So far during this new job, I have been teaching programs that have already been brainstormed and written up. Today, I was able to create a whole new program for Education that revolved around the Daniel Smiley Research Center. Since I work in two different departments, I was chosen to lead the San Miguel Academy's 8th graders in a Daniel Smiley Research Center-based program.
If I have not already explained this, the Daniel Smiley Research Center is where the Conservation Science department is housed. The DSRC is home to our collections room where Daniel Smiley kept specimens of flora and fauna that were discovered on the ridge, even archaeological, Native American artifacts found in rock shelters on the ridge, and it houses over 120-years of weather, lake, and natural history records.
Originally, this program was planned to have a snow-shoe hike around the Mountain House property. However, we have not been getting much snow to make snow-shoeing possible. So, we had to put on the "flexi-pants" and come up with something else. I decided to do a rendition of the Murie Museum back in the Tetons.
I created a workbook/DSRC journal that focused on up to 8 activities that allowed the students to float through stations for about an hour. These activities portrayed similar activities that our staff and research associates perform at the DSRC. So, it was basically a "Day in the Life of the DSRC" tour. Below are some of the stations I created.
TheChristyBel
Station 1: Bird Identification Using Specimens, Guides, & Observation
Does this plant have alternating or opposing leaves?
Station 2: Understanding the Herbarium
Identifying Birds
Station 3: Mammal Identification Through Skull Anatomy Station 4: Examination of Native American Artifacts (in the background)
Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore?
Station 5: Measuring Precipitation from the night before
Station 9: Visiting Mohonk Lake to Obtain Lake Samples
These past 10-days have been incredibly wonderful - I love working with middle schoolers! These students were hilarious, crazy, engaged, challenging, and leaving me incredibly exhausted everyday. But, it was worth it. These 13 inspiring, talented, and all-around awesome students are the reason I want to be a teacher some day. Despite the constant reminding to take out all smellies from your backcountry tents or keeping them focused, Teton Explorations was such a wonderful program to teach in. Having 10 long days and nights with these students was really fun - getting chances to try out lessons on them (that were being used for Expressions), working with an out of comfort zone age group (not going to lie, after this program, I like them more than high schoolers!), and start out with a smaller program before getting ready for our core program - Expressions.
The students that made up Teton Explorations were a variety of open-enrollment middle schoolers from all over the country, including Baltimore all the way to California, and then some even from China! It was super cool to work with a variety of students geographically, but also from a variety of different cultures, backgrounds, and school systems. I love diversity and this program was diversity to it's finest (in the most positive of ways)!
Community Building - The Human Knot
Teaching everything and anything from communities on the Kelly Campus, to leadership and strengthening our program team, to canoeing, to a day trip to Yellowstone, to a few days 'embracing the beep' of mosquitos in the backcountry - these students received an educational, but extremely unforgettable experience here in the Tetons!
Overcoming Group Challenges
From the start when all the students were arriving, this group clicked instantly! The Baltimore boys arrived first - and were incredibly hilarious, open, and welcoming to the instructors and the other students. Friendships were created on the first 'hello' and communal soccer and card games included everyone as the welcome day progressed! It was beautiful to see that everyone got along so quickly and easily! I guess that's what happens when you're in middle school - the desire and constant urge for friendship just happens pretty fast and organically? At least, that is what I could tell.
Scientist vs. Naturalist
Every moment I shared with these students was the most unbelievable - constantly engaged, pushed through challenges, and strived to be better than the last moment. I was able to speak with several students one-on-one at times to hear their impressions and opinions of this program. It was remarkable to hear what they would tell you - from talking about how their parents sent them here for fun to I applied for a scholarship to be here because my family could not afford something like this for me. At times, it really broke my heart to hear things about not being able to afford this or that. But it made me want to make sure that they received the best experience while being here.
Exploring Places We've Never Been Before
Enjoying What is Faithful at Old Faithful in Yellowstone
Artists Point at the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone
Digging Deep into Scientific Research
Teton Explorations discovered how interconnected and similar each student and instructor was to each other. Through a bunch of leadership and community activities, as well as every experience we all shared together, this group of 13-students and 5-instructors got incredibly close over those 10-days.
