Starko: Chapter 5

Thinking About the Classroom

“Pick an experience you usually take for granted – eating a favorite food, looking at a tree, listening to the sound of rain – and try to be more open to the experience. Use all the senses you can. Plan an activity for your students that allows them to do the same” (Starko, 2011, p. 99).

People can feel the seasons. The other day, I came home and wanted to watch HalloweenteenTown and carve pumpkins. It was a beautiful, fall day. The trees were bright and colorful. People have small traditions they do within their family during certain seasons, but with our busy lives, we usually do not take the time to do them. I was not able to carve pumpkins the other night, and I felt sad about it. For my students, I would plan a nature walk during the main seasons. After, I would give them a class period to be “open” with the experience. How does the season (fall, winter, or spring) make them feel? What experiences do they have during this time of year? For students who may not have great experiences during this season, I would take the time to help guide the students to create their own experiences. They do not have to be the same as their neighbor or mine. It can be as simple as snuggling a pillow on a cold, fall day. They have to write about their experience with their five senses in mind.