expression in motion
We kind of slid into the expression phase of the Motion arc a few weeks ago, but the transition was so smooth and the discovery of projects so organic that formally announcing Expression at the “right” time wasn’t a good way to go about it.
But I suppose that it’s officially Expression, now that all the bands are in the midst of their project work in anticipation of exposition night before spring break.
hanging
Almost everyone was back today (minus one or two) and we discovered that our morning circle is huge!
After some announcements and exciting reminders about the day, the whole of Brightworks gathered to watch this video, called “Balance.”
The kids discussed its meaning together when it was over. After we talked about the ideas presented in the film about sharing and greed, we watched the film again with those thoughts there to inform the second viewing.
Then everyone broke into bands and the day’s work began.
… including lunch and all its dishes.
Currency group met in the afternoon.
At the end of the day, Gever helped Audrey and Zada hang their aerial silk from the rafters above the cork floor.
And they got some practice in, too.
Happy weekend!
just doing
There are some days when I am more impressed with the kids at this school than other days. I’m always thrilled that they are here doing what they’re doing, but sometimes when you turn around and they’re extra helpful, or extra responsible, or extra on-task, or extra focused, it’s pretty impressive. Today, when I was on the floor, taking them to the park, or subbing for Mackenzie in the afternoon, I found that the kids’ behavior in a particularly challenging warehouse-turned-school space that provide distractions everywhere was cool. Calm. Collected. Focused. There was a rhythm of just doing.
Caroline, Josh’s friend and an awesome linoprint artist, came in and helped the kids make their own prints. They were excited to make their own drawings into ink-able, repeatable prints.
Nicky focused on working through problems in his marble run project.
William took notes on the project he’s starting.
Zada and Audrey took a break from muscle training to add their work to a wall displaying all the Ninja Cats’ notes and diagrams about their projects.
The Ninja Cats helped each other create a museum-like display of their work.
Kaia added her linoprint to her horse notes.
Ben and Isaac struggled through Google Sketch-up problems and Evan, Alexander, and Daniel fiddled with parts while Josh took Connor and Henry to a lunch with flying machine expert Rick Cavallaro (pictures forthcoming).
Coke and Quinn battle through the design of their trebuchet. Chane was inspired by their dedication and told the staff that she overheard them saying, “We can’t do this, but what can we do?”
Aerial performance….
…and practice.
Kaia continued work on her horse illustration in her study of movement.
The Flying Fish read some of the Froggy books with me in the afternoon, and they giggled at all the right parts. They groaned when they heard the same line – “more red in the face than green” – repeated in all five stories, and gleefully repeated the rhymes in each story after I read them.
Gever worked with Nicky to program a Mindstorm piece that will serve as the motor for a conveyor belt in his marble run.
The lunch table, after a day of linoprints.
The Goats finished off their day of work.
Each day has its own rhythm… today’s was one of doing.
glimpses
Some things that happened today…
Lunch.
Crash pad delivery.
Snack and discussion.
Folding paper airplanes.
Taking a Happy break.
Examining parts.
Designing.
good things
Wow! Today the stars aligned and the moon was out… and we all had an incredible day. Yesterday, we greeted three new students: William, Alexander, and Daniel, and today we continued working through issues, projects, and getting to know each other.
Coke demonstrated one of his wonders of the day- a washer vibrating its way down a pole.
Audrey and Zada rotated their knees as part of their evolving warm-up routine. They have been struggling with the discipline required when one has to warm-up before a physical workout.
Zada lectured the Ninja Cats about the importance of writing as if your audience knows nothing about your topic. She shared her example of writing this way.
The Ninja Cats played Theo’s game, which involved trying to pester someone until they are annoyed enough to quit the game.
William interviewed the members of his band on their project topic.
Kaia has been diligently focusing on her project even though other kids have been working near her.
All good things…
getting schooled
At Brightworks, we get schooled in a completely different way.
We work on projects.
We write.
We get serenaded by ukuleles while waiting for lunch.
We eat incredible golden and green vegetables and drink milk so thick it’s like cream.
We hold paper airplane throwing competitions in the afternoon.
We’re joyous on Fridays when we’re together.
working hard, hardly working
Reading The Great Paper Caper after park time brought up a conversation about how much paper the Flying Fish have been using in their exploration of flight. They brainstormed ways of using less paper and proposed planting trees to off set all of the paper that they’ve used.
Inspired by this video of the new world record distance for an airplane throw, the Flying Fish taped a racetrack on the cork floor to test how far they could throw their own paper airplanes.
It was a beautiful moment of collaboration as each fish carved out their role in the event.
Clem and Bruno held up the finish line and both acted as judges, Logan and Bruno taped down the track as Ben and Aidan folded planes to fly in the contest. The final show is going to be tomorrow between 12:30 and Noon!
After a meeting at Coffee Bar, the Ninja Cats worked on their projects: researching, drawing, watching videos, taking notes, prototyping.
The Undead Goats headed out to the Sutro Baths to hike and explore, even in the cold and the rain.
They came back to school with tales of the sun coming out just as they were about to return home, gigantic cliffs and craggy rocks, and waves that reached up and over their rocky shelters to drench them in seawater.
