1 in 6 young people in Australia will experience homelessness in their lifetime*
We are inviting teachers and students to have #classroomconversations and change perceptions and understanding about homelessness amongst young people. Below you can find everything that you need to run the 'missing chairs' activity in your classroom. Download the resources, action the activity in your classroom and share the photos and reflections your students had with us.
Activity: Missing Chairs
1. Remove every 1 in 6 chairs in a classroom
2. Replace students chair with one of our conversation starters
3. Ask those standing students to read out the conversation starter
4. Have sitting students respond and spark conversations around homelessness
Questions To Ask Your Students
HOW DID IT FEEL TO MISS OUT ON A CHAIR?
WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT MORE CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS?
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SEE SOMEONE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS?
WHY IS CONVERSATION IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE DOING IT TOUGH?
WHAT WOULD IT FEEL LIKE TO WEAR THE SAME CLOTHES EVERY DAY?
WHAT IS ORANGE SKY AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
Share Your Reflections
Take photos and write down some of the responses
Share with your community using the hashtag #classroomconversations
Additional Activities
Option 1 - Place 6 conversation starter cards on 6 students chairs. Ask those 6 students to come to the front of the classroom and read out each card. Have the remaining students respond and begin sparking conversations around homelessness.
Option 2 - At an all student assembly have 1 in every 6 students stand up. Share the statistic with them and break out into groups to start conversations around homelessness. (e.g 300 students, 1 in 6 = 50 students)
Option 3 - Come up with your own representation of 1 in 6 and ask students to run an activity and start conversation around homelessness.
