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What is a Holiday?

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Holiday

A holiday is a planned break from work or school and commonly involves a trip or journey for the purpose of recreation or tourism.

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Holidays of past

History of Seaside Holidays

Seaside holidays began in the 18th century. At that time holidays were a luxury that only the wealthiest people could afford. In Britain, Scarborough became the first popular seaside town. It was made famous by a stream of acidic water found on the southern cliffs. People believed that this water could cure minor ailments. Around the same time, Brighton also became a popular seaside town preferred by King George IV. He enjoyed visiting so much that he transformed his home into a palace by the sea.

The invention of the railway in the 1840s meant that visiting the seaside became accessible to more people. It was beach etiquette to use bathing machines to get changed in. People would wear outfits that covered most of their bodies. Visitors would stroll along the promenade to listen to live music performed in bandstands.

If you want to find out even more facts about the history of seaside holidays, we have the resource just for you! Have a look at this KS1 History of Seaside Holidays Reading Comprehension activity. To really bring the history of seaside holidays to life, use this fantastic Seaside Holidays Now and Then PowerPoint presentation. Your class will be enchanted by these beautifully illustrated presentations!

Holiday packing

What is an Activity Holiday?

An activity holiday definition can be understood as trip away that includes lots of pursuits and activities that are fun and give people a break from their day-to-day lives. An activity holiday could involve physical pursuits such as:

  • rock climbing;
  • Hiking;
  • Cycling;
  • Camping;
  • Kayaking;
  • Skydiving;
  • Fishing;
  • Swimming;
  • Diving.

An Activity Holiday could also involve pursuits that are more mentally stimulating than physical. Examples could be boardgames, cooking and visits to famous places of interest, such as museums, war memorials and art galleries.

An activity holiday often requires a fair amount of planning and organisation. You can’t just go skydiving when the time feels right! This will require people to book a time and date with a professional company in order to be safe and fully prepared with equipment.

Why is an activity holiday beneficial?

Activity holidays are a popular type of holiday when offering something fresh and different to people’s ordinary lives back home. They encourage people to explore another area and see key sites such as nature reserves and art galleries.

From hiking to kayaking, they can be physically active and offer lots of adventure. You can learn a new skill on an activity holiday. You’ll also get lots of fresh air and exercise which has a huge amount of benefits, such as burning calories and releasing endorphins.

An activity holiday can be enjoyed by a number of different ages and people from all walks of life. Children might enjoy going cycling with their parents, whereas elderly people might prefer walking around a museum.

You could also go to the seaside for an activity holiday. With so much outdoor space and open water, you could have lots of fun! In short video below, we’ll list the key things to remember when packing for a beach trip, such as sun cream and a picnic blanket.

Holiday Packing

Holidays are certainly exciting for the whole family and it can be so tricky to stay focused and organised. And we all know how essential it is to pack all the important holiday items! The best starting point is to consider your destination; in other words the location you’re travelling to. Visiting Paris in France will certainly require a different attire than chilly Igaliko in Greenland. For an imaginative template to inspire children’s holiday packing lists, try this Packing for Weather Around the World Activity. It requires children to consider the weather of various locations and decide which suitcase belongs to which destination. Next, allow children to cut out various holiday items and stick them into their suitcase template using this Pack a Suitcase Cut and Stick Activity. And as a helping hand to parents, this Holiday Packing Checklist provides a great template for making sure you are prepared for every possible holiday situation.

Summer activity EYFS - Seaside Scene Labeling

Teaching ideas

Not able to visit the seaside this year? Let the seaside come to you with this immersive KS1 Seaside Video & Sound PowerPoint. It contains videos and sound recordings of the seaside that are sure to bring you that lovely holiday feel. Don’t forget that travelling can be done anywhere and anytime… if you use your imagination! Role-play is a brilliant way to engage a child’s imagination as well as encourage them to develop their communication skills. This International Airport Role Play Pack provides all the tools to create an airport area in the classroom or your home. Children can even design their own in-flight meals and flight attendant uniforms. One thing they should never forget is their passport. This UK Passport Template will help you teach children about the importance of this document.

Code Breaker tasks are a great way to practice arithmetic skills. These summer-themed Code Breaker Worksheets contain various addition, subtraction and multiplication challenges that create the answer to a summer puzzle. Looking for ways to make Math sunnier? Get your children counting with this colourful Seaside Counting Worksheet.

Poems are an incredibly effective way to teach phonics. They help children recognise similar sounds in different words, and improve their reading and writing comprehension. This engaging Summer Phonics Activity challenges kids to pick from sentences containing tricky words and various phonics to build their poems. Help children develop their vocabulary using this Seaside Word Search. To further reinforce their knowledge, engage them with this Seaside Scene Labeling activity.

The time of holidays inevitably marks the transition from one school year to another. Ride the holiday wave a while longer with our holiday-themed transition activity packs. They are perfect for easing your class into the new school year:

More Holiday-Themed Teaching Resources:

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