Energy

Depending on where you are in the world, your school is closed for Easter. Here in Australia, Easter marks the end of the first half of Semester One. It’s a good time to rebuild the energy levels after the rush of a new school year.

Our Australia-wide standardised NAPLAN tests are over, so the remainder of the year can focus on what we do best: teaching. The winter terms in Australia have always been my favourite. I found it easier to generate energy for learning when the weather was cooler.

Many of my classrooms had no air conditioning (outside of ceiling fans) and no heating. My students enjoyed working somewhere warm in winter. That meant taking the classroom outside.

We’d spent the morning composing or comprehending in the sunshine. I gave everyone an outer boundary to stay within. Students worked in pairs or small teams to complete two set tasks and one self-directed activity.

They enjoyed the one of their choosing. What was the most popular choice? By a wide margin, it was art. Groups would take materials outside to sketch, draw, or paint landscapes.

Engagement was high. Many students became so lost in their work that the mid-morning bell was the only thing that broke the spell. Their energy and their teacher’s enthusiasm remained upbeat for the rest of the day.