For many years we have celebrated the Spring Equinox at school in a
creative way. I was lucky to work in a supportive environment that
allowed for loosely shaped ideas. During the first year we built a
large tower out of wrapping paper, toilet paper, and paper towel tubes.
Those were collected over a long period of time, sorted according to
size, and then put to use. Sixth grade students, I believe, sketched up
their ideas- we chose one plan - and went with it. All morning long,
groups of students arrived and used masking tape to put together
groupings of tubes. By the end of the day the tower was big, rather
precarious, but still standing. When I came in the next day, the tower
had collapsed. The newspaper was going to come and cover the story, but
the school secretary had told them not to come- that the tower had
failed.
This project was, in fact, a success. The materials were recycled, so the tape was the only expense. The school worked together to achieve one goal- kindergartners through twelfth graders! It was truly a student designed and built project- it was a departure from what was normally done during the school day- much fun was had -and no one hurt in the process.
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