There are some weeks where teaching goes beyond the lesson plan…
This week, we’re starting with a thoughtful look at Mother’s Day in the classroom — and how to support students for whom the day can be complicated. We’ve also got Tuesday’s Shortcut sorted with a deep dive into the global phenomenon of K-Pop, a special nod to Sir David Attenborough as he turns 100, and a simple, heartwarming classroom activity you can run today that might just make someone’s week.
🌸 Mother’s Day… but not the same for everyone
Mother’s Day can be all handmade cards and burnt toast breakfasts… but for some kids, it lands very differently.
Seven years ago, I met my daughters when they were just six and ten. Their mum had passed away from breast cancer. In our house, every day carried a little piece of her… stories, laughter, tears… but Mother’s Day has its own kind of gravity.
We head to the beach, then McDonald’s: chicken nuggets and chocolate shakes, their tradition. And always, a homemade cake. Not just any cake… Her favourite things cake. Think: a swimming pool (filled with custard), a netball court, chocolates, strawberries, camembert… a chaotic, beautiful tribute to the things she loved and the life she lived.
It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s full of love.
2021’s spectacular Mother’s Day cake
And it’s a reminder that this week in classrooms, there won’t be one single “right” way to do Mother’s Day.
💡 Supporting students when Mother’s Day is complicated
There’s no perfect approach — but a few small shifts can make a big difference.
Start with the student
A quiet check-in goes a long way: “We’re doing some Mother’s Day activities - would you like to be involved?” Then follow their lead.Offer flexible options
Broaden the task: someone special, someone who cares for you, someone you’re grateful for. It gives students a choice without singling anyone out.Don’t assume
Some students will want to take part, some won’t, and some will surprise you. Let them decide.Give a heads-up
A little warning before activities can help avoid big feelings catching them off guard.Have a quiet Plan B
A low-key alternative (reading, drawing, helping elsewhere) can be a relief valve when needed.Mind the language
Keep it inclusive and neutral in class discussions.Check in after, too
Sometimes the feelings arrive once the activity is done.
🧠 A resource worth knowing about
A quick shoutout to friend of the podcast Sarah Weston (Gifted and Talented Teacher), who creates thoughtful, inclusive classroom resources — including some great Mother’s Day options designed for exactly these situations.
They’re low-cost (around $3–$4), and this is not a paid plug, just something we genuinely rate if you’re after a ready-to-go option.
Tuesday’s Shortcut: K-Pop 🫶
This week’s Squiz Kids Shortcut dives into the global phenomenon that is K-Pop. From how young performers train for years to become idols, to the moment a Korean-language song broke the internet and changed music forever.
It’s fast, fascinating, and a brilliant way to explore global culture, media, and what it really takes to make it on the world stage.
🎤 Lands in your feed Tuesday morning.
💬 In the classroom: Let’s talk K-Pop
Why do you think K-Pop is so popular all over the world, even when people don’t understand the language?
(What matters more: lyrics, music, performance, or something else?)Would you be willing to train for years to achieve a dream like becoming a performer? Why or why not?
(What would be the hardest part?)K-Pop groups are carefully planned and managed. Do you think that’s a good thing or does it take away creativity?
(Can something be both “designed” and still feel real?)
🎥 Turning 100: Sir David Attenborough
If you’ve ever watched a nature documentary and suddenly found yourself whispering… “wow…” — there’s a good chance David Attenborough had something to do with it.
This Friday, he turns 100.
What a century it’s been, not just to live through, but to help us see. From the deepest oceans to the highest treetops, Attenborough hasn’t just shown us the natural world… he’s helped us understand why it matters.
In what I imagine might be his voice…
“And here… in the dappled light of the forest… we find one of the most remarkable creatures on Earth. Not because it is rare… but because it reminds us… just how closely connected we all are.”
It’s that ability to turn a moment into something meaningful that has made his work so enduring and so powerful in classrooms.
Fun Finish: 💛Pass the Note
A school in Colorado, Flagstaff Academy, shared a simple idea — and it’s quietly taken off. Students were given short prompts on notes like:
“Give this to a teacher who made you believe in yourself”
“Give this to a teacher who might not realise how much they matter”
Then they delivered them. By hand. No big announcement. No fuss.
And what happened next?
Teachers read them… paused… smiled… sometimes teared up… and passed that feeling on.
It’s the kind of moment that doesn’t need a big production — just a pen, a piece of paper, and a bit of courage from a student.
The best part?
You could run this today.
What’s on this week?
Here’s what’s happening around the country and the world:
Monday - Star Wars Day
Tuesday - Cinco de Mayo
- World Asthma Day
Wednesday - No Homework Day!
Thursday - World Password Day
Friday - World Red Cross Day
- David Attenborough turns 100
Saturday - Anniversary of the opening of Australia’s first parliament (1901)
Sunday - Mother’s Day
Know a teacher who’d love this? Pass it on.
We love hearing from you! Reply to this email with any feedback, suggestions, or funny teaching stories, or hit us up at [email protected].
Now get out there, and have a most excellent day!
Over and out.
- Christie Kijurina, Squiz Kids Educator