On the 6th of March, I hosted my fist online, virtual PE lessons in cooperation with the organisation, Language Linkers. Language Linkers gave me the opportunity to connect with refugee students online; it’s an amazing chance to make a difference and support the children, even in the smallest way possible.
Over the next two months, I have planned different PE lessons which have multiple focuses. For instance, in my first workshop we focused on balance, therefore my group (8-12 year olds), took advantage of day-to-day household items and incorporated them into their workout. An example of this is in one exercise called ‘Superman’, the kids lifted one leg and both arms, and leaned forward to touch a tall water bottle. Over the next few weeks, we will have different main concepts such as dancing, strength and even a sports day. The true challenge is to keep the children interested for 40 minutes, while incorporating basic language into the teaching.
The first workshop allowed me to get to know the refugees, by understanding where they’re from and their interests, this then allowed me to guide the conversation and adapt the lesson to their needs. It is essential to have a more human approach to ensure they feel safe so it can be more than just an ordinary PE lesson.