Transition classroom activities
The transition from primary to secondary school involves a period of rapid change, which is challenging for everyone involved. It is often a time of celebration and excitement, but it can also be worrying and stressful as students are required to adapt to new environments and expectations. Successful transition is vital to the development of students' sense of belonging, connectedness and academic self-competence, as well as to the prevention of potential anti-social behaviours and mental health issues.
Effective transition programs can prepare students for the changes and challenges they face. These classroom activities developed by ReachOut Schools are designed to assist schools to plan and implement early intervention and prevention strategies to promote belonging and wellbeing in all students as they reach this stage of potential vulnerability.
These initiatives need to meet a range of student needs. However, research indicates that to prepare students and enhance their resilience, lessons should include:
supportive relationship skills: social skills that improve connection to peers, school staff, family and other support networks
self-efficacy skills: skills for coping constructively with stress, as well as the development of positive academic self-competence
positive goal setting skills: to assist more optimistic thinking, a sense of direction and meaning in life.
These classroom activities will be most effective when used as part of a broader whole-school strategy that includes the consideration of home rooming to reduce movement about the new school, fewer class teachers to support positive relationship building, and the consistent utilisation of set small peer-support groups.
By implementing meaningful transition programs that include a range of activities, schools can prepare their students for a positive transition experience. Activities and lessons that assist students to develop social and emotional skills will enhance their resilience and levels of engagement, and ensure that they transition smoothly into secondary school.
Engaging classroom activities
20 minute activities to support your students starting secondary school.
Breaking the ice
Students use ice-breaker activities to connect with their peers.
Transition
20 minutes
Overcoming challenges
Students consider potential challenges and suggest ways to prepare for them.
Transition
20 minutes
Making friends
Students explore new ways to make friends and understand the importance of forming new friendships.
Transition
20 minutes
Social skills
Support students to develop interpersonal skills and build connections with peers.
Transition
20 minutes
Support networks
Students discuss support networks and how these can help them during challenging times.
Transition
20 minutes
Building resilience
This lesson helps students to recognise their resilient qualities while exploring habits that build resilience.
Transition
20 minutes
Coping with stress
Students explore techniques to reduce stress.
Transition
20 minutes
Setting goals
Students learn how to set goals to motivate them, and to help them concentrate on what's important to them.
Transition
20 minutes
Optimism and gratitude
Students examine the benefits of optimism and gratitude, exploring how they can practise these skills during transition.
Transition
20 minutes
Organisation and time management
Students learn strategies to help them develop organisational skills for secondary school.
Transition
20 minutes
Starting high school video
Use this animation to help students feel less stressed about starting high school.
Transition
20 minutes
Resources for parents and carers
Share with parents and carers to support a whole school approach to student wellbeing.
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