Day 3, July 16, 2008

Parents,

Another better day for our kids and staff. I think we are finally getting into our groove. Our kids were at the dig site, out interviewing people on campus,taking photographs, in the chemistry lab and a few were at the bone lab washing artifacts. Tonight students will be debating between being pro-stadium construction or anti- construction.

Teaching Pedagogy, Chief Delehanty:

Keep up the great work everyone. This is a unique educational experience our students will never forget. Remember, our camp may be difficult for them and THAT'S GOOD. The first time you run a mile, it's hard. The first time you learn on a college campus, it can be tough, especially when you're 13-14 years old. Encourage them best you can, and if they express that an assignment is tough, agree with them, because it's supposed to be. Our kids our the best and we expect the best.

Research and Rhetoric, Chief Harrigan:

I just want to say that I was extremely proud of the work that was done today in the interviews. In those I had the opportunity to observe, interviewers did a fabulous job establishing rapport with each interviewee - they professionally introduced themselves upon arrival and kindly thanked stakeholders for their time and perspective when leaving. Their questions were intelligent, well-organized, and clearly articulated. They also provided evidence of effective impromptu speaking – thinking and speaking “on their feet!” Moreover, the notetakers worked very hard to capture the essences of each interview. As Chief D said, they are the best!

Graphic Documentation, Chief Kirk:

And hello from Chief Kirk/Jo (entry Wed 12.45 pm): division of classes working very smoothly, thank you all! and notwithstanding the relocation of Cedar's photography from the site to a lounge location in Milne Library. All classes, including Cedar, did a review of yesterday's discussion of subject and composition (including distance, angle, light, etc) with reference to photo planning and logging. Students began listing photos they plan to take when at the site, and we also had them practice photo shots and log entries, according to the form provided by Chief Krumrine. (Each pair of subgroups will have one camera and one photo log at the site, latter to record date, photographer, subject/view and photo#). Important concepts/terms include: subject, composition, view (perspective/angle, as well as cardinal directions and distance from marker points), portrait, landscape, macro mode, and notion of graphic documentation of the location, process and findings of the excavation, to use in the closing presentation, museum display and for permanent historical record.

Excavation, Chief Krumrine:

Today was our first true excavation day. The morning thunderstorm during the Tangerine class threw us off a bit, but they seemed okay with looking at the stuff in the arch and bone labs. It's good that they were able to wash their artifacts from Monday- I told them that they could use them in their museum displays. Maybe the other groups can use part of an open lab class to wash theirs (and Tangerine will have to wash the ones they find at the real site)- I really hope we don't get stormed out again. In case I forgot to mention this to one of the groups, we're going to have a contest to name the site. Each team, maybe during headquarters if there's time, can brainstorm names and come up with one choice to represent their team. Once we get the four names (maybe by Friday), we'll have everyone vote, including counselors and faculty, to decide (the students won't be able to vote for their own or their vote is disqualified). We could announce the contest winner during the field trip on Monday. How does that sound?


Chemical Archaeology, Chief Helms:

Another successful lab today. We did soil typing and pH. The kids did very well again and had fun getting their hands dirty!

It's really important that the kids bring their folders and notebooks to lab. Each day we do a variety of worksheets they need to keep and without their folders they are losing their papers. Notebooks are also essential. They need to be taking notes in them to use at the dig site. Today we had them tape a soil typing triangle into their notebooks and those that didn't have them couldn't do it.

We did have a very rowdy group after lunch. I think this was mainly due to the amount of sugar and caffeine the kids are drinking at lunch. One student told me he had 4 cups of hot chocolate at lunch. We really need to watch the kids and limit the amount of sugar and especially caffeine they are drinking.

As a whole we had another great lab day. Nothing got broken today because everything we used was plastic ;)


My best regards to all the RYSAG parents,

Susan