Well, I got behind in my documentation but we have been very busy!
Week 6 was spent getting all the groups onto the same page, as some classes were behind due to field trips. So we finished up earthquake material with them and the other classes got to review.
Week 7 was dedicated to material based on the baseball stadium that was constructed in 1907 on Valencia Street between 14th and 15th Streets, Recreation Park. We had the kids work collaboratively in pairs or trios to generate this movement, with the one rule that everything had to be in slow motion. They had a blast. Lots of collisions in the outfield and sliding under tags. One beautiful sequence made by some 4th graders is a canon of swinging motions capped by an umpire signaling safe.
Week 8 we put it all together, having groups perform their material simultaneously. I was hoping to alternate between them, so that each group could be featured, but they've made too much movement for this! It would take far too long, so each class (and all of 5th grade) is performing their work simultaneously. It works better for some sections than others.
I still wish I could have sited this in a more interesting way but in order for them to witness one another's work -- which I felt was important -- we will have them cycling through the performing area of the yard and then sitting and watching. In my head, though, I have them distributed throughout the yard, popping up unexpectedly to embody Mission Creek, the San Jose - San Francisco train line, Woodward's Garden, the 1906 earthquake, Recreation Park and their own, present day favorite locations in the school. Just like memories.
