Co curricular activities in schools

Essential skills and values that you can develop through co-curricular activities are:

1. Logical and analytical thinking – Analyzing reasons behind events and situations

2. Critical thinking – That is examining concepts, ideas as well as problems and issues

3. Creative thinking – In other words, thinking of newer ways to solve problems; visualization; thinking of new ideas

4. Problem-solving skills – For instance, solving problems utilizing various concepts, solutions, etc.

4. Leadership skills – For instance, taking initiatives and responsibilities; influencing others in working for a good purpose; setting goals; motivating others to work towards goals; taking accountability

5. Social skills – Includes collaboration; teamwork; building good relationships with others

6. Emotional skills – Understanding your strengths and weaknesses; controlling your emotions as well as empathy for others

7. Communication skill – Includes the power of expression, listening to others, public speaking etc.

8. Technology skills – Using various computer software and apps to get things done

9. Social values – In other words, respecting differences among individuals, respecting others’ values and culture

10. Ethical values – For example, maintaining ethics in public life; good moral values etc.

11. Recreational values – Understanding the importance of leisure and recreation; participating in leisure and recreational activities.

¶ 50 Most Important Co-curricular Activities List

Moving forward, we will now list the 50 most important co-curricular activities for you. Here’s the list:

Sports – For instance, cricket, football, volleyball, badminton, basketball, table tennis, swimming, diving, hockey, skating, archery, rowing, kayaking, cycling, etc.

Indoor games – For instance, chess, carrom, scrabble, etc.

Physical exercise

Fitness training

Athletics

Boxing

Martial art – For instance, karate, jujutsu, taekwondo, etc.

Yoga

Meditation

Modeling – scientific modeling

Art and craft

Clay modeling

Sculpture making

Ikebana – flower arranging

Origami – creating art forms by folding papers

Vocal Music (classical)

Vocal Music (contemporary)

Instrumental Music – For instance, harmonium, tabla, sarod, tanpura, piano, guitar, drums, percussion, violin, cello, synthesizer, etc.

Folk songs

Classical Dance

Contemporary Dance

Folk dance

Drama and theatre – For instance, story writing, scriptwriting, acting, direction, production, etc.

Commercial art – advertising campaign; public relations campaign

Debate

Elocution contest

Creative writing – For example, poetry writing competitions, story writing competitions, etc.

Essay writing competition

Story writing competition

Poetry recital

Student newspaper writing, editing, and publishing

Wall magazine writing, editing, and publishing

Photography

Videography

Painting

Drawing and Painting competition

Tailoring

Carpentry

Toy-making

Soap making

Candle Making

Embroidery

Knitting

Gardening

Weaving

Celebration of cultural festivals

Organization of awareness programs – For example, personal hygiene awareness, cleanliness drives, AIDS awareness, tree planting drives, etc.

Celebration of days – For example, World Environment Day, Women’s Day

Participation and management of student clubs, societies, etc. – For instance, debating society, writers’ club, music club, book reading club, etc.

Camping and related activities – such as camping in the wilderness, nature walks, hiking, etc.

¶ New Age Co-Curricular Activities List For School

Computer Coding competition

Ethical Hacking competition

Computer Gaming competition

Online Magazine/ Newsletter Writing, Editing, and Publishing

Media Design – design of various media such as film, video, and web interfaces

Blog writing

Graphic Designing

Web Designing

Digital art

Career education – In other words, an exploration of different career options and educational pathways after school

Job shadowing – such as spending a day or more with a professional at work to understand the nature of work, responsibilities, etc.

A day at work – such as spending a day at a company or at a factory to see how commercial and industrial activities happen

Co-curricular activities - Importance

GROUP DISCUSSION

• Joshi preeti-UN Volunteer 

Goodmorning everyone. I really appreciate this discussion on the need for cocurricular activities and the reasons for doing so.

Just wanted to share the practice we had implemented in the school I had the privilege of heading.  We had many students from the rural background as well who hadn't been exposed much to the myriad activities.

