of class
time socialising.
Sometimes displays
disrespectful
behaviour.
Usually does not
distract others.
Usually ignores
distractions of
others. Usually
does not socialise
during class
Usually treats
others with
respect.
Predominantly
does not distract
others. Typically
ignores distractions
of others. Rarely
socialises during
class.
Predominantly
treats others with
respect.
Almost never
distracts others.
Remains Seated
unless requested
otherwise. Almost
always ignores
distractions.
Almost never
socialises during
class time. Almost
always treats
others with
respect.
Never distracts
others. Remains
Seated unless
requested
otherwise.
Always ignores
distractions Does
not socialise
during class time.
Always treats
others with
respect.
Preparation
Rarely prepared
with materials for
class. Often leaves
textbooks or
notebooks at home
or in locker.
Homework and
assignments are
very often late
Sometimes
prepared with
materials for class.
Leaves textbooks or
notebooks at home
or in locker
Homework and
assignments are
often late
Usually prepared
with materials for
class Usually has
notebook and
textbook
Assignments are
usually handed in
on time
Work
Habits
Does not prepare to
work until instructed
by the teacher
Rarely listens to
instructions from the
teacher Frequently
Requires
monitoring by the
teacher to stay
focused on
assignments.
Wastes a lot of
class time. No
attempt to catch up
on missed work.
Predominantly
comes prepared
with all necessary
materials. Nearly
always has
notebooks and
textbooks. Nearly
all assignments
are handed in on
time.
Predominantly
prepared to work
on arrival to class.
Predominantly
listens carefully to
instructions.
Predominantly
focused attention
on assigned tasks.
Almost always
catches up on all
missed work.
Almost always
comes prepared
with all necessary
materials. Almost
always has
notebooks and
textbooks. Almost
all assignments
are handed in on
time.
Almost always
prepares to work
on arrival to class.
Almost always
listens carefully to
instructions.
Almost always
focuses attention
on assigned tasks.
Almost always
catches up on all
missed work.
Always comes
prepared with all
necessary
materials.
Always has
notebooks and
textbooks. All
assignments are
handed in on
time.
Always prepares
to work on arrival
to class. Always
listens carefully
to instructions.
Always focuses
attention on
assigned tasks.
Always catches
up on all missed
work.
Attendance
&
Punctuality
Rarely on time for
class.
Sometimes
prepares to work on
arrival to class.
Sometimes listens
to instructions from
the teacher
Sometimes
requires
monitoring by the
teacher to stay
focused on
assignments
Wastes some class
time. Little attempt
to catch up on
missed work.
Sometimes arrives
to class on time.
Some tendency to
distract others in the
class. Does not
always remain
seated at all times.
Sometimes asks to
leave the room. Can
be distracted.
Spends some of
the class time
socialising.
Occasionally
displays
disrespectful
behaviour.
Some tendency
not to be prepared
with materials for
class. Sometimes
leaves textbooks or
notebooks at home
or in locker
Homework and
assignments are
sometimes late
Some tendency
not to be prepared
to work on arrival to
class. Some
tendency not to
listen to instructions.
Some tendency not
to focus attention on
tasks. Some
tendency not to
work until class is
completed.
Sometimes catches
up on missed work.
Some tendency to
be late to class.
Notes or phone calls
are sometimes
received for
absences.
Mostly arrives to
class on time.
Notes or phone
calls are usually
received for
absences.
Predominantly on
time. Nearly all
absences are
properly
documented or
requested in
advance.
Almost always on
time. All absences
are properly
documented or
requested in
advance.
Always on time.
All absences are
properly
documented or
requested in
advance.
Usually prepares
to work on arrival
to class. Usually
listens to
instructions.
Usually focuses
attention on tasks.
Usually works until
class is completed.
Usually catches
up on missed
work.
Overall Descriptors for Attainment Grades
Grade
Descriptor
Grade 1 (Very Poor)
Very limited achievement in terms of the objectives
Grade 2 (Poor)
Limited achievement against all the objectives. The student
experiences difficulty in understanding the required
knowledge and skills, and struggles to apply them fully in a
supported learning environment.
Grade 3 (Mediocre)
Minimal achievement against most of the objectives, with
clear difficulties in some areas. The student demonstrates a
nominal understanding of the required knowledge and skills
and is able to apply them in a limited way in a supported
learning environment.
Grade 4 (Satisfactory)
A satisfactory general understanding of the required
knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them effectively
in a supported learning environment. There is occasional
evidence of the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation
Grade 5 (Good)
A good understanding of the required knowledge and skills,
and the ability to apply them in a variety of situations. The
student generally shows evidence of analysis, synthesis and
evaluation where appropriate and occasionally demonstrates
originality and insight.
Grade 6 (Very Good)
A very good understanding of the required knowledge and
skills, and the ability to apply them in a wide variety of
situations. Consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis and
evaluation where appropriate. The student generally
demonstrates originality and insight.
Grade 7 (Excellent)
An excellent understanding of the required knowledge and
skills, and the ability to apply them thoughtfully in a wide
variety of situations. Consistent evidence of analysis,
synthesis and evaluation where appropriate. The student
consistently demonstrates originality and insight and
produces work of high quality.