Task:
You
must create yourself three juggling balls and learn to juggle them. Performances
will be held at the front of the class in groups of 5 to reduce any stress or
apprehension that you might feel. You have seven days until the performance.
NB The classroom teacher WILL / MUST demonstrate being a lifelong learner and
work on their juggling and do a solo performance in front of the class or full
school assembly. I find the kids love it if you drop them a couple of times like
you really have no idea and then when you get into a rhythm start humming circus
music. Believe me, the parents hear about what you've been up to in class that
day :)
Discussion:
- How will you
find out how to make juggling balls?
- where
would be the most appropriate place to look?
- what
search terms might you use in a search engine?
- I
find ones made with balloons and rice really good
- cut
the top off a PET bottle and use it as a funnel to get the rice into the balloon.
- 4
balloons for each ball saves getting the cleaners off side :)
-
An activity like this lends itself well to discussions on:
- failure
and success
- giving
up too early and what that may lead to
- strategies
for success
- that
failure in many people increases their desire to succeed
- internal
satisfaction we experience when we succeed or learn a new skill.
Interesting
Observation:
-
This is usually the first homework task I set for a new class and I'd say I've
probably set it with about 8 of my classes. If you choose to use it be prepared
for some very interesting responses ranging from 'Why the heck are you doing that?'
'It's too hard for them' to 'My mum is an occupational therapist and she likes
you already because you are doing left brain / right brain stuff with us so you
must know what you are on about' lol
Research:
Here's
an article on the benefits of juggling
for just a little light reading.
Here
is a simple site with tips and tricks and a few little movies on juggling.
