Managing practical activities.

[phlebasconsidered]

I have a storm of major practical sessions coming up this next few weeks and all next term. I'm talking making bread, making papier mache, sculpting in clay and wire, building bird boxes and carving, that sort of thing.

Now, I try as much as I can to carousel foundation so that only half the class are working practically and the other half are doing something else, but the way it's fallen is that this is quite difficult with my foundation this next term. So i'm looking for practical tips on how to manage such activities. How do you organise the room, and timings? Tidying up is a shit storm, even with timers it always ends up being so noisy that I feel awful for next door!

I'm across years 5 and 6.

I know! the carving is making me panic too! And it was my idea...

I like the idea of doing everything one step at a time. It's so removed from the classroom practice of everything else, where it's all myriad objectives, small groups and so on. Practically, you NEED to go "STOP! Now untangle the widget!" or whatever.

The tidy up depresses me. It can take half the lesson.

I volunteered to do all the creative stuff, it just overwhelms me!

Do you have a TA and an outside area?

Could you spread it over the whole week in small groups outbloodyside? Spin it as allowing you to do more focus group work in core subjects?

I feel your pain, I only have 8 kids and physically twitch when the junk modelling kicks in.

Parent helpers are definitely the way forward. Or sixth formers considering teaching if a secondary school near enough. Or Governors. Or call in all your favours from colleagues and shamelessly nick TAs

I baked sixty bread rolls this afternoon and it was just me and one takes. No one died or ate raw dough. I went drill sergeant and put all the ingredients into freezer bags in bowls and stood at a table in front barking directions to rows of tables like a mad Mary Berry. We even managed a variety of flavours. I might have to buy the caretaker a beer though.

Ta not takes!