Scroll down past this post to see amazing photos from our first week of clusters!!
Deceptively Delicious
The students in Deceptively Delicious were definitely surprised in our first meeting! They got to sample homemade oatmeal cookies that also contained zucchini and bananas! They couldn’t believe how a cookie could taste so good, yet contain a green vegetable! We also sampled cocoa cereal made out of brown rice. The kids generated a list of yummy and delicious recipes they would like to research and eventually make. We explored different ways we could share our experiences with the BCE student body and thought that a cooking show would be best!
To the Rescue
To The Rescue cluster group is off to a great start! The students chose to help Austin Pets Alive. They researched the organization and are choosing three items on their wish list to collect school wide. Students will also be making handmade items to donate. Next week, students will bring in socks to make sock sweaters for kittens.
The World is a Blank Canvas
For the first cluster, we discussed the reasons why we chose Painting- because we like to paint, because we have experience painting, because we love art, or because we wanted to learn something new (my favorite).
Then we talked about what we wanted our cluster to be, keeping in mind that we would have an end product or service. The kids created a list by brainstorming ideas aloud: individual paintings on paper or canvas-with a theme or free-styling, collages, murals, having an art auction, & painting things around the school that we thought could use some attention.
The kids then sat together & weighed the pros & cons of each. They came up with the idea of "Beautify Barton Creek" & they all want to paint the Gaga Pit & then also add a mural to the courtyard (if time allows). They also have an interest in individual art & decided that if we had a rainy day,that would be a great time to work on those pieces.
We spent the remainder of the time painting tiny pumpkins-just for fun:)
The plan: clean the Gaga pit & draw a design for each section. There will be one section that we can all do together as a group.
Behind the Lens
On the first day, our “Behind the Lens” enrichment cluster group talked about what a book trailer is and how it is used to persuade others to read a book. We learned that a book trailer is not a summary, but more of a advertisement designed to spark interest in a book. We watched video examples created by others (including Mrs. Fredrickson) and we evaluated them in terms of how effective they were at persuading us to read the book. We noticed and shared the effect that the creator’s choice of pictures, music, and words had on us as we viewed each one. Next, we
brainstormed ideas for developing products to share our book trailers with the students at BCE. And finally, several of us chose our book titles and began to plan the content of our book trailers. For the next meeting, on October 9th, we should each have our book title in mind so that we can continue to plan and create our book trailers.
Yoga
We had an extremely relaxing yoga session. We watched a video that taught us all about yoga. We learned a sun salutation with poses such as mountain and heart center. The thing we focused on the most was our breath. Yoga was fun! Namaste.
Games, Games, Games!
Our first session started by playing a couple of fun games including Apples to Apples, and Outburst. We had a feisty competition between two groups. Students then completed a brief survey, recording their favorite games and their hopes and ideas for the cluster. We ended with a brief discussion about their favorite games.
Howdy Cupcake
In Howdy Cupcake the students tasted cupcakes from our local HEB and tried to list the ingredients they tasted in the cupcake. After the taste test, they watched a video on the history of the cupcake and then talked about the first time they tasted a cupcake (usually any early birthday!). They also told why they chose Howdy Cupcake and what they want to
study/do in this cluster. We discussed safety in the kitchen and ended with a talk about ingredients that are used in a basic cupcake recipe.
Sport Innovators
At our first meeting we discussed what it meant to invent a new sport or game. We talked about the “New Wave” sports of today and how sports equipment has changed over the decades. We watched a video about the definition of a “Sport”. To be a “sport” we decided that; 1. a sport has physical activity, 2. side by side competition and 3. a scoring system. We then discussed some of the various games we played in class and if they meant the definition of a “sport”. I then divided the group into two teams and played their favorite game, “Snookie”. After about 10 minutes we stopped the game and discussed if Snookie would be considered a “Sport”. It did not meet the 3 criteria based on the definition of Sport. I asked the group what element of the definition was not part of Snookie, it didn’t have a scoring system.
There was a lot of interaction and discussion regarding what constitutes a Sport. We are off and running.
Joy Drive
The Joy Drive Cluster is made up of thirteen energetic and excited students who want to learn about being effective leaders while doing something beneficial to their larger community.
At our first meeting, the students learned the history of the Joy Drive at BCE and were introduced to various leadership opportunities they could consider.
We also discussed reasons for selecting this cluster and any ideas the students were already thinking of to make this years Joy Drive uniqe. The students are excited to come back on October 9th and find out which aspect of Joy Drive they will be in charge of with their partner.
1,2,3 Fore
Our first day in 1,2,3, Fore! started off with a swing for the green. Our group talked about all the different professions one can choose in the golf world from course design to public relations on the PGA Tour. We also talked about golf clubs, form, scoring, and etiquette. We even had a little putting competition along the way. The greens are clipped and the fairways are wide in 1,2,3, Fore!