Understanding Our Community
We Are All Connected
The backcountry trip was a whole other experience and level of closeness and community. It was also really empowering and an honor to hear that many of the students had never backpacked before! So, seeing them set up a tent or prepare meals on a whisperlite stove was beyond priceless. For many of the students, they thrived while being in the backcountry, despite the swarms of mosquitos that attacked us for 24-hours straight each day.
Lounging at the Top of 8015'!
These students took on challenges with open minds and then conquered them. To see many of them carry their heavy packs up ridges and in rain was really hard to watch, but to see their faces when they reached tops was totally worth it!
Absorbing Some Awesome Views
Backpacking with Steaze!
Let me say that the mosquitos were the worst in the backcountry - being covered in bug nets, rain gear, and any form of a barrier of clothing was the only way to relieve your mind and sanity about the swarms of blood-suckers around you. I know a few instructors, including myself, almost of did go mosquito crazy. But the students definitely pushed through and learned to 'embrace the beep' or should I say 'buzz.'
Embracing the Beep of Mosquitos
Enjoying the Outdoor World!
Not only did we teach our students about the natural world and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, but we taught them about the awareness of self, others, and place. Yes, it got a little heavy every once and a while - but it was really cool to see these students get much closer than they were after every activity. For example, we did an 'Awareness Circle' led by Heather. This was one of my favorite activities for these students. They would open up to really personal prompts that reflected their home lives, their school lives, how they felt towards themselves, how they felt towards others and their other Teton Explorations peers, everything. There were times that I just wanted to cry or hug or even take home a student based on what I heard them admit to - like hearing about not enough money for food or how sad they feel when others bully them. But it made me also aware of myself and my surroundings, and how thankful I am for the things and opportunities I have been given. Although, at the same time, it was a great awareness of where my students were at too and how I could support them. (I hate to admit it, but I felt like a mom at times....scary, huh?!)
Being Aware of Self, Others, and Place
Finding the Wyoming Ground Fruit!
Grace & I as Twins on the Backcountry Trip!
My New Little Sister!
Making New Friends with Flowers
I do not think I can stress enough how wonderful these students were: they were not just accepting to their fellow Teton Explorations peers, but to the instructors as well. By the end of the program, I did not leave that program with 13-unforgettable students who I taught, but 13-individual friends!
Each and every one of these students from Teton Explorations are so talented, smart, inspiring, and strong! I was so proud of them from when they entered the program to where they ended and left us on June 25. I hope you all can see how wonderful and awesome these kids were through the photos on this blog entry and the videos taken from our Celebration of Learning Talent Show!
Enjoy!
TheChristyBel
Teton eXplorations A-capella Singing 'I'm Yours'
Molly's Celebration of Learning Creative Writing Excerpt About Her Scholarship Award
This Reading was Incredibly Powerful!
Grace's Celebration of Learning Poem - Incredibly Beautiful
My Baltimore Boys (Vincent, Tyree, & Deondre) and Carlo From Chicago!
For the last week of Winter Teaching Practicum, our team was split into two groups for the week. Four members of our team chose to teach with the Student Conservation Association and the National Park Service, while the remaining four chose to work with the Journey's Independent School and teach two middle school electives.
Since I enjoyed being on outreach and in the classroom, I instantly chose to work with the middle school electives. Not to mention, the choices that the grads were able to choose for their electives was a 'the possibilities are endless.' This was awesome! I automatically thought: art class! If only many of my art teachers could see me now: using what they had taught me and me teaching others! That goes to Mrs. Fentzloff, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Yarnall, and Mrs. Yount; you all would be so proud!
When we were choosing who was going to work with which program, a fellow graduate who was also interested in art joined the middle school elective and thought it would be awesome to team teach some form of an art class together for that week.