Since children need to explore various activities to find out which ones they have an inclination and aptitude for we offered them two activities in a year for the span of six months each under the supervision of coaches and specialized individuals we hired for the activities. It took some effort but with proper time-management and streamlined instructions about the process we pulled it off. Once the students found what they wanted we offered them continuation of the activity (though here we could only cater to sports mostly) after school hours.

The pay-off was that for the first time in the history of that school we made hockey, cricket and football teams for the girls (besides the boys' teams of course) who later played in CBSE clusters even till finals and later got the benefit of sports achiever advantage in DU.

Needless to say the boost in their confidence AND their academic performance was remarkable.

So undoubtedly cocurricular activities are essential for a holistic well-rounded growth of a child/individual...and it is worth the effort to persuade and make the management see how it benefits not just the students but the over-all ethos and reputation of the school as well.

• NAMAGIRI - UN Educationist 

Extra Curricular activities are  as important as Academics. We think that the child will become a Doctor or Engineer. In my experience in our school one student who used to sing very nicely in her 4th std was identified as a good singer and she was given chances by the teacher to participate in all Singing competition and to won the prize. This motivated her as she continued her career till 12th std. She participated in Airtel Super Singer came in top Contestant. Now she is going to concert with Singers IlayaRaja Sir. Her career now has been changed.All because of the chance she got in school for the extra curricular activities. Like this I can say that our school has produced Music Directors, Producers, Bass Guitarists, Photographers etc ...

All students cannot become Doctors,Engineers and Auditors.They will have hidden talents like speaking, Writing poems, Drawing, Playing Drums etc.Only If we give them opportunity they can exhibit their suppressed talents. Because of this ,their confidence level increases and will show progress in their studies.

Many are going to depression because of the wrong choice forced by the parents.Few students I know  who got high Neet score in Medicals fainted at the first sight of Cadaver in medical college..Because they did everything without interest.

• Dr Sekar Srinivasan-UN Educationist

We teachers should prepare for next generation teaching. Not only knowledge providers but value based guides to inculcate more self confidence and to lead a life of simplicity.

Self entrepreneurship should become the basic line. From the conventional job opportunities one should specialize not only in a particular skill but also open to accept different trades like tourism, catering, marketing etc.

The important characters should be to live simple and save a part of earning.  Credit card usage should be minimised. 

Farming should be promoted.

• Leader. Leena Rai

Good morning dear all 

I noted the discussion right now and would like to add a little today if possible. Co-curricular itself suggests something which goes along the curriculum for better understanding and development of a person. It's the necessity rather to be mandatory even to let the child understand his or her own inbuilt abilities and talent or to let the wings to be provided to fly. 

Very true in a few schools as far as my experience is concerned I noted that school management is after the scoring part and made students out of any exploring avenues and the after results are too disastrous that even students are neither that good in studies nor they have explored new ventures of their abilities, rather they are made dumbo

Co-curricular is a kind of skill to instil:

Values

Thinking abilities

Communication

Team building

Cognitive development

Emotional intelligence

Intelligence

Motor abilities refinement

Logical thinking etc

Activities do give a glow and shine into the personality of a child therefore providing ample opportunities in future in any of the fields apart from those traditional ones and you may never know that these skills pay a lot in future as a side hustle or gig too to add something in currency. 

As for example video editing, baking, content creation and voice over have become genuine earning skills too.

Co-curricular is a mode to develop the attitude of acceptance and to face challenges

• Mr. Anil Anis Kurup UNV: 

The reason why School administrators should promote co curricular activities is

1) opportunity to let students learn irrespective of the calibre and knowledge about various facets of any activity

2) every co curricular activity develops a young mind to be self confident, Learn to make mistakes and self improvement.

3) Co curricular helps to know the passion, desire  and the approach of a young mind towards a particular activity

4) Co-curricular activity brings about friendship,builds relationships, learning both individually and combined.

5) Co curricular attempts to give the young mind  a research  mentality , which is missing among today's students.

6) Co curricular helps to understand cultures and brings about International bonding.

Therefore it is time that administrators begin to give importance to such activity and do not close the door towards participation.

Opportunity to decide to participate should be left either to the parent & child.

The role of Administrator should be as a guide towards self improvement.