Working Wednesday - Sept. 21, ALA

The two days leading up to this event, as well as the wek previous, the students had been working on an activity that they have all done before. They worked on creating an interesting chain reaction out of familiar materials (see Saafir's entry about materials.) We created some specific spaces for them to work within so they could get used to what the space was going to be when we got on the museum floor. Each student was given a square about 3 feet by 4 feet to work in while we practiced at the ALA, and the squares taped off on the museum floor were about 4x4. We ran numerous challenges with them using different materials to give them some reminder experience on having limitations on time and the materials themselves because of the mindfest constraints of the same. They were instructed to create within their own square something out of very few materials, and then find ways to connect it with the next person's creation. There are pictures of this taking place within this blog (see below.)
The next day (Tuesday the 20th) the students were encouraged to create their own challenges for each other in an attempt to give them some quick experience on how to come up with ways to include visitors quickly in the activity. We had them write down their ideas and then i picked a few out of a hat for us to try. The group was completely engaged the entire time, and I couldn't wait for wednesday to come so we could try this on the floor.

MUSEUM DAY - SEPT. 21

The area in the hands on science room in the back was set aside for the chain reaction activity from 10:45 - 12:45 on wednesday. There were 8 squares taped off with arrows on the floor indicating the direction of the giant chain reaction to be created. [ Side note - this particular activity taking place during mindfest will give a wonderful creative outlet for many visitors - it will serve as a constantly fluxuating piece of moving art that also happens to incorporate ideas from physics and engineering as well!!] The students were given the floor space with different materials to use (K'nex, Wood Block Dominoes, balloons, tape, tape rolls, string) and the instruction of the day to them was to find a way to encourage visitors to not only come and create a chain reaction with them, but to eventually create something that would connect with the person's square next to theirs. One long chain reaction was the ultimate goal for the activity, with goals of engaging visitors with new ideas and giving them an interesting and educational experience also a part of the day. Many of the students did a great job building and interacting with people during the allotted time - Wesley, Lauren, and Eddie being standouts becuase of how Lauren interacted one on one with some of the smaller children, Wesley and eddie because of their attempts and abilities to work with larger groups of people all at one time. Joey and David and Leland all had some great creations that some visitors helped them build, and when the challenge time was up we had a room full of people waiting anxiously to see what would happen!! (that was incredible to see so many people there just having so much fun!!) When the chain was set off, there were problems with the final run, but the construction was such a success! The students did a great job of helping the public out with this activity and then we had a debriefing time afterwards. The details of the debrief are posted in a separate entry.