Putting the Fun Back into Teaching
After a tough academic year with no shortage of challenges facing educators we wanted to explore some ways to reignite that spark for teaching, starting the new academic year off with enthusiasm and creative ways to get children back into that learning mind-set. It can be challenging finding start-of-term activities which are a healthy balance of learning and fun so we hope this blog will help to give you some inspiration for fun ideas not just for the children but for teachers as well, starting the new school year off with gusto.
Fun for the kids!
The return to school after the summer holidays can be tough – the weather is (hopefully) still lovely outside, children are excited to see their friends after their holidays, and going back to school and learning may be for many of them the last thing they want to do! Finding activities to engage their brains can be a challenge but finding something which is fun and educational while aiding you in getting to know your new class doesn’t have to be difficult.
Outdoor activities
Take advantage of the children’s excitement and energy and that remaining bit of sunshine with an outdoor activity. Outdoor activities can be great as ice breakers, allowing children to develop their team work skills as well as help them get in touch with nature and burn off at least some of their energy.
Why not try rock painting, a nature walk or scavenger hunt? These activities help to encourage children to explore nature, express their creativity and do some team bonding. Each activity can also allow the children to take a memento with them once finished to decorate their new classroom with.
Arts and craft decorations
Along the same lines of children finding outdoor keepsakes for the school year, a fun craft activity can be just the way to get kids back into learning, allowing them to express their creativity as well as make bright decorations to liven up the classroom.
Weaving rainbow fish, marble painting and self-portrait painting are fantastic ways to let children express their creative side and make something to decorate the classroom with for the rest of the year. They’re also great interactive activities, giving you the opportunity to comment on their works in progress and get to know their personalities through how they express themselves creatively.
Fun for the teachers!
A good work environment is paramount to good mental health and your classroom can be a brilliant way to express yourself and create a space which you look forward to coming into every day.
Refresh your classroom
The start of the new term is a perfect time to have a classroom overhaul, getting rid of old work and any unnecessary bits and pieces that might be hanging about from the previous year. Having a refresh is great for your mental health as well as freeing up space for children’s work for the coming year. Get creative with colours or a specific theme for your classroom, something which can express your creativity and personal taste.
Plants, plants and more plants
Plants can be a great, inexpensive way to brighten up the classroom. Choose low maintenance kinds such as spider plants, rubber plants or succulents. As well as allowing the children the opportunity to learn responsibility as they can take turns watering them every morning, it can also help to spark children’s interest in nature and biology.
Team building activities
Often neglected in lieu of marking, lesson planning and playground duty, time with colleagues can often come just in passing or grabbing a much needed tea or coffee from the staff room. Although it requires a bit more forethought than the other ideas on this list, team building activities for staff, particularly at the beginning of term, can be a fun way to strengthen work relationships as well as blow off some steam!
There are a variety of team building activities for all budgets, abilities and time frames. Pair up is a great activity with no cost involved, and only takes half an hour. Although a pricier option, escape rooms have become the go-to for a fun team building activity and force collaboration with sometimes hilarious outcomes. Finally, why not have your own teachers’ sports day? Allow your inner child to come out as well as your competitive spirit with a friendly, funny day in the sun.
The most important thing is to reflect on the previous year and what learnings you can bring into the new school year, and start the year full of hope and eagerness about what your class will achieve in the weeks ahead. We hope some of the ideas above have helped inspire you to start the new term with positivity and a fresh enthusiasm for teaching.