Posted by Justine on October 19, 2011
in Brightworks, Cities, Exposition, flickr, mission, park, portfolios, sharing, streets, writing
Another fantastic day of reflecting and playing.
While I had initially thought that the Exposition phase would be kind of a let-down after the fierce activity of Exploration and Expression, I asked a few kids today what they thought of this portfolio idea and they said they were really liking it. Such a good sign.

Sharing bits and pieces of writing and pictures.



Portfolio work.






And of course, a break at the park.








Posted by Justine on October 6, 2011
in Brightworks, Cities, Expression, fingerknitting, furniture, glue, illustrating, kidcity, mission, radialsaw, rain, screwdriver, walls
The rain pouring from the sky this morning rang crescendos through our school-warehouse as it pattered on the skylights and flooded the streets. It was dark and we were worried about the lighting as projects continue. But after morning circle and some staring out the window, the sky cleared and the sun came out.

Heights. Kid City is many, many inches taller than our smallest kids. How lucky is that.

Watching the radial saw closely.

Walls!

Hmm.

Finger-knitting is the newest craze.

Strolling down Mission Street with some canvas for Kid City.

Major glue spillage!

Chane made a small space for kids interested in building furniture together or one-on-one. Lots of beds and chairs were constructed!





The view from the second floor of Kid City.

The kids add more walls, and this piece of redwood.

Some drew gravestones for Henry (no idea). Earlier there was lots of illustrating happening on the cork floor.

And so goes another beautiful day at Brightworks. We find that these days – where outwardly it doesn’t look like much is happening but inwardly the kids are bubbling with excitement and soaking up their days like a sponge – are thrill because we’re able to experiment with teaching, scaffolding, and building the kids’ relationships to their school, their peers, and their teachers. “I feel like I’m learning more here than I did at my old school,” one of the older kids told me today. I have a feeling that we’re on the right track.
Posted by Justine on September 22, 2011
in Brightworks, Cities, doormurals, excursion, expert, Exploration, mission, murals, park, precitaeyes, spraypaint, stencils, streets, swing, walking
A warm September day in the Mission means nothing less for Brightworks than a tour of the Mission, mural-style! The kids walked down to Precita Eyes on 24th Street to visit some incredible murals, led by Jorge, that have made the Mission a beautifully colorful place.








A quick walk to the park.


A swing!


And water! Most of the kids came back to school soaked to the bone.



The walk back to Brightworks.



Putting things in cubbies…

After lunch, the kids worked on their own mural projects: stencils with spray paint…





…and designing four murals on old doors.



Completed murals in the works!