Innov8



INNOV8 has been designed to allow opportunities for individual creativity, for both teachers and students.

The CD comes with 2 sets of tracks, the original version and the karaoke mix.
Full lyrics are available.

Your students may wish to perform as individuals or in groups. Perhaps they would also like to make up their own choreography for a total performance experience. Your students may like to write their own lyrics or add additional verses to ours. We will be publishing students' work and teachers' ideas on this page, so let us know what you have been doing.

Find out about Professional Development Activities for Teachers

Tips for teachers

INNOV8
The songs on this album are based on research into the relevant areas. They were designed as a resource to assist teaching about mental health and emotional well-being, as well as values and social skills. The following section tells you briefly about each song. There are also teaching suggestions and links to web pages with classroom activities. Please send in your ideas and we will add them to these pages. More general information about these topics can be found on the Resources page.

Check it out (click here for full lyrics)
This song is written about social anxiety. Individuals who are socially anxious will often jump to conclusions about other people's thoughts, with resulting symptoms of anxiety.

Breathe deep (click here for full lyrics)
This song was written about general anxiety. Many people who are anxious (particularly those who experience panic attacks) tend to breathe with rapid shallow breaths. This can lead to an imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood stream and a variety of physical sensations, including dizziness. The song is structured so that as you listen your breathing rate automatically slows as you begin to match your breathing to the underlying beat of the song.

+ Information for teachers
+ http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/MUARU/child/teachers.htm
The Macquarie University Anxiety Research Unit provides some information for teachers who have anxious children in their classes.

You need all the friends you can get (click here for full lyrics)
This song was written for girls about "bitchy gossip". Many teachers have commented that girls tend to use more subtle methods of bullying, such as exclusion or spreading rumours.

Also see teaching resources listed for No Bullies Here.

Other people (click here for full lyrics)
This song was written about depression. It tells about sharing feelings and the wide variety of people around who can provide support in times of sadness.

No bullies here (click here for full lyrics)
This song is written in a hip-hop style. The theme of the song is assertive behaviour on the part of the victim. That is not to say that the victim is responsible for the situation that arises, but often it is vulnerable and non-assertive children who are targets of bullying behaviour.

+ MindMatters Resources
+ http://online.curriculum.edu.au/mindmatters/new/display.asp?pg=/resources/dealing.htm
Mind Matters is a national programme for Australian secondary school students. However, the ideas for Health, English and Drama classes could also be adapted for upper primary students. Booklets can be downloaded as PDF files. MindMatters materials can also be purchased.

+ No More Bullies webquest
+ http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Thinktank/2693/bully.html
A webquest project for students to develop materials which could be used to inform and educate the school community about bullying. Students work from a number of perspectives - that of the bully, the victim, and the onlookers.

+ Resource booklet to prevent bullying in schools
+ http://www/eduweb.vic.gov.au/bullying/geninfo/index.htm
Downloadable Word file that draws on the Framework for Student Support Services in Victorian Government Schools. Presents a range of ideas, strategies and activities to assist schools to develop and implement preventative measures aimed at reducing bullying, harrassment and violence.

+ Teaching guide: Bullying for grades K-5
+ http://www.goodcharacter.com/GROARK/Bullying.html
This page gives teaching ideas based around a video (Groark learns about bullying - Groark is a dinosaur) - but many of the ideas could be adapted for use without the video.

+ www.bullying.org - where you are not alone
+ http://www.bullying.org
Drawings, poems and stories sent in from around the world. Also video clips, animation and music downloads.

The man makes the manners (click here for full lyrics)
Another song in a hip-hop style. It is about basic courtesy - please, thank you, excuse me and pardon me.

+ Good manners are fun
+ http://henson.austin.apple.com/edres/ellesson/elem-goodmanners.shtml
A range of activities on the theme of manners (some require high-tech equipment)

Your life (click here for full lyrics)
A hip-hop song that focuses on the consequences of aggressive behaviour.

+ Resource booklet to prevent bullying in schools
+ http://www/eduweb.vic.gov.au/bullying/geninfo/index.htm
Downloadable Word file that draws on the Framework for Student Support Services in Victorian Government Schools. Presents a range of ideas, strategies and activities to assist schools to develop and implement preventative measures aimed at reducing bullying, harrassment and violence.

+ Teaching guide: Controlling anger grades K-5
+ http://www.goodcharacter.com/GROARK/Anger.html
This page gives teaching ideas based around a video (Groark learns to control anger - Groark is a dinosaur) - but many of the ideas could be adapted for use without the video.

+ Teaching guide: Preventing conflicts and violence for grades 5-9
+ http://www.goodcharacter.com/BCBC/PreventingConflicts.html
This page gives teaching ideas based around a video (Preventing Conflicts & Violence in the Big Changes, Big Choices series) - but many of the ideas could be adapted for use without the video.

What's he going to do? (click here for full lyrics)
A country and western style song that focuses on shyness.
Written by a clinical psychologist this site gives some ideas for helping shy children. (For both teachers and parents). http://www.une.edu.au/psychology/staff/malouff/shyness2003.htm