Report on Study Trip: Dynamic School Day in Denmark

The Dynamic School Day study trip focuses on 3 pillars: the hardware (buildings, playgrounds), the software (lessons, educational concepts) and the environment (sports clubs, neighbourhood, etc.). These three pillars are reflected in the programme. Would you like to know more about our programme? Then take a look here. You will also find background information here about the dynamic school day as the KVLO envisions it and about the Danish education system.

Here and on the social media channels of gezondeleefstijlopschool.nl, we will keep you informed about our trip every day.

Sunday 25 September

A travel day today, which began somewhat differently from our study trips so far: with one and a half to two hours queuing for security at Schiphol. There was no opportunity to meet at a central point. Fortunately, the networking app we use for the study trip worked perfectly. Eventually, everyone checked in. Everyone? No, unfortunately, one person had to drop out this morning because of COVID. Extremely unfortunate.

We eventually landed neatly on time at Billund Airport. By bus, we travelled to the Oasia Hotel in Århus. On the bus, we received some information about the trip and about the focus on the 2 + 1 + 2 model. After a tour of Århus, due to a closed-off street, we were able to check in at the hotel and immediately continue to the restaurant a few streets away.

During a delicious dinner, we got to know one another better. A fun, diverse group, full of stories and knowledge. Bring on tomorrow.

Monday 26 September 2022

A full day today, which we started at the municipality of Århus, where an energetic Katrina got us moving and introduced us to the ‘Move for Life’ project. (Children’s movement in everyday life.) This is a project in which physical activity coaches work with schools to explore how movement can be integrated into school life, in addition to PE lessons.

Her colleague Trine then introduced us to the ‘School Olympics’ project, in which children aged 6 and over participate in Olympic sports with their entire class. From archery to indoor rowing and athletics. A genuine competition, with participation in the national final as the highlight for the winners.

We then travelled by bus to Rundhøjskolen. A school where a great deal of sport takes place. Children receive various sports lessons from coaches from sports clubs. In addition, learning through movement is embedded in the school, and pupils are not allowed to stay indoors during breaks.

We learned that a Danish teacher teaches several subjects. For example, the subject teacher who showed us around also teaches Danish and German.

The outdoor area is typically Danish: enormous. A gym, a sports hall, a covered basketball court, a fire pit, sports fields, a panna court and a green area for climbing and scrambling. Not exactly well maintained, but practical and functional.

Game Streetmekka

In the afternoon, we travelled by bus to Viborg to visit Game Streetmekka. A mecca for street sports, located in an old factory hall. The renovation had already won the architects several awards. Game Streetmekka’s vision is that children who do not naturally participate in organised sports can exercise and play sports here for a small fee. From here, they receive further guidance into society.

Tuesday 27 September

Today was the day of the school visits. Usually, you save the best for last, but given our route through Denmark, Fredriksbjergskole in Århus was first on the agenda today. A school to be jealous of, with a distinct and fully developed vision of education, the neighbourhood and movement. A large, bright and open school with outdoor spaces everywhere, balconies for sitting or working, sports fields on the roofs, climbing walls and challenging play areas.

The workspaces have one area where children can concentrate on the explanation and another where they can work. Everything shows which subject is taught in the room. And there is no indication that 850 pupils aged 6 to 16 are working here. They are spread across indoor spaces, outdoor spaces and the neighbourhood.

After this visit, we drove through pouring rain to the next Danish island to visit two other schools: Tingløkke Skole and Holluf Pile in the area around Odense.

The group was split into two for the visits to the two ‘ordinary’ schools, at least compared with this morning’s school. But at both schools, there were once again enormous outdoor spaces, which are used throughout the day. Not today, though, because after weeks of beautiful weather, these were the first rainy days. It took some getting used to again.

Inside, we saw many floor stickers designed to encourage movement, ranging from a multiplication grid to a letter snake to the entire history of Denmark. There are no climbing walls in the school here, but there are plenty of climbing structures outside. And of course, the outdoor area also includes a pizza oven, a vegetable garden with a greenhouse, 2 ponds with exciting walking routes, a panna court and sports fields.

We ended the day with a delicious dinner at the Game Kro in old Odense. Tomorrow, a day full of information at the University of Southern Denmark awaits us.

Wednesday 28 September

We started the day with a short bus ride to the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) for a mini-symposium involving an exchange of knowledge.

The first lecture, by a highly enthusiastic associate professor, Claus Løgstrup Ottesen, was about high-quality learning through movement and the database being created internationally in this field, including in collaboration with the Mulier Institute.

Oscar Scipio from the KVLO then spoke about the role of the PE teacher in schools. This was interesting for the Danes, as they do not have a separate PE teacher. They are also not really familiar with a pupil tracking system. Notes were therefore taken enthusiastically.

After lectures on research into play in the schoolyard and movement for children requiring extra attention, Tim van Calmthout from this year’s most athletic Dutch primary school explained how they organised movement at Het Lichtpunt in Rhoon. Interesting for the entire group.

After lunch, we got to try out the Athletic Exploratorium. A real treat!

After that, we got back on the bus for a short trip to the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sport Facilities. There, architect Anna Hassel told us about developing playgrounds at schools and the best way to do this with pupil participation. We also received a glimpse of a new project: renovating gym halls.

The Danish School Sport Association spoke about developing brain breaks and learning through movement. Naturally, we tried that out.

After a full day, we quickly checked in at Hotel Nyborg Strand, with a beautiful view of the sea and the bridge to Zealand. The last Danish island we would visit.

In the evening, we took time to evaluate the trip. What will you take home with you and what will you leave behind? What is your conclusion? Some joked that they would be taking extra kilos home because of the delicious Danish muffins. But this enthusiastic group continued evaluating calmly over dinner. Tomorrow, everyone would be able to play in the Legepark in Slagelse, and then the trip would come to an end.

Thursday 29 September

And then the final day had arrived. The suitcases went back onto the bus and we set off for Slagelse, crossing the 18-kilometre-long bridge over the Great Belt (Storebælt) to the island of Zealand.

In Slagelse stands the Idrætshøjskole (sports folk high school). In Denmark, it is normal for young adults to take a gap year to decide what they really want to study. They do not have to choose at a very young age. Many choose to spend a gap year at one of the folk high schools. They live there, do a great deal of sport and physical activity, and then choose a study programme that suits them.

One of the important topics is playing games. And that is what we were going to do. After playing a number of games with the group, involving cooperation, we received an explanation of our behaviour during the games and the philosophy behind it. This was followed by an explanation of the school.

Next to the school is Legepark (play park), featuring many old Danish games. These games were in danger of being lost and are being kept alive in the park. We were able to enjoy skittles, various forms of shuffleboard and all kinds of skill games.

And then the festivities really came to an end. With a packed lunch, we boarded the bus and headed for Copenhagen Airport. Two participants had booked a wonderful weekend in Copenhagen and stayed behind. The rest of us landed at Schiphol early in the evening. Tired but satisfied, and with a great deal of inspiration.