Belonging: School of fish collage

• Students will examine what belonging means to them. 
• Students will identify similarities and differences in people and groups, and describe ways to include others to make them feel they belong.

• A4 paper (plain or coloured, 1 per person) 
• Scissors and glue
• Writing equipment
• Colouring equipment (optional)
• School of fish template

Australian Curriculum (Version 8.4)

Foundation Health and Physical Education Content Descriptions

• Practise personal and social skills to interact positively with others (ACPPS004)

Years 1 and 2 Health and Physical Education Content Descriptions

• Describe ways to include others to make them feel they belong (ACPPS019)
• Recognise similarities and differences in individuals and groups, and explore how these are celebrated and respected (ACPPS024)

Australian Curriculum (Version 9)

Foundation Health and Physical Education Content Descriptions

• Practise personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others (AC9HPFP02)

Years 1 and 2 Health and Physical Education Content Descriptions

• Identify and explore skills and strategies to develop respectful relationships (AC9HP2P02)

Read the statement below
For this activity we’re going to be thinking about bullying and some things we can do to make it less likely to happen. As part of this we’re going to focus on belonging. 

Belonging means everyone has a place in our class and in our school.

Here, belonging is about feeling like you are a part of the class and the school – Where it doesn’t matter if we are different from each other. Everyone is nice, kind, and helps each other.

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to say how you might be the same as, or different to, your classmates. You will be able to say what makes you feel happy about being in this class. You will also be able to talk about things you might do to help make others feel happy to be in our class.

Read the statement below:
People are different in many ways.

We can like different foods or drinks and have different favourite colours. We can look different. When we are with our families, we might do things differently to what other families do. We can like playing different sports and games at lunchtime.

This is what makes everyone special. It would be pretty boring if we were all the same.
In school, belonging is about feeling safe and knowing that it is okay to be different to your classmates.

Belonging is like a superpower against bullying. It helps us to understand and be nice to each other.

When someone is different to you, or likes different things, it is important to be kind and to include them. We can also learn new things from each other. That’s what makes the world a happy place to be in.

Ask the following questions:

• How are we different from one another? (e.g., height, birthdays, hair colour, being left- or right-handed, likes and dislikes, family size etc.) 
• Are we all in the same class? 
• Is it ok for us to be different and be in the same class?
• Why is it good when everyone is different? (Share different ideas, ways of thinking and ways to do things. Learn new things. Be less afraid of things.) 

Remind students:
Everyone is different and that’s a good thing. Everyone belongs in our class and in our school. When we belong, we stick together. When we stick together, we can help stop bullying.

Make a fish collage to create a powerful visual statement about how we can be different but all belong.

1. Copy and cut the fish templates into individual fish. (Note: Paper can be coloured or plain.) 
2. Give each student (or allow them to choose) one fish to decorate as they please.
3. Place (staple/glue/tape) the decorated fish on a large piece of A3/butcher’s paper. A title can be added for context, e.g. ‘Every fish belongs in our school.’ Or ‘In our school, we’re all different but we all swim together.’.
4. Display completed fish collage poster/s in the classroom. Leave room for extra fish to be added as new students join the class.
5. Discuss as a whole-class how the fish are all different, but they all belong, as shown in the collage.

• Students can create their own individual collages representing how they belong at school. 

• Students can create more mosaics to add to the class mosaic.

• Students can offer peer support to other students.