GRADES 7 TO 10 (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

A team that works well together is more effective, more productivem, and more successful. As a space shrinks the students will need to find a way for the group to occupy the space. Team members will need strategy and creativity to save themselves!

When schools strengthen relationships with community-based organisations they engage in environments positively impacts on students’ awareness and experiences. Volunteering can make students feel more confident and connected to people. This activity encourages students to create a plan to volunteer and support a local cause - and in doing so demonstrate compassion.

This thought-provoking activity gives students the opportunity to feel and share another person's emotions. Cross the line creates awareness of others’ experiences, perspectives and circumstances building a unified and supportive group of learners.

The phrase “random acts of kindness” is relatively well known all over the world. This activity asks students to reflect on times that they have acted kindly to others or consider ways that they could practise random acts of kindness. What can you log on the Kindness Log at the Kindness Factory: https://kindnessfactory.com/kindness-log/

Honesty is an important quality to have. Being an honest person is important because it helps to build trust in relationships. This activity requires students to research honesty definitions and quotes to find the words and phrases most commonly associated with honesty. The aim of this activity is for students to create a useable definition for their classroom.

If you are humble, you think of others and empathise with their circumstances. This task asks students to help someone shine by recognising their achievements, efforts and skills. Demonstrate your happiness for someone else and celebrate!

Humour can be used to enhance classroom happiness and develop a sense of community. Writing funny captions for photos requires clever and witty thought and can bring laughter to a classroom when these creations are shared.

Using photos students analyse differing perspectives of the same view. Students are asked to share their perspective and compare their own “smaller” views to others’ perspectives and the “bigger picture”. By viewing and listening to other interpretations of the same picture students can experience points of view and apply multiple perspectives – considering the whole picture!

We all have the opportunity to help create positive change. The ‘Starfish story’ by Loren Eisely explores the action of one young boy. This activity provides opportunities to reflect on positive change that individuals can achieve.

Self-acceptance requires self-discovery and a willingness to look objectively at ourselves celebrating strengths that outweigh weaknesses. Reflecting on who we are and all the unique facets that make us individuals and representing that in a collage assists student to build their self-image and esteem.

Minefield is an outdoor game that requires the physical movement through an obstacle course blindfolded! It is a game of trust – will you navigate the minefield? Can you trust your partner and communicate well?