X-Ray Vision: Twenty-Five Minutes in the Life of a Playground

Yesterday was International Day of Radiology...otherwise known as "X-Ray Day." To celebrate, we talked about how x-rays have helped us learn more about anatomy and physiology, including as diagnostic instruments, and we looked at x-rays of the human skeleton, trying to identify the different bones and talking about their functions. The students had a lot of fun palpating the bones of their own bodies, and we shared "bone stories" related to mishaps that some of us have had the misfortune of experiencing!

We also wondered: who are we on the inside? What are our hopes, goals, wishes, fears, loves...everything nonmaterial that informs our identities? Students responded to this question by responding to the following sentence prompt:

Something about me that you can't see...
...is I am a great skier and I love my family and pets and I love fishing. 
...I love and I am good at dancing. 
...is that I love puppies and wolves, sharks, dolphins, cats, and stuff like that. 
...I've been to Germany 7 times. 
...I am smart, imaginative, and love to draw. 
...I want to be a doctor when I grow up. I wish I could fly. 
...is that I love puppies, and I'm afraid of spiders and "cheranchalas." (Isn't inventive spelling awesome?!)
...I used to live in Oregon. 
...I love ice-skating. 
...I have broken my arm. 
...is that I love soccer and gymnastics.
...I want to be a doctor. 
...is what I am thinking.  😀
...is that I am different. 
...that I love puppies. 
...is that I'm color blind and that I love sports and that I love football and that I love hockey. 
...is my brain and my bones. 
...is that I have Colitis. 
...is that I want to be a vet and I do not like elevators. 

Something that I know we all of care very much about, but that not all of us have the opportunity to observe, is the playground. What's happening at recess? What kind of learning is going on outside of the classroom? All sorts of things! Students are learning to problem solve, address conflict, negotiate relationships, cultivate empathy, develop friendships, demonstrate sportsmanship, and just let loose! Here's what I witnessed while on duty today...

Climbing on the structures!

Playing Four Square!

Eve's on her way to find her friends on the Lower Playground...

Playing Football

Hanging by the Tepee the kids made using leftover hay from the sukkah. 

Jumping with autumn joy!

Hanging out!

Rolling around in barrels...?!!

It is so wonderful to be able to share with you all of the fun and learning that you can't see in homework folders or discover at the end of the day in conversation with your children. Asking they what they do at recess and who they are playing with are always wonderful ways to gain insight into their life outside of the classroom!