Explaining Lyfta: What is Lyfta Time?

Lyfta
Content Team
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Explaining Lyfta

Our vision at Lyfta is that by the time a child leaves school, they will have experienced and connected with a meaningful human story from every country in the world. In doing so, they will have experienced different cultures, different languages, different jobs and perspectives. They will have seen hundreds of positive human stories modelling resilience, problem-solving, teamwork, and many other critical skills, values and competencies. By the end of their schooling, they would understand for themselves how interconnected and interdependent we are, and would have gained a deep awareness of their power and role in the world.

This is what we are working towards and we would like to make this dream an entitlement for as many children as we can. We would love you to come on this journey with us, and we are pleased to share an easy way to get started.
Two students on laptops
Two students on laptops

Lyfta Time - Quick and practical

Lyfta globe on screen
Lyfta globe on screen
Lyfta Time is a weekly 20 minute session where a class can travel to a new place and experience a powerful and inspiring human story. Lyfta Time sessions are interwoven with meaningful class discussions about the new experience - both the sensory details of the spaces that are explored, and the themes that are related to the short documentaries.
The concept was co-constructed during discussions with the team at Braunstone Primary School in Leicestershire. The leadership team wanted to share Lyfta with their teachers and pupils and to do so in a deep and meaningful way. We know that weaving Lyfta resources into the whole school curriculum is highly effective, but also that schools sometimes prefer to get up and running quickly so they can start to see impact while exploring the content and tools in more depth. The Headteacher at Braunstone, Halil Tamgumus, wanted a lighter touch way for his team to get started and Lyfta Time was identified as a perfect way to do that.
Lyfta Time is a quick and practical solution, using a short weekly timetable slot like reading or story time at primary school, and form time at secondary schools. Learning during this session allows pupils to regularly experience different cultures and perspectives. It provides the opportunity to see how resilience, problem-solving, teamwork, and many other critical skills, values and competencies happen in the real world. Completing Lyfta Time each week also means that teachers become familiar with Lyfta's many storyworlds. They view the documentary films alongside their students and, in doing so, they can start to make links to the curriculum. Through delivering Lyfta Time, teachers become more familiar with the content and resources which reduces the planning time required for embedding Lyfta across the school curriculum.
The Lyfta team worked with Braunstone Primary School to plan Lyfta Time and the initial series of content to explore. Here's an overview of how it works:

Lyfta Time structure:

  • Introduction + recap of last week (1-2 mins)
  • Exploration of 360 degree storyworld, taking in the sights and sounds (3 mins)
  • Question: What can we see and hear? What might be happening in the scene? (2 mins)
  • Watch documentary film (5-8 mins)
  • Class discussion on one of the themes in the story (5-8 mins)
  • Summary & close (1 min)

Beachcomber - Rob in England

Rob in England
Rob in England
Themes:
  • Environment
  • Plastic pollution
  • Marine life
  • Recycling
  • Art and positive activism

Big Ballet Studio - Michal in Finland

Michal in Finland
Michal in Finland
Themes:
  • Gender expectations
  • Daring to be different
  • Hard work
  • Excellence

The Visitor's Centre - Enaney in Ethiopia

Enaney in Ethiopia
Enaney in Ethiopia
Themes:
  • Self-sufficiency
  • Resilience
  • Problem solving
  • Entrepreneurship

Dogs' Best Friend - Erkan in Turkey

Erkan in Turkey
Erkan in Turkey
Themes:
  • Finding a purpose/cause
  • Animals
  • Care

Amazonian Treats - Flora in the Peruvian Amazon

Flora in the Peruvian Amazon
Flora in the Peruvian Amazon
Themes:
  • Biodiversity
  • Food
  • Tradition
  • Community

Eyes on the Ball - Anna in Norway

Anna in Norway
Anna in Norway
Themes:
  • Resilience
  • Winning and losing
  • Parent and child relationships
  • Respect and sport

Student Completion Certificate

Student Completion Certificate
Student Completion Certificate
We are delighted to provide certificates for students who complete the Lyfta Time series, which you can download and distribute as your students complete sessions:
6 Lyfta Times completed - Wanderer
12 Lyfta Times completed- Trekker
20 Lyfta Times completed- Explorer
35 Lyfta Times completed - Adventurer
50 Lyfta Times completed - Perspective Collector
75 Lyfta Times completed - Storyteller

Baseline and impact surveys

Prior to the series there could be a baseline survey of the children, exploring their attitudes and understanding, and then a follow up with a short series of questions to find what the pupils have learned, and how their thoughts and attitudes have developed. Please let us know if you'd be interested in the baseline survey.
Lyfta Time is a great way to build teachers' confidence with the platform and broaden the curriculum for pupils quickly and effectively. It helps teachers to start making connections to the wider curriculum, alongside using the platform in real time and in a powerful way. We encourage all subscribers to consider this model as a practical solution to getting Lyfta up and running in school.
If you already have access to Lyfta and would like to see a Lyfta Time lesson plan, click here.
We have many exciting storyworlds from around the world for students to explore. You can get a flavour of them by scrolling through the gallery below and clicking on the images.
Global Learning
Immersive Learning
Character & Values
Cultural Capital
Sustainability & Global Citizenship
Social Emotional Learning
Diversity Equity Inclusion
DEI
Personal Development
DEIB
Belonging
PSHE
Digital Skills