The new school year is right around the corner for a large chunk of the world’s students. While some pupils are excited to be back in the classroom with all of their friends (I know that my sisters can’t wait for September!), parents and teachers are naturally a bit anxious about Covid-19.
Schools are officially enforcing brand new guidelines to reduce the chances of students catching the coronavirus, but teachers are coming up with their own great ideas to protect everyone’s health even further.
From creative social distancing measures to other innovative ways to reduce contact and the spread of germs, these playful methods prove that some teachers go above and beyond the call of duty. Our scholarly Bored Panda team has collected some of the best classroom ideas for the new school year, so scroll down and upvote your fave ones.
#1 No Playing. Masks All Day. Six Feet Apart At All Times
"School seems like a frightening place, when you read about all the safety measures kids will have to adhere to this year. Thankfully, there are educators, like Jennifer Birch Pierson, a Kindergarten teacher from Texas, who are making lemonade from some very sour lemons and making their classrooms as welcoming and comforting as possible for our littlest learners. Check out how she set up her classroom desks to look like a bunch of trucks on the road. She even makes the required desk shields look like windshields. Those students who enter her classroom may have a tough time, but clearly they are in the hands of a caring teacher, and that's something all parents can be grateful for. Thank you to the teachers, who, like Ms. Pierson, are doing all they can and more to make our kids feel safe and happy."
Image credits: Maybe I'll Shower Today
#2 Beach-Themed Classroom With Dividers
Image credits: Lacy Jenkins
#3 While It Was A Bummer To Have To Separate My Students Out, I Still Enjoy This Space. I Want It To Be As Bright And Welcoming As Possible. I Want My Students To Be Excited To Enter
"Even with all that’s going on around us, I’m still excited about the beginning of a new school year like I have for the last 12 years."
Image credits: jenna._jacobs
According to educational leader and classroom design specialist Robert Dillon, going back to school for the first time after summer is going to be stressful even if students and teachers think they’re fully prepared. Keep in mind that in some places, people have been learning and teaching via the internet since March!
Dillon points out that now more than ever it’s important to get rid of items that fill up space without “any purpose” so as to increase the amount of free space each person gets. After all, if your classroom is cluttered and stuffy, students are more likely to be squashed together instead of being able to socially distance effectively.
#4 Socially Distanced Classrooms
Image credits: GreenwayGators
#5 Social Distanced Classroom
Image credits: jennifer_lea_e
#6 Social Distancing
Image credits: gulf_news
He also stresses that this is the perfect time to promote more active learning. So giving students permission to stand or even moving classrooms outdoors can keep students moving (and learning!) better.
“Where we learn matters, and as we consider the launch of the new school year, take time to listen to students, notice their needs and incorporate that in which we can’t control into the design elements that we can control,” Dillon writes.
#7 Clean Things And Sanitize Them Without Grabbing The Bottle
#8 "Book Boats"
Image credits: A_Principal159Q
#9 Corona Classroom
Image credits: bubao_deveerboot
What do you think of all of these anti-Covid classroom measures, dear Pandas? Do you have any ideas on how to make classrooms safer while staying fun? Perhaps you’re a teacher or have kids who are going to be back at school soon? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
#10 This Space Feels Happy
This space feels happy. After measuring and cleaning and decorating and measuring and taping and hanging and organizing and...did I say measuring? This home-sweet-classroom feels happy and worth every bit of work put in this week. I hope my students feel happy when they walk in here in a few soon. I will be sharing more of the details but for now I’m so excited that the bulk of the work is done
Image credits: learninginspires
#11 Clean Hands Will Be Ready To Go Whenever We Get Back Into The Classroom!
Image credits: Stephanie Deal
#12 Make Them Their Own Supply Bags With Their Names On
#13 Use Book Covers To Cover The Seats In A Classroom
Image credits: mrsksmunchkins
#14 Tape Boundaries Around The Classroom
#15 A Rainbow Of Yoga Mats That Will Be Used For Social Distancing In My Classroom!
Image credits: teachingthewholechild
#16 Wooden Stands For Each Of My Plexiglass Trifolds!!! They Just Slide In And Out To Make Them More Sturdy For My Firsties!
Image credits: funwithmrsfadal
#17 Fun And Decorative Hats With Social Distancing Sticks
Image credits: shen_shiwei
#18 Hang The Tissues In An Easy-To-Reach Place
#19 Socially Distanced Classrooms
Image credits: AbbeyBosley
#20 Socially Distanced Classrooms
Image credits: SGlawe
#21 I Found These Lap Desks/Trays At Michaels A Couple Weeks Ago On Sale! With The Idea Of Spreading The Students Out As Much As Possible
Sooooo with no shared supplies this year (which isn’t my preference anyway)... I found these lap desks/trays at Michaels a couple weeks ago ON SALE! With the idea of spreading the students out as much as possible, I will have a few kiddos that will sit on the green chairs (2nd picture) with the lap desk at the carpet. The rest of my kiddos will be at a desk/table with the trays under their seats to hold all the things! (3rd & 4th pic) I actually used these last year and LOVED them!! AND none of them broke They are stackable paper trays from Amazon that I zip tied to the bottom of their chair. Here’s to a very weird classroom set up
Image credits: asecondwithabby
#22 Not Exactly What I Would Choose For My Students, But The Best I Can Give Them With Our Current Limitations
Not exactly what I would choose for my students, but the best I can give them with our current limitations.
Making kids sit at their desk all day goes against everything I believe about kids learning, so I knew I’d have to get creative this year.
I taped 4x5 boxes for each kid to call their own. It’s not a perfect plan, but it’ll give them space to sit, stand, or lay while also following guidelines!
I’ve also gotten the okay to assign pillows, carpet squares or stuffed animals to each kid to keep as their own for the school year!
I always knew my inability to get rid of pillow pets would come in handy some day
Image credits: standardsandsavings
#23 Use Shower Curtains For Classroom Dividers
#24 Individual Chair Pocket
Image credits: curiousfirsties
#25 Storage Bins For Everyone's Desk
#26 Socially Distanced Classrooms
Image credits: SmartReaders4
#27 Socially Distanced Classrooms
Image credits: klowrey22
#28 Socially Distanced Classrooms
Image credits: WindsorHighOwls
#29 Two Florida Teachers Turned Their Students' Desks Into Little Jeeps To Make Social Distancing Less Scary
Image credits: cnn
#30 My Classroom Is Now Ready For Social Distancing
Image credits: cydni_erin
#31 One Socially Distanced Classroom Later . As Long As It Is Safe For Them On 1st June, It'll Be Okay. It Just Makes Me So Sad
Image credits: islarhiann
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