Acorn & Rose: True Doings

On Friday I was so proud of my kids doing everything like little experts. While I snipped out pieces of leather and showed different types of hole punching and needles, there was a lot more going on in the art room. Just like in Finland (which has the highest rating on the planet for success in education) third to sixth graders were working on their own with some really hefty challenges. It's the type of hands-on, self-determined work that has been missing from American schools for a long time. But here at Phoenix was a true workshop - different individuals on different projects - whittling, wood-burning, designing, and two of the boys drawing gorgeous big chalk landscapes out of their own imaginations.

Owen and his tiny person

In other sessions during the week, fifth and sixth graders started learning about Greek art, architecture, and music (they are not too crazy about any of it yet) but were mystified by this combination of the Temple at Delphi and the path of the sun throughout a year, called an Analemma:

We talked about centaurs, Amazon women, the golden mean and the amazing dramas of Greek mythology. There is so much to explore, but so far it's foreign and faraway to them. They listened to music made with a Greek lyre (which they considered boring) and wondered about the possibilities of centaurs and fauns. Over the next few weeks I expect they are going to time travel back to that world far away - and get really inspired.