April 12, 2015
Every Middle School student ranked their preferences and participated in one full school day of educational experiences in the community! We called it a Middle School Mini-Mester and it took place the day before Spring Break. Below are some highlights of each adventure:
From “A Day in the Life of a College Kid” – Waiting for the campus bus.
Fitness, Food, & Fun
This all-girl group of mixed grades began their day with a smoothie, cereal, and scrambled egg- whites for breakfast at TDS. They went to Fitness World and were instructed on the process and health benefits of spinning, which was followed by an intense, but very fun, hour-long spin class. After our workout we headed over to the Cheesecake Factory for a well-deserved healthy lunch. The day wrapped up back at school with a 30 minute meditation activity.
Wilderness Skills
Despite the rain, this group was able to stay mostly warm and dry by taking shelter in a log cabin and a picnic shelter at the Eno. They learned how to make a compass using a sewing needle, how to start a fire without a match, how to dispose of waste properly in the forest, and how to cook over a fire. They ate a picnic lunch of hot dogs, beans, and smores. Students played “Mafia” while hanging out in the cabin, and then they went for a fun bushwhacking hike through the woods.
A Day in the Life of a College Kid
This group did a lot of walking around a wet UNC campus! Some highlights of this trip were: Students learned about planets and constellations in our North Carolina nighttime sky. They took an in depth look at European, African, and Japanese Art at the Ackland. Candy exchange during a personal economics class taught students the basis of trade, satisfaction, and opportunity cost. A buffet lunch in a dining hall was positively overwhelming; there were so many choices! A whole museum just for UNC basketball!!
All Things North Carolina
Rain could not deter the “All Things North Carolina” group from having a great time in the Capitol Area! Amidst the raindrops and downpours, the group experienced life at the General Assembly, awed at the beautiful Capitol Building, and immersed themselves in the NC history and science museums. Admittedly though, the best part was a stop at Krispy Kreme!
A Mini-Odyssey
Eleven students tried their hand at solving past Odyssey of the Mind long-term problems. Three teams found creative ways to produce a “chameleon vehicle”, which had to change its appearance (and that of its occupants!) as it moved from environment to environment. They were also challenged to build the proverbial better mouse trap and triumph over a pest of their choosing. A trip to the Durham Scrap Exchange, any found items, and their own ingenuity were the only tools available to the students, but it turned out that was more than enough to get them from, “This is impossible!” to some quite ingenious solutions in short order. The chameleon “swag boat” showing its crimson side in the Red Sea, the sock puppet theater, and our poor ostrich trapped in a medieval joust will not soon be forgotten.
What a fun and tiring way to spend a day before a restful Spring Break!
