CLASSROOM IDEAS
Lighting fires
“Upon the subject of
education, not presuming to
Fun in the classroom
dictate any plan or system
respecting it, I can only say
that I view it as the most
important subject which
we as a people may be
engaged in.”
understand the importance of building up a CV, will
Abraham Lincoln
help them to set and achieve goals. Why not ask them
to look into the future and choose their ideal job. Be
prepared for a number of students vying for WAG or
“It’s okay to make mistakes.
premiership footballer status!
Ask them to work out what education might be Mistakes are our teachers –
necessary to get there, and what extra-curricular
activities and skills may be necessary. If they want to
they help us to learn.”
be a football trainer, they may need a degree in sports
John Bradshaw
science or sports performance. Who offers these?
What grades do they need? Do they need experience
or coaching badges as well? What could they do to “A professor can never
achieve these? Then ask them to put together a personal
statement explaining why they are the right candidate
better distinguish himself
for the job or the course – a statement or CV that sets
in his work than by
them out from the competition, and makes it clear that
they are the man or woman for the job.
encouraging a clever pupil,
Conclusion
for the true discoverers are
There is a wealth of other ideas that can be expanded
across numerous subjects to take on “major project”
among them, as comets
status, and encourage learning across many disciplines.
The trick is to encourage your students to see this
amongst the stars.”
as something other than “boring” school work, and to Linnaeus
capture their imaginations. While they will undoubtedly
pick up some of the most important elements of their
academic education along the way, this approach will
“A child cannot be taught by
also play a much more important role in preparing them
anyone who despises him.”
for life as they move into adulthood, and opening their
minds to the world around them.
James Baldwin
There is huge scope for “play” in the classroom, and
you will be surprised by how social skills, physical and
cognitive development and self-confidence improve.
“It is the mark of an
What’s more, at an age when risk-taking is rife, you can
educated mind to be able to
engage their minds and enthusiasm in positive ways.
The impact of this is immeasurable.
entertain a thought without
So, have fun! And if you have some great ideas,
send them in and we’ll publish those too! SecEd accepting it.”
Aristotle
• Karen Sullivan is a bestselling author, psychologist
and childcare expert. Email kesullivan@aol.com
WOHAA
the students? Put them into groups and ask them to know how to cook, and it would be a good idea for you
come up with an idea that they believe will earn money to sit down with your class and work out what those The Wings of Hope Achievement Award
for the school or benefit the local community. might be. A salad, a roasted chicken (or grilled fish),
They will need to make a presentation, working an omelette, a toasted sandwich, a baked potato and
out the costs of implementation, assessing the market, perhaps simply heating up a can of soup.
A unique social enterprise award scheme for
coming up with a marketing programme, and producing If you can, arrange for them to be instructed. If you
a report on financial viability. They will need to present have got a class of culinary geniuses, then arrange for Years 10 to 13
with panache, and catch the interest of their school them to learn how to make a cake, or an interesting
mates. The dragons can be governors brought in for curry. Teach them how to source the ingredients, check
Designed by students, for students
the purpose, or perhaps simply a trio of experienced for freshness, and employ food hygiene. Even the
teachers. If you can find it in your budget, you could most recalcitrant teen is usually willing to take part in
supply funds for the winners to implement their ideas. something that involves food. Students design and carry out their own
Let the school be an audience to raise the stakes and Get your ironing board in and show them how to creative and innovative fundraising
encourage a spirit of competition. It would not hurt to iron a shirt. Get the boys sewing on buttons, too! Give events and activities
encourage the students to watch a few episodes, too – to each student a household role, and ask them to create
assess why investment was given for some ideas and a presentation – how to sort laundry, how to wash Over 4,000 students from over 70 schools
not others, the techniques of successful presenters, the delicates, how to read a garment label, how to recycle, have taken part so far.
usefulness of products and services offered, and the best how to dust, how to hoover, how to remove stains from
financial forecasting methods. a carpet, how to wash windows, how to reduce dust The Award scheme is designed to
Why not take the opportunity to examine motivation mites in bedding – that sort of thing. bolster key transferable skills through
for producing products and services, and the emotional They should research their topic well, and come practical experience
impact of facing rejection? up with a series of tried-and-tested techniques that can
* Teamwork * Leadership
be handed out to the class. I can tell you now that you
Building lifeskills
will undoubtedly meet with some resistance from less
* Communication * Time management
nt
It goes without saying that teaching kids a few basic open-minded parents, but stick to your guns. Kids need * Social enterprise
skills is essential. It is fairly clear that many of our to learn these skills in order to survive.
kids go out into the world with very little idea of Getting from A to B is also important, and you can Fulfils CAS requirements of the IB Diploma
how to look out for themselves. So why not get them encourage good travel skills by giving each student
going? a destination in the UK to which they must plan a Fulfils service element of Duke of
To begin with, I would say a little home economics journey, within a budget. Do not make it too simple. Edinburgh’s Award
was in order. Begin by looking at the concept of a Find a destination a little out of the way, and make sure
household budget – money coming in and money they research it thoroughly. Can be integrated into PSHE and
going out (and where it goes out!). How much is left for Citizenship syllabus
groceries? Ask them to do a virtual shop on the Tesco
Going green
or Sainsbury’s website and ask them to put together a Bump up their green credentials by teaching them the Working in partnership with top UK
week’s worth of healthy, balanced meals and snacks for basics of climate change, and the environmental impact employers
their whole family within a budget. of the way we live. Ask each student to come up with
* Work experience placements
This will not only require them to work to a budget, one solution that can be employed by the average
but ask them to assess a family diet and learn some basic person to reduce a carbon footprint.
* Industry skills workshops
cooking skills. Set some guidelines – no processed food They could, perhaps, survey the school and come up
or ready meals, for example! with suggestions that would make the school more eco-
Semi Finalist teams presentations
Get a Masterchef competition going. Obviously friendly. For every suggestion they make, they should
at the House of Lords, Westminster
some kids will not have the wherewithal to buy be able to explain why they are making it, the costs
ingredients or make a meal at home, but if they do, put involved, and how practical it actually is.
Overall Winners win an all-expenses-paid
them into partners and send them off to produce one
trip to visit the charity school in India
over a weekend. The tasting can be done by classmate
Selling themselves
judges. If you have cooking facilities at your school, In every aspect of our lives we need to learn to sell
To book an interactive assembly presentation for students before 11th Dec 09 visit
engage a dinner lady or an appropriate teacher to guide ourselves – from getting a place in further education,
www.thewingsofhope.org/achievementaward.asp or contact
them through the basics, and then let them loose. to getting a job and even making friends. Encouraging
us on 020 8438 1598 or by email to info@thewingsofhope.org
There are a few things that every student should kids to learn to focus on their strong points, and
SecEd • November 19 2009 9
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