Crazy Cartooning
I began the cluster by asking the students what they wanted to get out of this time spent in the cluster and all answered enthusiastically "I want to draw!" I began by show a keynote presentation on the history of American Comics. We then looked at examples of how comics have evolved into the comics the kids are familiar with today. Discussed how comics are told in a series of sequential boxes or panels. Each panel represents an instant in time. The kids began to brainstorm and sketch ideas for a main character. We will discuss and learn what makes a good story for a comic, settings and ways to communicate in a comic strip. The culmination of the cluster will be a completed comic strip developed by the students.
ACT 1
As an introduction to ACT I, students began exploring what theater is and how to communicate a story through a character. After this brainstorm session, we began exploring how to communicate through voice, facial expressions, and body movement in a series of games. In one game, they were able to secretly pick an emotion and have the “audience” guess what they were communicating. They were great! We also began creating a safe environment so that they can move out of their comfort zones in front of one another. Students had homework to observe people around them and come back with three different emotions to share with the group on Friday. Students will make a journal this week and begin the process of creating their own character. The class was absolutely precious! They were actively engaged and gave everything their best. I can already see that these students are committed to creating (and acting) a fabulous character! I cannot wait to see what they come up with!
Photography
Did you know that some of the first cameras took up to two minutes to take a photo? That’s why no one is smiling; it hurt their cheeks too much! This is just one of the many realizations the Photography Cluster came to at our first meeting on October 2nd. We began by introducing ourselves and sharing why we were enticed by the course. Next we watched a TED Talk about the history of the camera and photography. To wrap up our time together, we took field trips around the school capturing images that represented ourselves and created collages. During our next session we will guess whose collage belongs with whom! As we continue our photographic journey, we’d like to learn how film rolls were made, common photography tips, and Photo-shopping skills!
Sculpt It! Create It!
Our first day was full of experimentation and creativity as we begin exploring the universe of artistic possibilities of sculpture. First we started with an introduction to American sculptor, Alexander Calder, and his animated sense of playfulness, engineering design and endless ingenuity. Then we constructed our own whimsical Calder inspired kinetic works of art. Now we are on to researching other artists and their contributions to the world of sculpture, testing a few of those techniques and deciding on our final projects. What will we create next?
Deceptively Delicious
The students in Deceptively Delicious were definitely surprised in our first meeting! They got to sample homemade oatmeal cookies that also contained zucchini and bananas! They couldn’t believe how a cookie could taste so good, yet contain a green vegetable! We also sampled cocoa cereal made out of brown rice. The kids generated a list of yummy and delicious recipes they would like to research and eventually make. We explored different ways we could share our experiences with the BCE student body and thought that a cooking show would be best!
To the Rescue
To The Rescue cluster group is off to a great start! The students chose to help Austin Pets Alive. They researched the organization and are choosing three items on their wish list to collect school wide. Students will also be making handmade items to donate. Next week, students will bring in socks to make sock sweaters for kittens.
The World is a Blank Canvas
For the first cluster, we discussed the reasons why we chose Painting- because we like to paint, because we have experience painting, because we love art, or because we wanted to learn something new (my favorite).
Then we talked about what we wanted our cluster to be, keeping in mind that we would have an end product or service. The kids created a list by brainstorming ideas aloud: individual paintings on paper or canvas-with a theme or free-styling, collages, murals, having an art auction, & painting things around the school that we thought could use some attention.
The kids then sat together & weighed the pros & cons of each. They came up with the idea of "Beautify Barton Creek" & they all want to paint the Gaga Pit & then also add a mural to the courtyard (if time allows). They also have an interest in individual art & decided that if we had a rainy day,that would be a great time to work on those pieces.
We spent the remainder of the time painting tiny pumpkins-just for fun:)
The plan: clean the Gaga pit & draw a design for each section. There will be one section that we can all do together as a group.
Behind the Lens
On the first day, our “Behind the Lens” enrichment cluster group talked about what a book trailer is and how it is used to persuade others to read a book. We learned that a book trailer is not a summary, but more of a advertisement designed to spark interest in a book. We watched video examples created by others (including Mrs. Fredrickson) and we evaluated them in terms of how effective they were at persuading us to read the book. We noticed and shared the effect that the creator’s choice of pictures, music, and words had on us as we viewed each one. Next, we
brainstormed ideas for developing products to share our book trailers with the students at BCE. And finally, several of us chose our book titles and began to plan the content of our book trailers. For the next meeting, on October 9th, we should each have our book title in mind so that we can continue to plan and create our book trailers.
