Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coping during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Over the past couple of years, school communities around Australia have faced significant challenges due to COVID-19, which has often left many school leaders, students and parents feeling overwhelmed, anxious, scared, uncertain and stressed.

While we've come a long way since the pandemic began, it can still impact schools in various ways. That’s why it’s important to help students and members of the school community to feel a sense of control, and to keep developing strategies for maintaining their wellbeing.

ReachOut Schools has developed coronavirus (COVID-19) classroom activities and Wellbeing Fives to be taught in the classroom or remotely. This collection has been put together to help teachers support students and the whole school community to cope with the challenges of COVID-19, now and into the future.

Students have benefited from reading articles in our youth collection ‘Coping during coronavirus’ and joining other young people in our peer support forums. Similarly, parents, carers and community members have found ReachOut Parents articles on topics such as how to talk to your teenager about coronavirus to be helpful.

As you continue to support your students, remember the importance of also tending to your own self-care. You can find tips and ideas on maintaining your wellbeing by accessing our teacher wellbeing collection.

Learn More

Classroom resources

Designed to be engaging and relevant to your students. 

Study stress during COVID-19

This lesson will examine the study stress students can experience due to COVID-19 and investigate ways to manage this stress.

9-10

11-12

60 minutes

Uncertainty during COVID-19

Students assess different coping strategies to help them build resilience and look after themselves in a rapidly changing and stressful environment.

7-12

60 minutes

Flexible thinking

Students examine the concept of ‘flexible thinking’ and how recognising other points of view is essential to developing resilience.

7-10

60 minutes

Self-efficacy

Students develop self-efficacy skills, learning the importance of creating and maintaining a sense of self-belief.

7-10

60 minutes

What is stress?

Help students reflect on current levels and understanding of stress. Learn what influences levels of stress, including what we can and can't control.

9-10

11-12

60 minutes

Wellbeing Fives

Energise, refocus and develop wellbeing in your students in 5 minutes. 

Music as a coping strategy

Students understand how creating a music playlist can help them to cope and focus.

7-12

5 minutes

How to handle fear for the future

Help Year 12 students understand their emotions and how they can use coping strategies to support their needs.

11-12

5 minutes

What's your at-home study style?

Students complete a quiz to determine their at-home study style.

7-12

5 minutes

Social connection during COVID-19

Students learn strategies to remain socially connected in an environment with physical distancing restrictions.

7-12

5 minutes

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and self-care

Help students to practise self-care strategies they can do by themselves at home during coronavirus (COVID-19).

7-12

5 minutes

Dealing with bad world news

Students analyse the impact of bad world news on their wellbeing and develop their own coping strategies.

7-12

5 minutes

Check-in line

Sometimes students can’t explain how they are feeling. Using a continuum removes the pressure and lets students demonstrate visually how they are coping.

7-12

5 minutes

Coping strategies

Students use a case study to understand the role that coping skills and support services play in managing mental health issues.

7-10

5 minutes

'How are you going?' quiz

This quiz will help your students check in with themselves.

7-12

5 minutes

‘I woke up early on the weekend’ meditation

This meditation uses the focused meditation technique to develop kindness and acceptance in a frustrating situation.

7-12

5 minutes

Resources for parents and carers

Share with parents and carers to support a whole school approach to student wellbeing. 

Talk to teens about coronavirus

Parenting a teenager during this time is difficult. Here’s how to talk to your teenager about coronavirus.

Teens, study stress and coronavirus

This collection will help you support your teen to manage exam and study stress, deal with distractions and develop a routine during COVID-19.

Teens and mental health challenges during COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is a challenging time for both teens and parents. There are things you can do to help them cope with mental health challenges.

Wellbeing during COVID-19

By prioritising your own wellbeing during coronavirus, you’ll feel better and be more able to support your teen.

Resources for students

Engaging and reliable content for young people to support their wellbeing. 

Coping during COVID-19

It's been a stressful time all around the world as we deal with coronavirus and the uncertainty it brings. Here are some resources to help you cope.

Stressed about study during COVID-19?

If school life is overwhelming right now, you’re not alone. Whether you’re learning from home or still attending school, it’s safe to say that coronavirus (COVID-19) is disrupting our plans.

How to ask a friend if they're okay

When you're worried about someone, sometimes the best thing you can do is listen and let them know you're there for them.

7 reasons to use our forums

There’s probably over 100 reasons for you to use our forums, but let’s start with seven of them.

Resources for school staff

Articles for teacher wellbeing and supporting students. 

Teacher wellbeing in a changing environment

Check out our practical tips for enhancing teacher wellbeing during COVID-19.

Surviving a school lockdown

Temporary closures are part of the new-normal during COVID-19, but these disruptions don’t have to derail life for the school community.

Life and learning after COVID-19

Teachers and students are returning to classrooms, but back to school doesn’t necessarily mean back to normal.

COVID-19 and the whole school community

If you’re worried about the impact COVID-19 is having on your school community, there are some things you can do.

Online learning activities

Reachout Schools’ resources to support online learning.