5 PSHE Workshop Ideas to Inspire Confidence and Compassion in Students

by PlanMySchoolTrip
published 24 July 2026

3 mins read

Why School Visits Are the Perfect Way to Teach PSHE and Build Resilience in Students

Schools should be interested in PSHE as a vital part of developing well rounded, confident, and resilient students. PSHE helps young people build essential life skills such as emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and responsible decision making. A school visit offers a dynamic and engaging way to bring these topics to life, providing experiential learning opportunities that inspire pupils to understand and apply PSHE concepts in real situations. By incorporating interactive workshops and outdoor activities, schools can create meaningful experiences that support students' personal development and prepare them for the challenges of life beyond the classroom.

1. First Aid workshop for children

During this school workshop activity, children will spend a half day learning essential first aid skills through practical exercises such as performing CPR on mannequins, bandaging wounds, and learning how to manage allergic reactions with an epi-pen. They will also practice calling emergency services correctly and discuss scenarios like choking or minor injuries.

PSHE Focus: This activity helps build resilience, empathy, and responsibility by teaching children how to help others in emergencies. It gives them confidence for situations where they need to care for others as well as understanding their own personal safety.

Why schools should consider this: Making sure students have essential first aid skills will give them confidence about how to help others who are injured or feeling unwell. In real life situations where first aid is called for this workshop will teach children how to stay calm and how to apply their knowledge. These are key personal as well as community skills, with the potential to save lives.

2. Outdoor team building challenges

During this activity, students will take part in a series of outdoor challenges such as constructing a sturdy shelter using limited materials, building and racing small boats or rafts, or navigating obstacle courses that require teamwork to complete. They will also participate in problem solving tasks like crossing a 'spider web' net without touching it or finding their way through a low ropes course.

PSHE Focus: Teamwork and communication skills are the big winners in an activity such as this. Encouraging children to support each other and work cooperatively will give them skills they can take back to the classroom and use in many aspects of their daily lives.

Why schools should consider this: Engaging in outdoor challenges helps students develop vital social and emotional skills that improve classroom cooperation and build a positive cohesive school culture. It also boosts confidence, essential for personal growth.

3. Healthy living and nutrition workshops

During these hands-on workshops, pupils will actively prepare nutritious dishes such as salads, smoothies, or simple balanced meals, guided step-by-step with the support of instructors. They will also explore the origins of their food in activities like planting seeds, visiting gardens, or discussing sustainable farming practices. Also, they might participate in taste tests of locally sourced foods or participate in food waste reduction games to learn about composting and waste management.

PSHE Focus: This activity promotes healthy habits, environmental responsibility, and personal wellbeing by teaching children about nutrition, making informed food choices, and understanding sustainability.

Why schools should consider this: Encouraging healthy eating and environmental awareness supports lifelong healthy habits, enhances pupils’ understanding of global issues, and promotes responsibility for personal and planetary health.

4. Mental health and wellbeing sessions

In these interactive workshops, children will participate in activities such as mindfulness breathing exercises, be encouraged to write about their feelings, and practice techniques like grounding or visualisation to manage stress. They might also engage in role playing to practice saying "no" to peer pressure or explore coping strategies for feelings of anxiety through group discussions. The session may include a 'wellbeing walk' in nature or creative arts activities like drawing or storytelling to express emotions.

PSHE Focus: This activity develops emotional literacy, self-awareness, coping skills, and promotes positive mental health, equipping children to manage their wellbeing proactively.

Why schools should consider this: Teaching mental health awareness reduces stigma, provides pupils with practical strategies to handle stress, and fosters a caring, supportive school environment that benefits everyone’s emotional wellbeing.

5. Online safety and digital citizenship workshops

During this online safety workshop, students participate in scenarios such as identifying phishing emails, role play conversations about online boundaries, and creating posters or videos promoting respectful online behavior. They may also explore interactive quizzes about cyberbullying, social media risks, and privacy settings, or work in teams to solve digital dilemmas presented through storytelling or games.

PSHE Focus: This activity builds digital literacy, critical thinking, empathy, and respectful online communication, helping children navigate the digital world safely.

Why schools should consider this: As children increasingly use digital devices, equipping them with online safety skills is vital to protect their mental health, prevent cyberbullying, and promote responsible digital citizenship.