Charlie, my teaching partner, and I chose two focus on Drawing 101 within the Winter World. This elective's goal objective was to emphasize three drawing techniques that our students can be used in field sketching. The students would learn all three techniques by Wednesday and then on Thursday, they would be able to create a group project (all student-driven) that included what they had learned previously in the week. On Friday, the students would have a 'Celebration of Learning' and host an art show gallery showing off all their talents, projects, and work throughout the week.
Our Path Map for the Week and the Day!
When Charlie and I were introduced to the class, we wanted our students to have full ownership of this week, including what types of drawing techniques they wanted to learn. So we proposed, that if we bring one technique to the learning table, the students would be able to choose the remaining two that they wanted to learn during the week. We placed a whole bunch of different types of drawings and techniques out of the tables. Students were to spread out and place the drawings with the corresponding technique that was used to produce the drawings.
After the students placed drawings with names of techniques, such as: stippling, shading, gridding, cross-hatching, and negative space, we introduced the definitions of each technique to the class. After the students were able to understand the basic ideas of each drawing and the techniques used, they were allowed to work together and determine the two they all wanted to learn about.
Coming to a consensus, the students chose shading and stippling as the two techniques they wanted to learn more about and explore.
Monday Drawing Technique: Blind Contour and Contour Drawing
For Monday, Charlie and I would introduce them to our technique, blind contouring, to the class. Monday's goal objectives would learn to focus on detail of their surroundings through blind contour and contour line drawing. Blind contour drawing is a technique that develops the artist's eye.
Bling Contour Drawing is where an artist looks at an object they want to draw and move the pencil at the same speed as their eyes move along the object's outline. In this technique, artists will draw an object without looking at the pen or paper. This technique helps train an artist's motor skills to match our visual observation. Blind contour drawing is also a great was to let go of our desire to control an image realistically and give ourselves, as artists, creative freedom.
During the two-hour class, we took the students outside to draw what they saw in the natural world as well as natural history specimens while we were in the classroom. The toughest part of the day was reminding the students that the goal was not to look at their drawing as they were drawing their object/subject. The goal was not to create a proportional or life-like image.
Our Students Best Contour Drawings of the Day
Tuesday was the day where we introduced shading to the class. Shading is a technique that allows an artist's sketches, doodles, and drawings look more realistic. The day before we focused on detail of on outline with contour and blind contour drawings, Tuesday was about adding more to this foundation they already learned.
Tuesday Drawing Technique: Shading
By adding shading to a drawing, it gives a drawing more depth, contrast, character, movement, and emotion by adding highlights and shadows to a subject.
The class was able to explore this process by using specimens in a dimly-lit room and manipulating the light on a small object on their tables. By using desk lights and lamps, students were able to give their objects/subjects a particular shadow or light exposure and then draw what they saw on paper.
Our Students Best Drawings with Shading of the Day
Wednesday Path Map with an Emphasis in Stippling
Wednesday brought shading to a whole new level. Instead of blending graphite with their fingers or a blending utensil, the class was able to create shading on a drawing with the use of lots and lots of tiny dots.
One of my student's drawings using Stippling. Avery is an incredibly talented artist!
Stippling is an ink drawing technique where an artist applies tone and texture to a drawing or image through small dots. The depth of tone and the roughness of texture can be adjusted by varying the density and distribution of the dots.
Similar to Tuesday with Shading, students were able to draw a specimen of their choice at their desk using the stippling technique. Our class was also given the creative freedom and ownership to draw something from their creative imagination and mind, but must include the stippling technique into their work.
Our Students Stippling Drawings of the Day
At the end of the day on Wednesday, we reminded our middle schoolers of their final project that they had all Thursday to work on. The class was split into three groups where each group came up with final group project ideas on what they all could work on as a class or independently following the same guidelines.
Each group stood before the rest of the class and presented their ideas on group final projects. After a silent vote, the class came to a consensus of each student will create their own independent final project by following the same guidelines below shown in the photo.
