A life skills lesson or session is the block of time the educator has with the children to conduct a life skills activity or activities. A life skills session may have more than one activity depending on the time available, on the activity chosen and the methods used to conduct the activity.
When selecting an activity the educators must try to build on the content and outcomes of the previous session. Sometimes this might mean selecting an activity that will help to address a specific problem that arose. Educators should note interesting comments made by children and use these to plan other lifeskills work. An educator’s plan for a life skills session may have the following framework. The timings are a guideline only. For example, you may want to spend longer than 5-10 mins on an introductory activity and less time on the main activity.
Here's a sample plan
Sample Life skills Session Plan (60 mins)
Purpose of the session
Think about the skills that you want the children to have by the end of the session.
Introduction (5 mins)
- Think about how you will explain the purpose of the session to the children and if you need to relate this session to earlier sessions on related topics. Write down brief point to remind you of the main points to make when you introduce the topic.
- Write here how you will conduct an introductory activity and how long it will take
Activity/Activities (45 mins)
- Write down the materials needed and each step
- Try to imagine how long each step will take
- Use the handbook as a guide, you may want to change steps or change the methods you use
End of session discussion (5 mins)
- Write down the questions you will ask what the children learned and the effects of the activities on each child
Closing activity (5 mins)
- If you think the topic may have been difficult or stressful for the children, do a light-hearted fun activity to change the mood!
Notes: At the end of the session write down any thoughts you had about the session and nay comments from the children. Use this to decide what you will change next time you use the activity and to plan the next session. Note how the children were affected.
Adapting an activity
Educators need to select and adapt the activities o their culture and to their specific life skills programme. Read through the activities in Section Three and decide:
- Can I use this activity as it is?
- Do I need to adapt it? If so, how?
- Can I combine it with other activities from this topic?
- Can I combine it with another part of the learning programme
The decision will usually be based on:
- The purpose of the learning programme
- The purpose of the life skills programme
- The needs of the children (their age and stage)
- The confidence and skills of the educator
- Logistics (how long the session is, where it is, when it is etc)
Depending on the answers to these questions, the educator can plan a life skills session that uses one or more of the life skills activities.
In life skills learning the experience of the children matters more than the age. The important thing is to adapt the activities to the needs of the group. However, do not underestimate what the children can do. This is a common mistake.
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