When school buildings close, districts have to think strategically about how they’ll continue teaching students beyond classroom walls — especially in times of a crisis.

Educators have to adapt lesson plans to their district’s chosen remote learning approach, whether that be using learning management systems, collaboration suites, take-home packets or all three combined.

Districts may decide to focus on teaching core subjects such as math and language arts during remote learning, especially if they’re dealing with limited staffing and technology resources. Meanwhile, others may have the option to teach electives or “specials” such as art, music and physical education, which is even more crucial for when schools have to extend remote learning plans for a longer period of time.

But teaching those types of subjects from a distance can be hard for some educators if they’re doing it for the first time.

In Gwinnett County, Ga., Pinkneyville Middle School Band Director Roland Ventura had to brainstorm ways to keep his students engaged when the state’s schools closed due to COVID-19, reports Martha Dalton for WABE 90.1.

“It is definitely a challenge because [band is] such a group activity,” Ventura shared with WABE 90.1. “If you want to put it in sports terms: How do you play football with online plays? It’s a hard thing to do.”