Thursday Final Project Requirements
All Thursday, our class came in ready to work on their pieces. They all worked so incredibly hard, adding in the different techniques they had learned, as well as their own creative touch. Charlie and I were beyond blown away with what each student chose to draw, which technique(s) were used, and how they visualized it on their paper.
Our Students Final Project Drawings!!
Friday was the day! After a whole week of creatively working hard, our class was finally able to show off their talent. The class presented to the rest of their middle school groups showing what they had done all week and their final projects. Charlie and I could clearly see how proud our class was of their creations. Telling them to be careful when looking at their portfolios, and if they had any questions about who drew what and how, 'they should ask them and not pick up the artwork.' It was adorable. I know I was so proud of Charlie and my class. Felt like a proud momma duck and all her ducklings! haha.
It was by far my favorite week of teaching. Being in a classroom really makes me feel the most comfortable (weird since I used to love field teaching) and being able to teach art was such a great experience!
I know for my summer capstone (spoiler alert) I was able to join the Teton Expressions in Nature and Art! I can only imagine what you are thinking, of course, so perfect for theChristybel! But yes, being able to try out this elective week was such a great start to only how awesome this summer is going to be teaching art and natural history outside in the Tetons. And I can totally use this lesson plan that I used this past week and tweak/embellish it for the summer!
Pretty darn excited for summer and very, very, very! thankful to be done with my 5-week Winter Teaching Practicum!
Onto a Well-Deserved Spring Break!
TheChristyBel
Friday End of Week Gallery of all Three Techniques, Final Drawing Project, and their Portfolios
This week I was able to work with students that were coming from a place that is very near and dear to my heart, the EAST COAST! And to be more precise, about 45 minutes southeast of Newark, DE, in Bel Air, Maryland. It was really exciting to hear that the Teton Science Schools work with students not only visiting from the western states, but even the east coast.
Not going to lie, but why the heck did my schools when I was growing up ever consider these outdoorsy, nature experiences?!? Sure, Delaware Nature Society was awesome to go to for a week, but to go across country...wow!
Although, outside of teaching, this week was one of the most challenging experiences I've had out here: as far as getting work done for other classes, trying to balance some personal things, trying to visit with friends who were in town, as well as trying to separate my personal privacy and teaching lives, was incredibly hard. I definitely struggled a lot with this close-community lifestyle. Being on this campus, there is no boundary between your private life and your school/teaching life, even when you try to separate them, both will be intermixed whether you want it to happen or not.
But anyways, this blog is not for me to go and discuss things that are bothering me. This blog is solely to express highlights and the exciting challenges that have crossed my path while here in the west...so let's get back on track!
This past week, I was team teaching in the field with Heather, another fellow graduate student. I think this week was by far one of my favorite weeks teaching, despite it being crazy and stressful in other areas. Teaching this week was inspiring. I was really nervous to work with Heather, since she is incredibly energetic and silly - and I feel that I am no where near her level of excitement; but after the first day of just working on lesson plans together, I realized I can walk into our first program day with no worries. Then when teaching in the field with her, I felt as if we were very balanced as far as work load and worked off our strengths to help provide our students with positive experiences.
Snow Sculptures - Designing Your GYE Animal with Winter Adaptations
Not to mention the students we were working with this week were the best students we could have asked for. I mean, I would not expect anything less coming from the Mid-Atlantic! All of them were incredibly energetic, engaged, supportive of one another, and just positively awesome all around.
Exploring the Aspen Community - Frost Cracks & Other Markings
Our middle school students that we got to teach with this week were from about 45-minutes from Newark, Delaware!!!!!! From Bel Air, Maryland! This was beyond a treat for me. Being so stressed and exhausted, having a little bit of 'home' was something I needed and looked forward to while in the field. The students were incredibly engaged, supportive of their instructors and fellow peers, and just a positive and welcoming bunch of people to be in the field with! Plus, they were absolutely hilarious!
