What can I control?
About this resource
Explore the things you can control and tools to help young people.
You can download the Classroom Activity in the Attachments as well as work through the learnings in the following pages.
- Build student awareness of what can and can’t be controlled;
- Build self-reflection skills;
- Develop flexibility around living with uncertainty; and
- Develop an understanding of grounding strategies to help sit with feelings of stress or uncertainty.
- For student to explore the feelings of uncertainty and anxiety that come with transitions;
- For students to develop an understanding of what can and cannot be controlled in life; and
- For students to practise sitting with feelings of uncertainty.
Students will be able to provide the following evidence:
- drawing of things that can be influenced/controlled (in class);
- a list of things that can be controlled (in class);
- a list of things that can’t be controlled (in class);
- a list of grounding strategies that may be useful for controlling feelings of overwhelm (in class); and
- feedback from parents and carers on ways to manage stress (at home).
Peer discussion
Student to student conversations to check understanding and build further learning
Self-assessment
Students assessing their own learning, with a rubric or other instructions for guidance
Teacher observation
Teacher observation of student learning, with a simple rubric, tick-box or other protocol to record observations
Teacher questioning
Guided questioning from a teacher intended to prompt thinking related to the topic
Direct instruction
Explicit teaching of knowledge and skills to students. This could be through a variety of formats – lecture, readings, demonstrations, etc. Often used at the beginning of a unit or module to cover basic knowledge and set pathways for learning.
Inquiry and problem-based learning
Inquiry learning is focused on a question or questions that guide the learning goals for a unit or module. Problem-based learning is focused on a problem or problems that guide the learning goals for a unit or module. Questions and problems may be generated by the teacher, the students, or by teacher and students together.
Self-reflection
Student reflection on their own learning. This is often guided or supported by a simple rubric or information on what learning progress looks like in a particular context.
The topics of change and uncertainty can be explored in many curriculum areas. The sections most relevant to learning about change and uncertainty are:
- Personal and Social Capability (General capabilities);
- Critical and Creative Thinking (General capabilities); and
- Health and Physical Education.
Australian Curriculum links are made available to further support students to develop their skills, knowledge and understandings based upon the ‘Elaborations’. Use the links to provide further activities for students with homework tasks and activities.
Health and Physical Education: Health and Physical Education | The Australian Curriculum
GC: Critical and Creative Thinking
GC: Personal and Social Capability
Elaborations:
- exploring why emotional responses can be unpredictable;
- exploring the emotions associated with feeling unsafe or uncomfortable and how emotions can vary according to different contexts and situations;
- investigating personal, social and cultural factors that influence the way individuals respond emotionally to different situations; and
- recognising and interpreting emotional responses to stressful situations and proposing strategies for managing these response.
- Laptop device or iPad for adapting the task to be done online
- For students with no smart phone or suitable device – large paper and markers.