Think differently, take risks, adapt to change in a moments notice and build resilience.

Scenario:

The end of term is drawing nearer – are you feeling a tad worn down, feeling like a change, need an injection of thinking differently, have no more ideas left – well here’s something to try.

Try This:

Have a ‘Roll the Dice Day’ – let the day be controlled by the roll of a dice.

Firstly decide on the value consequences and write them up. For example:

1 = Everyone change seats one place to the right. This might mean changing tables or just rotating around the table.

2 = Five minute break outside

3= Play Silent ball for 5 minutes. The winner gets to roll the dice next time.

4 = Send a thank you note to a class team member.

5 = Give a really loud class cheer after the count of 3.

6 = Do your work in three different colours for five minutes.

You need to decide how often you will roll or pick a student to do the roll. It could be every 30 minutes, four times during the day, whenever you feel the urge.

Think of some crazy things to do or it could be learning tasks – depends how much you want to stir up your class!

1 = Learn to spell … (You provide a long wacky word to learn) NOTE: You could keep 1,2,3,5 a secret until the number comes up)

2 = Learn a short poem – you have 10 minutes only e.g: One of Spike Milligan’s little gems. I love Spike’s Poetry, maybe the first verse of the JABBERWOCKY by Lewis Carroll (from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

(Once the students know this line, it can act as a ‘trigger’ for future ideas, activities.

Introduce them to the whole poem, learn it all, read more of Lewis Carroll, whet their appetite for fantasy writing, discuss invented language. What new language has been added to our vocabulary in the last 10 years? – computer language, www, mobile phone texting language – huge topic to persue further on the day or at another time)

3 = Learn how to … (You can decide what you would like the students to learn. e.g. a new game, how to do a card trick, calligraphy, juggle, do a cartwheel,

4 = Shake hands with every one in the class who shares the same birthday month as you.

5 = Mystery Prize

6 = All get up and go on an uninvited trip to visit another class, tell them about Dice Day and invite them out for a game.

Results:

Everyone has fun. The excitement and anticipation is intense when the dice is rolled.

Tips:

• Give the students the opportunity to design the value consequences with the criteria that the 6 actions must be do-able and realistic. They could work with a partner to ‘double the thinking’.
• Allow for each number to be used once or you can have 3 ideas for each number. If the number occurs again when the dice is rolled use the second then third idea.
• It’s a bit of a random day if you want it to be but make it a learning experience.
• Discuss issues such as impromptu thinking, being ready for something new, taking on a challenge with little warning, taking a risk, being resilient when things pop up that may be difficult – all life skills students will need.