Analysing the assembled school bag to identify if there is a problem.

Focus questions:

• What have you got in your bag?
• Can you get out (a specific item)?
• Can you tell me where your lunch is in your bag?
• What are you likely to need get out of your bag first thing in the day – where can it be found?

Read a story to set the scene: "A place for everything" by Herbert McKay

Classroom systems:
Discussion on systems operated in the classroom to store equipment and why they are important. Examples used were:

• Reading books
• Writing books
• Games
• PE equipment
  

Exploration of how items are stored in other situations

First aid kit – how items are packaged to allow ready access and so people can easily see what is contained within the kit without having to completely disassemble it

Visit to:

• Ambulance Service
• Rescue Helicopter

(prior to the visit the teacher briefed the people who would be talking to the students on the key concepts that she want the students to gain an understanding of/reinforce during the visit. During the visit the teacher continually questioned the students to focus their observations on storage systems)

Key concepts for students to gain understanding of from the visits included:
Importance of labeling where equipment is stored
Importance of placing equipment in the same place all the time.
All equipment in ambulances is stored in the same place and why this needs to be.
How using storage systems enables these people to do their job efficiently.

Discussion on the order of how items/equipment stored in school bags are used and the frequency of their use e.g.

• Raincoats compared to lunch boxes
• Book bags required at the beginning of each day and not placed back in bag until the end of day
• Placement of water bottles, sunhats, school notices for home etc.