Recovery Curriculum Resources from Leeds Museum and Galleries
This resource is designed to support a recovery curriculum and can be used in any education setting. It complements the ‘Supporting the Return to School for All Pupils’ guidance in Leeds and the PACE approach of playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy.
Introduction
The chairs shown in this resource are on display at Lotherton Hall museum. They are made by different makers and designers. Look at these chairs below, how might it feel to sit in them? What might you do whilst sitting on them?
Look for the natural patterns and materials in each chair.
Playful
Are chairs just for sitting down on? Can you think of other uses for a chair? To make a den; to play musical chairs; chairs for sleeping; chairs for eating; chairs for stargazing! What playful and safe things could your class do with their chairs?
Acceptance / Empathy
Conversation
We spend a lot of our day sitting down on a chair. Some chairs can be comfortable and some chairs can be uncomfortable! Explore themes of comfort and what makes us feel comfy and happy.
Self-esteem
This short five-minute mindful breathing activity can get you started.
- Sit on your chair so you are comfortable and safe
- Play some relaxing meditating music in the background or use some percussion instruments like bells and cymbals.
- Practice ‘slow breathing’ - breathing in to the count of three and breathing out to the count of three
- Think about where to place your hands. On your tummy watch your hands move up and down with slow breaths. Or hold your hands as if cupping a balloon, the balloon expands and your hands move out as you breathe in and back down as you breathe out.
Curiosity
Did you know chair design is an art form? Look up different chair designs in history or chair designers. Some well-known furniture designers include: Thomas Chippendale, Charles and Ray Eames, Zaha Hadid, Philippe Starck, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and John Makepeace.
Creativity
Design your classroom chair. What materials would it be made from? Would it have any extra gadgets? How big would it be? Use labels to describe how your chair works.
Pupils can present their designs to each other and give positive feedback on what they like. Will they choose a winning design or combine their favourite ideas? Can you challenge your class to then make the best classroom chair or even turn it into a whole school competition?