Yoga
We had an extremely relaxing yoga session. We watched a video that taught us all about yoga. We learned a sun salutation with poses such as mountain and heart center. The thing we focused on the most was our breath. Yoga was fun! Namaste.
Games, Games, Games!
Our first session started by playing a couple of fun games including Apples to Apples, and Outburst. We had a feisty competition between two groups. Students then completed a brief survey, recording their favorite games and their hopes and ideas for the cluster. We ended with a brief discussion about their favorite games.
Howdy Cupcake
In Howdy Cupcake the students tasted cupcakes from our local HEB and tried to list the ingredients they tasted in the cupcake. After the taste test, they watched a video on the history of the cupcake and then talked about the first time they tasted a cupcake (usually any early birthday!). They also told why they chose Howdy Cupcake and what they want to
study/do in this cluster. We discussed safety in the kitchen and ended with a talk about ingredients that are used in a basic cupcake recipe.
Sport Innovators
At our first meeting we discussed what it meant to invent a new sport or game. We talked about the “New Wave” sports of today and how sports equipment has changed over the decades. We watched a video about the definition of a “Sport”. To be a “sport” we decided that; 1. a sport has physical activity, 2. side by side competition and 3. a scoring system. We then discussed some of the various games we played in class and if they meant the definition of a “sport”. I then divided the group into two teams and played their favorite game, “Snookie”. After about 10 minutes we stopped the game and discussed if Snookie would be considered a “Sport”. It did not meet the 3 criteria based on the definition of Sport. I asked the group what element of the definition was not part of Snookie, it didn’t have a scoring system.
There was a lot of interaction and discussion regarding what constitutes a Sport. We are off and running.
Joy Drive
The Joy Drive Cluster is made up of thirteen energetic and excited students who want to learn about being effective leaders while doing something beneficial to their larger community.
At our first meeting, the students learned the history of the Joy Drive at BCE and were introduced to various leadership opportunities they could consider.
We also discussed reasons for selecting this cluster and any ideas the students were already thinking of to make this years Joy Drive uniqe. The students are excited to come back on October 9th and find out which aspect of Joy Drive they will be in charge of with their partner.
1,2,3 Fore
Our first day in 1,2,3, Fore! started off with a swing for the green. Our group talked about all the different professions one can choose in the golf world from course design to public relations on the PGA Tour. We also talked about golf clubs, form, scoring, and etiquette. We even had a little putting competition along the way. The greens are clipped and the fairways are wide in 1,2,3, Fore!
Crazy Cartooning
I began the cluster by asking the students what they wanted to get out of this time spent in the cluster and all answered enthusiastically "I want to draw!" I began by show a keynote presentation on the history of American Comics. We then looked at examples of how comics have evolved into the comics the kids are familiar with today. Discussed how comics are told in a series of sequential boxes or panels. Each panel represents an instant in time. The kids began to brainstorm and sketch ideas for a main character. We will discuss and learn what makes a good story for a comic, settings and ways to communicate in a comic strip. The culmination of the cluster will be a completed comic strip developed by the students.
ACT 1
As an introduction to ACT I, students began exploring what theater is and how to communicate a story through a character. After this brainstorm session, we began exploring how to communicate through voice, facial expressions, and body movement in a series of games. In one game, they were able to secretly pick an emotion and have the “audience” guess what they were communicating. They were great! We also began creating a safe environment so that they can move out of their comfort zones in front of one another. Students had homework to observe people around them and come back with three different emotions to share with the group on Friday. Students will make a journal this week and begin the process of creating their own character. The class was absolutely precious! They were actively engaged and gave everything their best. I can already see that these students are committed to creating (and acting) a fabulous character! I cannot wait to see what they come up with!
Photography
Did you know that some of the first cameras took up to two minutes to take a photo? That’s why no one is smiling; it hurt their cheeks too much! This is just one of the many realizations the Photography Cluster came to at our first meeting on October 2nd. We began by introducing ourselves and sharing why we were enticed by the course. Next we watched a TED Talk about the history of the camera and photography. To wrap up our time together, we took field trips around the school capturing images that represented ourselves and created collages. During our next session we will guess whose collage belongs with whom! As we continue our photographic journey, we’d like to learn how film rolls were made, common photography tips, and Photo-shopping skills!
Sculpt It! Create It!
Our first day was full of experimentation and creativity as we begin exploring the universe of artistic possibilities of sculpture. First we started with an introduction to American sculptor, Alexander Calder, and his animated sense of playfulness, engineering design and endless ingenuity. Then we constructed our own whimsical Calder inspired kinetic works of art. Now we are on to researching other artists and their contributions to the world of sculpture, testing a few of those techniques and deciding on our final projects. What will we create next?