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Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #9
1/6/10 9:46-10:04
LUHS
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #9
1/6/10 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (S) 2, (Jr.) 15, (Sr.)5
ILI Staff: Ernie St. Germaine and Craig Kerr
We welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming. Then we jumped right into the activities. The students requested that they start with “elbow tag.” It was a great way to start our session and it was immediately apparent that the students thought so too. The students were all smiles and the laughter was contagious. As a twist was added the enjoyment of the activity increased! The students loved this activity. Next we went to “got your back.” This activity involves clothes pins. You are trying to get as many clothes pins as you can from other people’ backs without your pins being taken. When you either take a clothes pin or have one taken you have to sit down and learn something about the other person. This is a great activity to get to know others without the awkward introductions and figuring out how to get a conversation started. It was great and the students were breathless after the activity. Finally, we did on final activity called “toilet tag.” When tagged you have to sit on one knee with one arm up parallel to the floor. To get unstuck, another player has to come by you and sit on your knee and make a flushing motion with your arm (pushing it to the floor). The students really engaged in this activity and the smiles and laughter were seen and heard on all of the students. What a wonderful sight and sound. The bell rang and the students gathered their things to go to their classes, you could feel the difference of emotion and energy that came into the room at the beginning to what was now leaving. This feeling is very hard to explain, but is very evident. Both the staff noticed and commented on it as they were leaving.
Next meeting 1/20/10
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #8
12/16/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (F) 4, (S) 7, (Jr.) 9, (Sr.) 5l
ILI Staff: Ernie St. Germaine, Craig Kerr, and Matt White
We welcomed the students and got right into the activities. The holidays bring a number of different emotions with it for the students. To some it brings excitement and anticipation and to others a feeling of dread begins to build as the break nears. So, in order to bring joy and expel some anxiety we chose to have a session full of activities today. The first one was “Triangle Tag.” This is a fun and energetic activity that requires teamwork and agility. Many of the groups were having a great time with this activity and one was even improvising its tactics to keep there “chosen” safe. It was great to see the smiles, joy, and ingenuity!
The second activity was “Jolly Green Giant.” The students all really like this activity as they try to get from one side to the other without getting “caught.” It is a simple activity with many positive outcomes.
The final activity we did was an old school (for them) activity called “Captain Says.” We did this in order to bring back a little bit of childhood for the students. They all enjoyed the opportunity to form groups, compete, share, and play. It is very important that we understand the value of play and its healing qualities and developmental importance, even in adolescence.
Next meeting 1/5/2010
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Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #7
12/6/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (S) 1, (Jr) 14, (Sr) 2
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Matt White
Craig started with a welcome that included a thank you to all of the students for the work that they make happen by participating and caring. He also made sure they heard that they are important. Then Craig passed out a survey for the students to complete for the yearbook, and will hopefully be a help to the yearbook team.
With about 10 minutes left, everyone got up and participated in a activity called “Mushrooms”. It is an old favorite that we have not “active-ated” this year. It is an activity that uses a ball to “Tag” people who then have to sit down. However, there are ways to get back into the activity, and the students try very hard to get back in. Then, as it progresses it requires people to team up and work together. The students always have a great time doing it and getting a chance to move around. Seeing the student’s joy, kind treatment of each other and problem solving is a very encouraging sight.
Next Meeting Dec. 16
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Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #6
11/18/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (F) 3, (S) 4, (Jr.) 10, (Sr.) 7
ILI Staff: Ernie St.
Germaine and Craig Kerr
We welcomed everyone and thanked them for
choosing to come to ILI today. Craig then
talked about the “MIX IT UP!” day we are having at lunch today. It
is a national program through Teaching Tolerance. The concept is that you step
out of your comfort zone and sit at a different lunch table to meet new
people. It is a great way to bring different students together. Thank you to
Mr. Nielsen (the lunch guy) and Mr. Mestelle for heading up this effort!
ILI
staff received a gift just before the session and we wanted to use it right
away. The gift was a “Thumb Ball.” It is a small soft soccer ball
that has questions on each panel. The idea is that you toss the ball to
someone and they answer the question on the panel that is closest to their
thumb. We did this to start off our time together. It was fun and a good way
to continue to get to know one another.
Next the After School Leadership Students
(ASL) students facilitated “Name, Name, Goose.” This is an
activity where instead of saying “Duck” to a person you actually
say their name as you go around the circle. There are different students each
time we meet, so we are still trying to get each other’s names. The
students did a great job facilitating the activity and there was a lot of fun
learning going on.
Next meeting December 2.
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #5
11/4/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (F) 4, (S) 6, (Jr.) 1, (Sr.) 3
ILI Staff: Matt White and Craig Kerr
Marshfield Americorps Staff: Karen Palmquist
We had a small group of students today because of the ASVAB test for juniors this morning, and because of the test there were no bells or announcements.
We all gathered in a circle and Craig welcomed everyone. He then explained that he was going to ask the students some questions regarding their views about what youth in the community think about and do concerning alcohol use.
The questionnaire came from the Marshfield Clinic Northwood’s Coalition. The students were quite insightful in the areas of the availability, ease of attainability, ease of keeping use from adults, disapproval of adults with teen use, associated risks of teen use, and their opinions of the seriousness of the problem.
