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.
Classroom resources
Designed to be engaging and relevant to your students.
Dealing with study stress during coronavirus
This lesson will examine the study stress students can experience due to COVID-19 and investigate ways to manage this stress.
9-12
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.
9-12
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: A guide for Year 12 students
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
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
Lesson: 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.
Resources for students
Engaging and reliable content for young people to support their wellbeing.
Coping during coronavirus (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.
School and study
Starting university, surviving O-Week, staying safe during schoolies, worrying about failing a course, getting a job after uni. These are some of the issues we address here.
How to ask a friend if they're okay
Worried about a friend? Letting them know you're there for them can make a big difference. Check out our seven simple steps to asking if they're okay.
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.
Keeping up with COVID-19: Surviving a school shutdown
If COVID-19 impacts onsite learning again, these disruptions don’t have to derail life for the school community.
Teacher's guide: life and learning through COVID-19
Teachers and students have returned 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.