Teaching Sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

20 minutes

Tune In: Understanding rules

25 minutes

Find Out: What is an Imagination Classroom?

40 minutes

Take Action: Build your Imagination Classroom

5 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions

Students will:

explore the concept of an Imagination Classroom
understand the rules of the AIME MentorClass program.

Success criteria

Students can:

contribute ideas and respectfully collaborate
use materials to plan and design a learning environment for an Imagination Classroom.

Preparation

This workshop requires you and your mentees to design and create an Imagination Classroom! Before facilitating this workshop, you must source various materials for design elements. In this workshop, your mentees are asked to think, plan and design elements of their Imagination Classroom. We have a list of suggested design elements below if you would like to use these as a guide:

cardboard boxes and box-cutting tools
imagination library of books
lego blocks for building ideas
musical instruments
paint, pens, crayons and textas
scissors
tape, blu-tack and adhesives
textiles and fabric.

Tune In: Understanding rules

Step 1

Why are rules important in creating a positive and imaginative learning environment? Discuss this question with your mentees, and encourage them to take the lead in this discussion. If mentees need help in discussing this, you may like to prompt them by asking:

What makes us feel safe?
What makes us feel heard and appreciated in our learning environment?
How do we respect others in our learning environment?
How do we use our creativity?

Step 2

Outline to mentees that we must learn the AIME Program Rules before engaging in these workshops. Display the Rules Poster to the group. Invite mentees to read through the rules. Ask mentees to turn to the person next to them and explain what that rule may look, feel, and sound like in the workshop. Invite mentees to share what they discussed with their peers.

Explain to mentees that over the next four workshops, they will be involved in the awe-inspiring, mind-expanding connection-building Mentorclass sessions developed by AIME to unlock their individual and collective potential. AIME was developed 20 years ago by First Nations man Jack Manning Bancroft, who envisioned a world that centres around Indigenous knowledge.

Step 3

Using the set of Value Cards, select the ‘Forgiveness’ value card. Pass the card around and explain to students that this value is important in a creative learning environment. Ask students the following questions:

How does forgiveness help create a safe space for all?
How can forgiveness support our relationships within a positive classroom?

Find Out: What is an Imagination Classroom?

Step 1

Ask mentees to place their arms out and create an arms-width space area. Explain to mentees that they have one minute to imagine their dream world silently. Invite mentees to close their eyes and begin the timer.

After reflecting, explain to mentees that they activated their imagination by doing this. Outline to mentees that imagination is like having a superpower in your mind! It's the ability to create worlds, characters and ideas that don't exist – yet. Think of it like being the director of your own movie or the author of your own book, where anything is possible.

With imagination, you can solve problems, invent new things, or escape to a world where you make your dreams a reality. It's the most powerful tool ever because it can turn 'what if' into 'why not?’

Step 2

Ask mentees to reflect on their imagined world and invite them to consider what that could look like in their school. As a cohort, watch the following video:

How to Round - (vimeo.com/1017764056?share=copy#t=0)

Step 3

Begin a collaborative list of ideas they would include in their Imagination Classroom on a whiteboard or butcher’s paper. Ensure that the mentees lead this process and that their ideas are at the forefront of the discussion.

Step 4

Building on their collaborative list of ideas, place the design elements in a space the cohort can see. Invite mentees to touch the materials to spark their potential uses.

Regain the cohort's focus and invite mentees to brainstorm ways to use these materials to bring their ideas for their Imagination Classroom to life!

Take Action: Build your Imagination Classroom

Step 1

It’s time to create your Imagination Classroom! Designate 10 minutes for your mentees to collect and source materials, tools and equipment needed to build their space. Read through the recommended materials in this workshop's ‘Preparation’ section to ensure you have most of the materials required to create magic! Don’t forget to take a photo of the space to remember what it looks like before transforming.

Step 2

Now, it is time to come together to build and design their Imagination Classroom. This process must be mentee-led; however, please ensure that mentees are prepared and supervised.

This experience is a crucial opportunity to build an Imagination Classroom with your mentees and to build connections, understanding and respect for one another.

Reflection

Your class has worked hard to create an Imagination Classroom! Invite mentees to reflect on how they can maintain and care for this space. On sticky notes, ask mentees to write an ‘I will…’ statement about one action they commit for protecting and developing the space.

Place the sticky notes in an area of the classroom as a reminder of mentees’ commitments.

MentorClass: Imagination Classroom

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Summary

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