The Growth of A City

This week was a big week - we had lots going on! We started the week with disability day. The boys had the opportunity to experience 5 different disabilities including: moving using a wheelchair, vision impairment, hearing impairment, using only one arm and loss of the ability to feel with their hands. They were good sports, even when they felt extremely frustrated by one of the disabilities. Although the wheelchairs were popular, they soon realized just how hard it is to move in a world designed for upright people. Many of the boys made the connection that someone who is confined to a wheelchair would need really strong arms and shoulders.
On Thursday we visited Oak Bay Recreation Centre. We were taken on a tour to look for ways the Rec. Centre accommodates diversity. The boys pencils were bursting with writing as they attempted to track accommodations ranging from ramps, wispa lifts, railings, parking, classes for all ages, age and gender specific change rooms, and more. Collectively we came up with a list of 17 different ways the Rec. Centre meets the needs of its clients. While we were there, we saw just how diverse the clients are. We observed a blind man, an elderly woman in a walker, young families, a senior aqua fit class, and young men playing hockey. A highlight of the trip was when John got to demonstrate the wispa lift. We all oooh'd and ahhh'd as John was lifted up over the water. John laughed and said he felt like he was being raised up to heaven. For someone in a wheelchair, I'm sure that wispa lift must feel the same as it enables them to go into the water and have a nice dip!
The city of "Glenboxen" is now complete. On Friday, the boys added their final buildings and also had the idea that it needed a power grid and rapid transit. Please do come in to see it this week, as it will be taken down on Friday after school. The boys used tape to create both the electrical lines and the rapid transit. Strips of tape representing electricity have small balls of black play dough along them. The rapid transit lines have small rail cars on them. Lots of really amazing thinking, planning, team work and implementing have gone into building "Glenboxen" and the boys are SO proud of it!
This week we will begin to wrap up our inquiry into diversity. The boys have learned quite a lot and I am so pleased with the growth that all of them have shown in just 5 weeks!
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am so very grateful to have the wonderful job of being a teacher. It is a real privilege to spend my days with your amazing boys!