My 5th Graders gave me a very important lesson on Community yesterday. We were listening to a popular radio station as they worked on their projects in Art. A positive pop song came on and each started simultaneously humming or softly singing to it. Before long, every student was happily singing outloud while working on their artwork.
So - what does this have to do with a sense of Community since each one was working alone?
They weren't:
- bored
- conducting the everly-lovely "it's mine" dance with one another over the tools
- off task
- being too silly or talkative
- looking around to see who was watching them sing
They all felt comfortable enough with one another to be their own individual selves and enjoy the moment while creatively engaging in conent. I don't know if that was a moment for any of them, but is sure was a big one for me.
I'd love to hear examples from you in which comfort, community, and content collide.
photo on flickr by D'Arcy Norman
Comments