After School Special...Sort of.

This week has been a busy week.

Each of the upcoming weeks will get progressively busier. I'm not complaining of course. If I'm busy that must mean I'm doing something right!

Last-last Thursday's after school program went very well indeed.  We discussed photography and some elements that make a good picture. After a discussion with my supervisor, we decided that the girls should get an opportunity to exhibit their work in the fair. They were very excited about that.  Here are the pictures they took.

They really had a lot of fun with this activity.

Then last week, we looked at arts and drawing.  All of my girls were given the task of drawing "Community Service."  It was up to them to interpret what that mean.  It became quite clear to me that they were fairly dependent on specific instructions. This was a good challenge for them; it exercised their imaginations and their critical thinking skills.  I think they got something out of it.  These drawings and the photos they took (see above) will be entered in this year's Wisconsin Valley Fair. They were pretty excited about that when I told them.

Yesterday, we looked at "Home Environment."  They made tie blankets and scarves to donate to the warming shelter that our area recently started.  Although they all wanted to keep a scarf, I wouldn't let them because it is a good lesson in giving to others in a world where doing things for yourself is natural. None of them where too broken up about it. Here are some pictures of what they did.

Next week is our last week, and I have a little surprise for them.  I think they will enjoy it.

As far as other programs are going, I'm just working on getting things ready for them; gathering supplies and writing lesson plans.  Its keeping me pretty busy.