Session Structure details

Hope your week has got off to a good start. I've had a few questions from new Creatives and those returning to the program after a break about the structure of Session 2, so thought I'd share it with the wider group.

Session 2

As you gear up for Session 2 — this will be your first time working directly with the students. Some ideas and tools to help you shape a purposeful, engaging, and inspiring workshop:

Structure of Session 2 (90 minutes in total – shorter in high school):

15 mins: Warm-up
60 mins: Core activity (linked to the selected curriculum area)
15 mins: Learning reflection

This session is your opportunity to introduce yourselves, your creative practice, and the Creative Schools program. Some practitioners have previously shared a short video tour of their studio or workspace — a great way to open up your world to the students and spark curiosity.

Warm-up (15 mins):

Start with a short creative warm-up — something fun and light to break the ice and get them thinking creatively and introducing themselves to you. You can find all the toolkits including the Warm-up Toolkit in the resources folder for inspiration.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Om3cbxAGKjIMGBizBx_rmnixW7VBbgPp?usp=sharing

Core Activity (60 mins):

This first session is all about co-design — we want to involve students in shaping the direction of the Term 2 project. While the teacher has selected the curriculum focus, this session should explore how students want to express their learning. Could it be a performance, an exhibition, a short film, a market stall?

We also want to start surfacing any local “wicked problems” that matter to the students and might be integrated into the project. To support this, you might like to use the question-generating activity we covered at the PL session (linked below).

🟢 Access the activity and 17 UN SDG cards here

Consider printing out a few of the SDG cards and doing a quick-fire brainstorm where students generate questions they’d like to explore, then vote on a favourite question that can be included into the project.

Reflection (15 mins):

Wrap up the session by introducing the 5 Creative Habits of Learning. Use the classroom display board (which should be up already) and share a little about how these habits will guide your time together.

You might like to ask:

“Which creative habit did you use during the warm-up today?”
“Which one do you want to grow this term?”

The Reflection Toolkit (also in the resources folder) includes examples of how other Creatives have made the habits visible throughout the project. The Reflection Journal is also on its way to your inboxes next week — I'm hoping that it will be a fantastic tool to keep the momentum going during and between your visits.

Post-Session: Teacher Check-In

After the workshop, arrange a quick catch-up with the teacher:

Immediately after the session (ideal if they have DOTT), or
During the week (a short 10-minute call or chat works well)

Use this time to reflect on the shoulder-to-shoulder delivery that the two of you did during the workshop:

What the teacher/you noticed during the session
Any standout student moments or surprises
What ideas from students should inform or revise the Term Plan
Successes, challenges, and what’s emerging or sparking student curiosity
What you might do differently next week
Which Creative Habit you might spotlight in the next session

You’ll use this conversation to complete the Weekly Reflection Document, which you are responsible for updating after each session.

🟢 Access your school’s folder here

In the template, note:

The warm-up, core activity, and reflection
Key insights or feedback from your post-workshop conversation with the teacher
Any changes made to the Term Plan
Planning ideas for the next session

Engagement HQ:
You can then copy and paste your Weeks Reflection (warm-up, core activity and reflection) to the new Engagement HQ each week - this is the link that Emily has sent through. It's something we are trying this year and is a replacement to the old Facebook Group that we have had in previous years. This is how we share project ideas with the wider creative practitioner team and encourage you to encourage one another, along with 'stealing like an artist' and share and exchange ideas that have been a hit in the classroom.