Snow Daze

This year has had a few days when buses have been canceled.  The weather has made the highways up above the Park to be pretty brutal.  Today, unfortunately, was one of those days. (I know what you're thinking, it's April 30th!).  And today, like our other snow days, I put on a movie for the grade 8's because there is really no sense in moving forward without about 60% of the class.

At the end of the day, we ended up playing a jeopardy quiz game as classes were shuffled around because out of town teachers left early due to road conditions.  This is what has led me to rethink the use of snow days.

1. Unfinished Business - If students have work that is incomplete for you (or any other class really), it only makes sense that this time is put to good use by getting work done.

2. Inquiry Days - This is what I might be trying tomorrow (weather-dependent).

Use the time to look into something interesting!  This can be done in groups or individually - totally up to the kids and what they will be investigating.  What will the day look like? (It really all depends on your schedule but it's really up to you).

     A. Getting Started - Kids can choose anything they are interested in. But this needs to have a little
          structure so they need to plan with the end in mind. 
          Questions for students to answer/define:

• What am I going to learn about today?
• What am I going to have at the end of the day to demonstrate my learning?
• How am I going to do this?
• What am I going to need to learn about this? (computer, supplies for testing ideas/building, etc.)

     B. Get'er Done - You may need some help in getting everything you need and supervising the kids as
          they go a million different directions.  But if you and the kids keep the material from part A on
          hand, this will help you redirect them if they get off-track/off-task.

     C. Put Yourself Out There - You need some drive to these projects or they will lose speed - "What's
          the point?"  These projects would not necessarily be for marks, as you are missing a number of
          kids (although I can definitely see how I would work this into the science curriculum).  I think that
          having some sort of sharing opportunity for the kids would be the best end result.  Kids teaching
          kids (and me).  That is what I am leaning toward - it will look different based on the end product
          that the kids choose.