Bringing PSHE to life through human stories part II

The relationships and health aspects of PSHE are compulsory in all schools from September 2020. It feels timely with concerns about mental health and physical health on the rise. At Lyfta we believe that this focus can make a real difference for the health, wellbeing and safety of children and young people well into their adulthood and later life.

This blog is part two of a three part series looking at how the Lyfta platform and resources can bring PSHE to life for your students. The content suggestions in this blog will be linked to the PSHE and RSHE curriculum around relationships and wellbeing and will provide inspiration for you to deliver engaging lessons which also meet the statutory requirements. This time we will be looking at how to discuss and understand families sensitively and how to help pupils to believe they can achieve, and persevere with tasks.

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Discussing and understanding families sensitively

In Britain today, children and young people are raised in many forms of families and households. It is important for students to understand that others' families, either in school or in the wider community, sometimes look different from their own family. Students should respect those differences and know that other individuals' families are also characterised by love and care.

At Lyfta we believe it is a core part of PSHE to understand that caring and stable relationships, which may be of different types, are at the heart of families. Here are three storyworlds and films which will help explore the theme of different families and the love which binds them together.

Muhammed’s Home

In Muhammed's Home inFinland, the film 'My daughter and I' looks at how love, food and open emotion are the glue that keeps this two-person family together.

Pride

InPridethere is the film from Curacao, 'Qwensley', which looks at sexuality, faith and family in this small, conservative island community.

Habiba’s Home

In Habiba's Home inFinland, the film 'A regular Finnish family' explores themes around family, identity, belonging and place.

Helping pupils to believe they can achieve, and persevere with tasks

During the pandemic, resilience and perseverance have become associated strongly with successfully coping with adversity. It raises the question: is perseverance a trait students are born with or an attitude they can develop over time? At Lyfta we believe these are attitudes which can be learnt and developed over time with the right mindset and learning experiences.

In a recent survey with teachers and school leaders on a webinar, many highlighted that resilience and perseverance could be taught with Lyfta content. The mindset of positivity, receiving praise, and willingness to make mistakes, all help to build character traits around belief in one's own ability to succeed. Here are three storyworlds and films which will help to model these positive personal attributes, and support students to deliberately cultivate these traits.

Visitor’s Centre

In the Awra AmbaVisitor's Centrein Ethiopia, the film 'Entrepreneurship' shows that despite setbacks of famine, persecution and dependency on aid it is possible to not only survive but thrive.

Anni’s Home

InAnni's Homein Finland, the film 'Standing still is so boring!' explores perseverance and how you can use this skill to achieve goals.

Andrea’s Yard

Finally, inAndrea's Yardin Argentina, the film 'Recycling for better' looks at her qualities of resilience and adaptability. The film is a great way to reflect on how we all can be resilient and adaptable when faced with big challenges in life.

The interactive areas, multimedia content, and real-life stories suggested above offer an ideal stimulus for discussions around the PSHE themes identified. Some topics covered could be sensitive, so we remind you to watch all content and make your own professional judgement around its suitability for your students before showing it in class or assembly.

This is the second part of a three part series. Part 1 looked at how to discuss characteristics of positive relationships and how to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect, you can read it here. Part 3 looked at physical health and mental wellbeing and respecting others, even when we are very different - you can read it here.

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