Introduction: 🌟 Sunday’s Five, Mondays Thrive
We all know that the transition from the weekend to the weekdays can be a challenging shift, especially for our young learners. With the weekend’s relaxation behind them and a week of academic rigour ahead, Mondays can feel overwhelming. That’s where “Sunday’s Five, Mondays Thrive” comes in.
The idea is simple yet profound. Dedicate just five minutes on a Sunday to prepare or reflect upon something related to the upcoming week. These brief moments can be filled with mindfulness, a quick glance at lessons, a short creative exercise, or even a nature walk. The intention is to bridge the gap between rest and work, leisure and learning. By investing this Sunday’s five minutes, we (teachers!) find ourselves more grounded, focused, and thriving on Mondays.
“Sunday’s Five, Mondays Thrive” is a gentle reminder that transitions can be made smoother with just a little preparation. It’s about fostering a mindset that views the start of the week not as a hurdle, but as a fresh opportunity waiting to be embraced. And our school grounds are always there for us, ready to accommodate the most fun outdoor lessons!
📖 Rope-framed Storyboard: Visual Narratives 🖌️
- For: Teachers wanting a fresh, outdoor-based activity for their students, just around the corner: their school grounds.
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
1️⃣ Objective: Empower students to visually represent and narrate their thoughts, expectations, or learnings in a collaborative setting. It’s not just about art and storytelling; it’s about team building, reflection, and connecting with the environment around them.
- Curricular Goals Addressed:
- Literacy & Communication: Through narrating their sections of the storyboard, students develop their storytelling and oral communication skills.
- Art & Creativity: Students use found objects and drawings to represent their narratives, fostering artistic expression.
- Social & Collaborative Skills: Working in groups promotes teamwork, listening, and understanding diverse perspectives.
- Environmental Awareness: Engaging outdoors makes students more observant of their surroundings, cultivating a bond with nature.
- Critical Thinking: Reflecting upon and interpreting the narratives of peers encourages analytical thinking and empathy.
2️⃣ Materials:
- A long rope (the longer, the more space for creativity!)
3️⃣ Steps:
a. Venture Outdoors 🏫🌳: Find a serene open space in the schoolyard, where creativity can blossom without walls.
b. Frame Your Storyboard 🟩: Gently lay down the rope in a rectangle shape. This forms the ‘frame’ of your storyboard.
c. Group & Divide 🌟: Split the students into smaller groups. Assign each one a corner or section of the storyboard. Diversity in thoughts is the essence here!
d. Narrate with Nature 🕰️🎭: Depending on your chosen theme for the week (be it first lessons, expectations, or current events), let each group spend 10 minutes to use found objects or their drawings to represent their narrative.
e. Bring It All Together 🗣️: Once every group has set their scene, gather everyone and let the stories unfold. Narrate the entire storyboard collectively.
f. Reflections & Insights 💬: Engage in a meaningful discussion. Delve into the insights, discover connections between groups, and reflect upon the entire activity.
4️⃣ Bonus Activity 🔄: Add a twist! Swap sections among groups. Let one group interpret or continue the narrative of the previous group. This promotes empathy, understanding, and sometimes, humorous interpretations!
Take a look at these beautiful examples made by students:
Teachers’ Take-away 📚✨🖍✏️🤝
In essence, nature is not just a backdrop but an active participant in the learning process.
Keep exploring, keep teaching, and never forget – the world outside holds lessons that no classroom can replicate.