The Rookery

Today we did a brief highlight share after our adaptation zoo.  The students were happy but tired and I was proud of how professional they had been — it's not easy to be "on stage" for over an hour as they were today.  I drew a quick sketch of an iceberg and we reflected on how much we had learned that we didn't teach at today's event.  In the course of our work this past month, we'd learned a lot more about genetics, adaptations and animals than we could share in the course of an hour.

I also wanted to take a moment to highlight the learning that was going on as we prepared to teach you. These are different skills – skills that will transfer to all of the students' work, not just their biology classes.  Students had to make plans, set goals and manage their time effectively.  They had to procure supplies and solve countless problems.  They had to be resourceful and creative.  They had to contribute individually to the success of the group by completing assignments.  Many took on leadership roles, creating things for the event that went beyond their individual projects.  Speaking skills, poise, self control, clarity in writing were also key to the students' success today.  And later this week, we will assess our work and reflect on our learning.

And then there are the even smaller skills that accumulate to make one a competent "do-er."  These skills are hard to define, but by knowing a lot of them, you have a large tool-box with which to tackle projects.  I watched as one child explained to another how to make paper grass appear to stick up by folding over one edge to make a glue tab.  Another went through several garbage bags trying to figure out how to plan out where to put holes for his arms.  Another watched excitedly as a neighbor put a translucent sheet over a diorama "to keep it secret but let light in."  Several watched and learned how to make a master sheet of multiple small copies and then cut them apart after copying it.  One child taught others how to fold over the end of packing tape to make a little tab to grab for the next time you need it.  Others sewed costume bits or put glitter on items but contained the extra glitter on a tray.

The busy-ness of event planning means that students have to rely on each other or themselves to solve problems.  They become so much more independent.

The image in my head may not be helpful but when I think of culminating events, I do see the content of the theme as an iceberg with only the tip exposed.  But on that tip, I see an inverse iceberg which balances on that content and expands upward into skills that will be used in the themes to come.

It can be dangerous learning.  I still remember a theme several years ago where students came up to me and announcing that "The merchandising committee"  (Me:  merchandising committee?!  Since when did we have a merchandising committee?!) "have decided to create a T-shirt.  We checked and we can't get them printed by Tuesday so we're going to take orders.  They'll cost $6 to make so we'll charge $8.  O.K.?"  (Me:  Ummm…O.K.  just make sure you have a good system to keep track of who has bought a T-shirt…)  "Yeah, we'll use a spreadsheet."

The Herons are off to an exciting start.  I can't wait to see where their creativity takes them next.

Oh, and here's the script the Herons wrote (with the leadership of K.S., M.Z., M.K., and M.P.).  
Download AdaptationZooScript-5