Due to the nature of our conversation, I cannot put specific quotes in this report.
Next meeting Nov. 18.
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #4
10/21/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (S) 2, (Jr.) 10, (Sr.) 6
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr
Craig welcomed the group and let them know we are thankful that they chose to come to ILI today. He asked them if they would like a more subdued experience or more active. The majority chose active. So, we got right into it.
We started with an ILI classic “Mosquito Tag”. The students really enjoyed this activity and we did several rounds. The students have very little opportunity to be active during the school day. We feel it is important that they have the opportunity to be active, as it has been shown to help with academics[1].
The next activity we did does not have a name (name ball tag..maybe?). It involves calling out a person’s name and tossing them the ball; a person in the middle trying to tag the person that caught the ball before they can call out another person’s name and toss them the ball (sorry to all the English teachers out there reading this super run-on sentence L). The students are still getting to know each other’s names. At the beginning of the activity it was great to see the students introducing themselves and learning the name’s of the students they did not know. This is a fun and active way to reinforce the names they are learning.
Finally, we ended with a few rounds of “Jolly Green Giant.” It was great to watch the strategies of some of the students as the tried to get through with out getting stuck. The time was up and all the students left smiling and feeling good.
Next meeting November 4th.
[1]
http://www.johnratey.com/Articles/Exercise_Seen_as_Priming_Pump_for_Students_Academic_Strides.pdf
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=10129
http://education.vermont.gov/new/pdfdoc/pgm_physical_activity/activity_cognition_research.pdf
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #3
10/7/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (F) 3, (S) 7, (Jr.) 13, (Sr.) 2
Special Guest: Gail Kerr
ILI Staff: Matt White, Ernie St. Germaine, and Craig Kerr
We had a lively group today. When the bell rang, Craig asked the students to line up for a picture from guest photographer, Gail Kerr (Craig’s mom visiting from Florida). We took the picture and asked everyone to sit in a circle. We welcomed them and let them know that they are important to us and what we are trying to do.
Craig introduced a new activity that involves putting clothes pins on your back. When the word “GO!” is heard participants try and take the clothes pin off each other’s back. If you either take a clothes pin or have one taken off of you, the two people (the taker and the taken from) sit and learn one thing about each other. When you have learned about each other, they are back into the activity. This is a fun, interactive, and active way to get to know new people and learn something about them and the people you already know. We took time to ask the students what they learned. It was interesting to see what they had learned about one another.
This group is still getting to get to know one another as they were in different groups last year.
Next meeting October 21.
Special Guest: Gail Kerr
ILI Staff: Matt White, Ernie St. Germaine, and Craig Kerr
We had a lively group today. When the bell rang, Craig asked the students to line up for a picture from guest photographer, Gail Kerr (Craig’s mom visiting from Florida). We took the picture and asked everyone to sit in a circle. We welcomed them and let them know that they are important to us and what we are trying to do.
Craig introduced a new activity that involves putting clothes pins on your back. When the word “GO!” is heard participants try and take the clothes pin off each other’s back. If you either take a clothes pin or have one taken off of you, the two people (the taker and the taken from) sit and learn one thing about each other. When you have learned about each other, they are back into the activity. This is a fun, interactive, and active way to get to know new people and learn something about them and the people you already know. We took time to ask the students what they learned. It was interesting to see what they had learned about one another.
This group is still getting to get to know one another as they were in different groups last year.
Next meeting October 21.
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #2
9/30/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (S) 5, (Jr.) 14, (Sr.) 5
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr and Matt White
We started by welcoming all of the students and explained to them when they would be mentoring the 6th and 7th grade students. They were disappointed that they would have to wait so long to get to mentor the students.
These students are still getting to know one another so we did an activity that involves calling out someone’s name clapping and then going to take their spot in the circle. As the names are passed around the circle, the students are rearranged. This is a really fun activity where students can get to know each other’s name. As they get the hang of the activity, we add another rotation of names. As you add rotations it gets really fun and there are many students moving around our circle.
We ended with an activity that is a favorite with the students that allows them the opportunity to be physically active and connect with people around the circle. The students are getting more and more comfortable with each other each session.
Next meeting Oct. 7
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2009-2010
Junior/Senior Activity Period #1
9/16/09 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (S) 3 (Jr.) 12, (Sr.) 8
ILI Staff: Matt White and Craig Kerr
Today was the first day that these students met for activity period. They were all very excited to be there and were ready to get started. Craig welcomed everyone and made a few announcements. After the announcements we began our activities.
This years juniors were not paired with this years seniors last year (We meet Freshmen/Sophomore and Junior/Senior) so some of them do not really know each other. So we focused on activities that helped the students to get comfortable with one another and begin to get to know one another.
Many of these students look forward to their time in ILI. In ILI we try and get the students comfortable with stepping outside their comfort zones. However, as we all know, if we get out of practice of pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone, it becomes harder. Some of the students today stepped right out of their comfort zones and others found it harder. In the work that we do with the students, it is important that we meet with them often and keep helping them explore relationships and experiences outside their comfort zone.
Two students stood out to me as they were happy to see one another. They do not see much of each other and they partnered together and were grateful for the opportunity to interact. This may seem small, but the picture of them connecting with someone who is not in their immediate circle of friends, is the picture we are hoping to paint.
Next meeting is 9/30/09