connecticut camp update

i just had the best conversation with my pre-curriculum advisor (PCA). we talked for about an hour about my class just bouncing ideas off one another, what my expectations and hopes for the class are, etc etc.

some activity ideas:
the journal: i’d like the students to keep a personal journal with them throughout the class session in which they will write their reactions and/or reflections on readings, topics, film viewings, or anything that goes on as long as it pertains to the class itself. having a journal will also be a form of support and therapy should students feel overwhelmed by what they are learning or seeing. even if students are able to deal well with this class having a journal will help them see how they have progressed over the three-week period in what they have learned.

i think (and so does steve, my pca) that this would be extremely helpful for the students. i've been keeping a journal for a long time (not just this blog) and it's mostly filled with reflections and such, especially now that i'm taking the human rights class.

the burning questions: have the students, at the beginning of the class, write down 3-5 questions about genocide or human rights. it could be anything they want to know or are curious about (examples: what is genocide? why is it still going on? is it still happening? where? why isn't anyone doing something about it? what's the biggest genocide, in terms of deaths? why are we learning about this? what's the purpose of this class?....).

after they are done i would collect the questions and i'd have the students decide on 5 that they feel are the most important or the most compelling. i'd write on the board and leave them there for the entire three weeks in the hope that it would get the students more invested in the class on a personal level. they'd look at the board and think "that's my question that we're aiming to answer." it'd get them more actively engaged and make them better researchers (because they know what questions they want answered).

with this activity it'd also give me a good idea of what the students already know about the topic, if anything at all. then i can go from there. the students "burning questions" will work in conjuction with my own essential questions (part two of the curriculum that i need to work on for feb. 24th).

movie screening/forum: steve came up with this one which i love. the students could make flyers that would encourage other students at connecticut camp to come see a movie on human rights/genocide and have a discussion afterwards-- a type of forum for those that want to know more information. like we could show hotel rwanda and have a discussion afterward that the students in the class would host.

art collage: another idea of steve's. have the students present to the class (or to the student body) a type of art work that expresses and depicts what they have felt or think about the class. this could be a great activity because it would get the students really engaged. it could be a collage or they could use their journal if they wish (or both!)-- the final piece would be up to them.

that's just the start. i'm going to be brainstorming a lot more and hopefully come up with so many activities and ideas that i won't have time to do them all.

i'm could nine right now kids. cloud nine.