WEEKLY WHITEBOARD ??

Art and PE but make it real-world simulated... Pretty exciting, isn't it?

In the last Weekly Whiteboard, we explored some practical classroom activities to build your students' resilience and help them feel empowered to handle challenges. This week, we'll dive into fun ideas that will allow you to make art and PE classes real-world-like.

Art and PE are most often considered extracurriculars in schools.

But, in fact, they teach multiple critical skills, like creativity and teamwork, that some other core subjects may also fail to teach.

If they prove to be so valuable even in their true essence, we can only imagine how enriching they can be for students once enhanced in a way that directly ties into real-world learning.

With this in mind, here's what we'll cover in this edition. ???

• ?? Art-sical wonders: Fun ideas to fuse art and PE with real-world learning.

News updates that matter:?

• ???UK schools told not to teach about gender identity.?
• ??Dubai to pay 50% of school fees of 1,800 students.
• ?? UK education committee publishes report on teacher recruitment.

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Learning fact of the week:

?? Research by the famous psychologist Carol Dweck has shown that students who believe their abilities can improve with effort (a growth mindset) perform better academically. Thus, encouraging a growth mindset can lead to higher motivation and achievement.

FRIDAY SPOTLIGHT: PE AND ART IN THE REAL WORLD

ART ??

?? Storyboard a cause: Have students quickly sketch a storyboard for a public service announcement on a current topic such as recycling, health, or safety. This activity ties art to persuasive communication and public awareness, showing students the power of visual storytelling in real-world contexts.

?? Logo art: Challenge students to design a creative logo for a hypothetical small business or community organisation. This task encourages them to think about branding and marketing from an artistic perspective.

?? Career sketches: Students draw quick sketches depicting various careers and the tools or environments associated with them, followed by a brief presentation. This enhances understanding of different professions, workplace environments, and the practical applications of art and design skills in various fields.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION ??

??Survival skills obstacle course: Set up a mini obstacle course where students perform tasks like tying knots, purifying water, or building a small shelter using available materials. This teaches basic survival skills, teamwork, and quick decision-making, preparing students for real-life emergencies and outdoor adventures.

??Global fitness challenge: Students participate in exercises popular in different cultures (e.g., yoga from India, tai chi from China). Each station includes a brief explanation of the exercise's cultural background. This promotes cultural awareness, global fitness practices, and the understanding of diverse traditions and their health benefits.

??Financial fitness: Introduce a fitness challenge where each exercise move (like sit-ups or squats) is tied to a budgeting question or problem. For example, a student must calculate a simple expense, like daily coffee costs over a month after every five squats. This combines physical activity with basic financial literacy.

Want to ensure your school curriculum successfully meets the demands of the 21st century but have...

??Teacher shortage problems

??No proper solution

??Time constraints to create and execute practical learning content How about you start with integrating Startup School into your school curriculum?

It's a done-for-you learning experience where your students will become Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and speedrun a startup.

Skills learnt? Entrepreneurship, creativity, problem-solving, communication, and more!

Learn more here.

TOP THREE EDUCATION UPDATES THAT MATTER??

The latest news: ?

1?? Gender studies: The UK government plans to prohibit teaching about gender identity and sex education for under-nines in English schools, according to new draft guidance. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated this is to prevent children from being 'exposed to disturbing content'. The guidance, part of a broader debate on gender and transgender rights, will undergo a nine-week consultation before finalisation.

Why it matters: It impacts how sensitive topics like gender identity and sex education are taught in English schools, influencing the educational content and approach to these subjects. (Via BBC)

2?? 'Fee' gift: Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) will cover 50% of the school fees for up to 1,800 gifted Emirati students at top-rated private schools. This initiative, part of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, aims to enhance collaboration between public and private sectors and provide high-quality education. Over 400 scholarships will be offered to exceptional students in schools rated Good or better.

Why it matters: This initiative is important because it enhances educational access and quality for Emirati students, fostering talent and collaboration between the public and private sectors in Dubai.?(Via Arabian Business)

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3?? Teaching SOS: The Education Committee urges the UK Government to invest in programmes to address the severe shortage of secondary school teachers, emphasising recruitment, training, and retention. Despite record overall teacher numbers, key subject areas like business studies, physics, and music missed recruitment targets, with some schools even dropping subjects. Teacher retention issues are exacerbated by challenges such as behaviour management, better pay in other sectors, and heavy workloads.

Why it matters: It affects the quality of education, with teacher shortages and retention problems threatening the ability to provide comprehensive and specialised instruction in key subjects.?(Read the full report here. )

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'Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself.'

?– George Bernard Shaw