Entry 9 - Learning Through Activism

I decided to draw a picture of two students running the Voter Registration Drive table. I imagined it in front of a store, more specifically a grocery store. As I was reading this chapter, I thought about the scouts that usually go to sell cookies in front of stores. Sometimes people see them and decide to ignore them as if they did not realize they were there. In this chapter the students along with their teacher chose to be active and encourage adults to vote. I am sure they had adults completely ignore them, but they continued to push through. I liked the quote, “Fear paralyzes, but hope inspires action” (Cowhey, 2006, pg 102). In my picture I made the students look happy. I did this because they understand the reason behind why they are there. They understand that it is important for adults to vote and make their voice heard. They also understand that even though they are kids they still have a voice that deserves to be heard. If fear had paralyzed them, they would have looked confused and most likely decide to leave. As teachers it is important that we encourage and pour hope into our students so that they have the confidence to act. We want them to try things out for themselves so that they form their own thinking and opinions based on their experience in the world.

Entry 8 - A Small-World Approach

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat

I thought about this painting when I read this article. Fertig and Silverman (2007) mentioned in the lesson that the students went to four places then discussed the people and activities they saw. In this painting I feel it represents what we can see in our everyday which is different ages and activities happening around us. There are men, women, children of different ages, people having a picnic, those who are alone, and there are even pets in the park. I think that by having a park most students can make a connection of themselves in that environment. If I were to do this lesson I would start with this painting and ask for my students to write a list of what they see. Then next to that list write what they typically do or see if they are in a similar environment. After we would talk and compare our two lists that were made. They may notice that they do not see very much so they need to become more aware of their surroundings. They may also see how they are just like the people in the painting who reflect a community relaxing together on a beautiful day.