The COVID-19 pandemic is causing worldwide concern for elementary and secondary school students' mental condition. The following are some possible activities that can be carried out to help them and also create a safe and healthy school environment.
John's and Mary's thoughts
Students are presented with a picture which says that John and Mary have different thoughts after they have heard of the coronavirus (冠状病毒). Then students are invited to guess and write the characters' thoughts on the picture. This activity uses a "projective" method, as students are not asked what their feelings are, but instead, they project their feelings onto the characters.
When I'm worried
After talking about what the characters may think, students can now turn their attention to themselves. They are asked to list their common worries, but most importantly, they are directed to think about some response measures and the helpful relationships they can rely on. This is a vital exercise, for it shifts students' focus from their worries to the coping strategies.
Seeking a balance
Students are asked to provide three key recommendations to prevent infection. Teachers can pick out the positive behavior and correct any incorrect suggestions. It's also important to strike a balance between the recommended healthy behavior and the concept that microorganisms are a natural part of the environment and that many of them play a key role in sustaining human life.
Videos to know and understand viruses
It is advisable to plan science lessons on microorganisms. Students can know more about the pandemic by studying microbial (微生物的) life, and thus they can understand what viruses are and how they spread. But be careful not to bring anxiety-avoid talking about scary messages.
