The sweltering heat of the summer heat wave is unrelenting. Each day seems to blur into the next, with temperatures soaring higher and higher. As a primary school teacher, I knew that keeping my young students comfortable and engaged in such humid weather was going to be a challenge.

One morning, I walked into my classroom to find it stiflingly hot. My school does not have an air conditioning system, and the children struggle with the torrid temperatures. The children trickled in, their faces sweaty, their energy levels already down due to the heat. I could see the discomfort on their faces and I knew that I had to adjust my plans for the day.

We started the day with circle time under the ceiling fans that seemed to be barely moving. The normally vibrant group was unusually quiet, their attention span low. Even my most enthusiastic children seemed too tired to participate. I noticed Joey, a usually bubbly child, resting his head on his arms, his eyelids drooping. He came up to me and asked, ‘I am feeling uncomfortable in my stomach.’ It broke my heart to see them like this.

By mid-morning, it was clear that I needed a change of activity. I gathered the children and ventured outside to the shaded area of the playground, hoping the fresh air and a light breeze would rejuvenate them. We brought out water bottles, and I made sure everyone stayed hydrated. We played gentle games, avoiding anything too strenuous. Even then, the heat was overpowering. The children moved sluggishly and the usual excitement characteristic of recess was dampened by the stifling weather.

Aayush complained of a headache, and Eureka was unusually irritable, snapping at her friends over small things. Recognizing the symptoms of heat exhaustion, I decided to implement more frequent breaks and quieter activities. Despite our best efforts, the heat wave took a toll on the children’s learning and well-being. Attention spans were shorter, tempers too, and their usual enthusiasm for learning was noticeably diminished. As the days went on, we adapted our schedule to include more rest periods and indoor activities.

Throughout this experience, I saw the resilience of these young children. They adapted to the changes and found ways to cope, but it was clear that the extreme heat was impacting their health and ability to learn. The heat wave had been challenging for all of us, but as a teacher, it also highlighted the importance of flexibility, compassion, and awareness at school. It is a lesson that I reflect upon everyday until the temperatures return to normal.