Tuesday Fun Day!

Yesterday in class we played a bunch of in-class games.  Our main goal however was to concentrate on how to adapt the games to different populations and promote inclusion.  First off, our instructor and my class reminisced about the game Red Light, Green Light.  We talked about how it included everyone that participated in the game (promoting inclusion) and how we would be able to adapt the game to different populations.  Next, we did a class activity called The Train.  There were eight people split up into two lines of four.  The rest of the class would made the train noises as the train would try to get across to the other side of the room.  However, there were certain commands that the train would have to follow such as: switch (the first person of the train and the last would have to switch places), reverse (the train would have to go backwards), and the tunnel (everyone would have to close their eyes and go really slow).


Next it was time to break up into our own groups and make up a game that would promote inclusion and would be adaptive for any population.  Our group came up with the game called Captian's Coming.  This game would be easily adapted for any population and would promote inclusion. (See link below for directions on how to play the game).  Another game that was discussed was called Fish and Whales.  


The last thing that we were to do in class was that we were designated a certain population and we were to "mock" Project Runway.  My group had the population Alcoholism.  We decided for our clothing/accessory material we could make jewelry and shoes.  The main goals that we would work with this population would be anger management, social interaction, and sense of self-worth/accomplishment.  We were then told to use those same goals but for a completely different activity that our population could do and we chose baking desserts as a group project.


Captian's Coming Link
http://www.packresources.org.uk/games/captains.pdf

Creative Tuesday!

Last night's class was so much fun!  A few weeks ago our class was split into groups of six and were told to come up with a brief 25 minute activity to facilitate to the class.  Last night was the night to facilitate them and they were all so much fun! 

The first group that led the class off did an activity called Innovative Art.  Everyone got a blank sheet of white paper and got to choose what color paints they wanted.  The group also provided everyday objects that we could use to paint with.  There were so many creative pictures and ideas! 

The next group did Making Magical Music (Experimental Noise).  This had to be my favorite activity of the night!  The group had gathered random objects such as pots, pans, spoons, bracelets, etc. and in our groups we were supposed to make up a song that lasted about a minute.  It was a lot of fun combining all of the different objects together to make a song.  Everyone was very successful!  Some examples that were done was a version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Pledge of Alligience Remix.  

The next group that went was the group that I participated in.  Our activity was called Musical Expression Art.  We had six songs set aside all from different genres that we were going to play for our peers.  We each handed them a blank piece of white paper and markers.  We turned the lights out and played each song for roughly 2 minutes.  During these 2 minutes we instructed them to color whatever they were feeling during that time of the music that was playing.  After it was all done, we debriefed and tried to figure out what drawing went to what song.  It was really interesting to see everyone's expressions while drawing as well as what they had created in the end.

Another group did Chair Yoga.  The group had the class put the chairs into one big circle and they showed us certain poses that could be done with different types of populations.  It was very relaxing and soothing.  I could see how it could benefit anyone and everyone!  Below I posted a link to a website that has some of the poses that we did last night.

The last and final thing that we did last night was called the Egg Drop.  Each group was given an egg and received straws, a sheet of newspaper, and scotch tape.  We were instructed to protect the egg so when we went to the floor above us and dropped it, the egg would not crack.  To say the least, our group's egg got SCRAMBLED.

Making Magical Music

Making Magical Music

Innovative Art

Innovative Art

Egg Drop

Egg Drop

Egg Drop

Egg Drop

Chair Yoga
http://www.livingwordsofwisdom.com/chair-yoga.html

Wings - Technology Center

This past Tuesday in class we went to the Wings - Technology Center on campus.  One of the librarians that works at Murphy Library (library on campus) came to talk to us about how to search for scholary articles within the Murphy Library search engines on our school website.  She taught us how to type certain words and symbols so that we could reach the most results possible.  I never knew there was even such a thing!  This presentation is supposed to help us get ready for a paper that we are going to have to be doing in a few months and after the librarian was done talking, I feel a lot better about finding my way around the search engine to find great articles for my paper.

Although the librarian was there for only 50 minutes, I learned a lot of information that will stick with me forever.  She was very helpful and she expressed that if we needed help we could come and ask her.  I always hestitate to ask for help but during those 50 minutes I learned that it is okay to ask for help and in return you will get all of the results possible out there.

Tape Art

Tuesday's class was really exciting!  We worked with tape art!  I wasn't sure what tape art exactly was nor the whole class knew what it was so I will explain it a little bit.  Tape art is an innovative way of expressing oneself and having fun while doing it.  It is considered to be a collaborative actvity which encourages peer support, promotes interperonsal problem-solving, reduces anxiety related to trying a new skill, and appropriately addresses clients with diverse skill levels.  Our instructor broke us up into groups and assigned us a population of people that we could do tape art with.  My group was assigned youth at risk.  Some things that we discussed that would be needed to take into consideration working with youth at risk and doing this activity would be allergies, objects being used, and make sure you told them what would be appropriate and what wouldn't be.  Below are some pictures of the tape art that we did in class.  The first link below shows another way of doing tape art and the second link actually shows you how you can create your own tape art.

Dinosaur reading a book on a rocking chair

"Light at the end of the tunnel" for addictions/alcoholism

Youth at Risk - Express yourself

Re-creation of the movie "Up"

http://tapeart.com/new/
http://tapesculpture.org/