Kathryn Basking in the Beautiful View at Taggart Lake
I know I definitely bonded with them over their week here on the Kelly Campus and definitely could relate to their place back home, since many of the parks and places they talked about during conversations were really familiar for me. There were times where they would talk about a place that they enjoyed going to for hiking or climbing, and I would thinking in the back of my head, 'Yep, I know exactly where that is and I've definitely been there before!' I loved that connection and sense of familiarity from home; not to mention making those same feeling here with them in this place as well.
Heather & My Wonderful
'Beige Lightningy Womboing Fox-A-Saurus Rexes'
The students were so engaged and really into any of the activities and games we threw at them. Not to mention, the chaperones (one teacher from the Day School and a parent/board member of one of the visiting students and Day School) were so awesome! I love when chaperones and adults come to the school and fully support the instructor's vision of experience. I mean, we also enjoy feedback and suggestions as well, but these chaperones were just very trusting of us as instructors and valued any activity, game, discussion, and experience we had with their students. I really enjoyed chatting with them during and after program time - they gave great insight towards their students and the backgrounds each student had as well as insight regarding the independent school life of Harford Day. I may secretly want to move back to the East Coast and work at this school!!!! Ok, I definitely do! haha.
Hanging with the Elk on the Refuge
With Our Tour Guide, Justin, and His Awesome Cowboy Mustache
Willow Stewardship & Community Service
Our Students Rocking It at Cross-Country Skiing
Seeing many of these students thrive in the winter and the deep snow was really exciting. Since I come from the very same place that they are coming from, it was great and inspiring to see how well and how quick they adapted. They were like mini-role models for me.
Field Research Day - Testing Snow Density
I LOVE THESE STUDENTS FROM BEL AIR!
Addie Being Awesome
Playing Alaskan Baseball
Stranded in Jackson - Day Two
Visiting the National Elk Refuge & Grant Teton National Park Visitor Center
The one stressful, but yet beautiful part of this teaching experience with Harford Day School was that the day they were supposed to leave, they got snowed in and their flight was cancelled. The Tetons received this really big snow storm that caused many of the Kelly Campus and Grand Teton National Park roads to be completely shut down and closed until the snow and wind subsided.
On a side note, I was driving back from town the morning the students were supposed to leave and the snow drifts were so bad, that Little Blue (my car) drove and got stuck TWICE in really deep snow banks. I had to get a passing car to help tow me out TWICE. Then when I got to the pull out at the base of Ditch Creek Road, I had to evacuate my car and leave it there, since she could NOT drive back to campus with the paper-white views and building snow banks and really strong winds.
So, yea....crazy winter storm. Also, the Kelly Campus was having two new schools come in and we had no room for the students of Harford Day School to still be housed here. So, two of the grads (myself and Charlie) were asked to go to still oversee Harford as we moved them from the Kelly Campus to the Jackson Campus (for additional housing). Being off a program time and now into a facility rental time, Charlie and I entertained the students with two extra day and nights of some movie time, sightseeing around the town of Jackson and Miller Butte, attending the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and having community time on the JC. As much as the students were really homesick, they were incredibly positive and supportive to each other when we had to tell them not only once, but twice that their flights were delayed.
Stranded in Jackson - Day Three
About to Go Home With an Artistic Wrap-Up
Placed Their Pieces of Art Together!
But we found ways to keep them occupied and entertained. The one thing that Charlie and I did was have them make a communal drawing. Where each student was given a piece of an already made poster, and they were to recreate it in their own way - and by the end, they could place all the pieces together and make the overall drawing with each of their individual parts. The students did a beautiful job and wanted to donate this to the school in order to fundraise to help pay for the additional expenses that they spent during their extra days in the Tetons! Such an awesome team!
Best Group of Students to Be Stranded in Jackson With!
Forever in My Heart, Harford Day School
From Left to Right Top Row: Addie, Kathryn, Claire, Jenny, Hudson, Forrest, Hayes, Marc
From Left to Right Bottom Row: Abigail, Betsy, Kiersten, Lexi, Hudson, Abby, Mason, Erik, Mason
Best School Group Ever!
Love them to bits!
TheChristyBel
