What do these tools have in common with our students? Well the students put them to good use and they had fun using them- isn't that enough? These are the kinds of tools that you don't usually see in school. Hopefully summer school in North Haven can demonstrate to everybody that learning is really, really fun...and it's supposed to be! I mean really, who wants to sit around and stuff facts into their head for 7...and teachers complain when their kids text in class. The Greek Philosopher Aristotle told us that people were born with endless amounts of knowledge in their minds and that through our experiences we are able to unlock it and use it to learn. Get it..through our expereinces. Learning should be an experience...let me correct myself- it should be an adventure! Well, let me tell you that my students have been utilizing their problem solving, math and science skills throughout summer school so far and will continue to given the work that they will be doing. Building and carving and doing manual work is an adventure, and a worthwhile one at that.
With all senses engaged, they have been practicing their carving skills with Sloyd and Hook knives. The term "Sloyd" means "handcraft" in Swedish and the Hook knife is literally a knife blade in the shape of a hook that can be used for hollowing out the bowl of a spoon.
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| Caring with a hatchet forces people to concentrate. |
Students have been building their forts in the forest as well, collecting limbs and branches and storing them at their sites for what will eventually become their tepee style shelters.
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| Students working together to collect vines for some joinery on their tepees. |
This time together has been extremely productive and rewarding and is setting a precedent for what education can be if we put our kids interests first. Keep it up kids- you're the best!!!
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| With a center post in place this group is getting ready to add some rafters. |
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