Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
The project
I’ve been absent the past few days because Jake had a MAJOR PROJECT! for Theology. As in, THIS WILL BE A HUUUUGE PART OF YOUR GRADE so you had better not turn in crap. The task: answer ten rather personal questions and illustrate your answers. The questions ranged from, “Something that really irritates me is . . .” and “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is . . .” to “An experience which brought me closer to God is . . .” For the last question, my little atheist was allowed to explain why he was an atheist. He designed a page with planets and a teapot, and included the infamous Russell’s Teapot quote. I’m sure this will endear him to his Theology teacher.
We went a little crazy with the project, including some origami, a pop-up of Stephen Colbert at his desk (“Something that makes me laugh is . . .”), and working toothed gears (don’t ask). But I figure Jake is competing against kids whose mothers are scrapbookers. Hey, if I could have gotten my sister the rubber stamp fanatic involved, Jake’s project would have been amazing. And creativity is half the grade.
The name of the game is introspection, I suppose, and one question which gave him fits was, “When I’m older, I want to be . . .” Thing is, Jake doesn’t know what he wants to be, so I asked him to think about what he wants from himself as an adult. I asked him, “What would you need from yourself and from life to not feel disappointed?” I think it’s an important question. I wish someone had asked me that question. Not that I’m disappointed, but thinking about it might have saved me a few missteps along the way.
I don’t think he liked my question. Instead, he listed some of the features of what he would consider a good career: primarily, well paying and adequate free time. I’m not sure he realizes yet the importance of intellectual stimulation; perhaps he figures that’s what free time is for. But I don’t care how much free time you have — if your 8 hours on the job is mind-numbingly repetitive, you’re not going to be happy.
So, yes, he listed SOME of the features of a good job. We couldn’t figure out how to illustrate, “Cannot be outsourced.”
D.
What a great assignment and one I never would have thought would be given in a theology class. And yes, had I been there to help with the creativity part, the result would have been a kick ass project. Even so, I’m sure Jake’s product will raise his teacher’s brows.
Popup Stephen Colbert? Are there pictures of this assignment? Will you please post them.
How come I never got assignments like that when I was in school?
Kate: I’ll take some photos when he gets it back. I thought the popup Colbert was a pretty decent idea; Jake said no one else thought to do a pop-up, although one kid did do all of his pages on paper plates.
Dean: because your teachers weren’t cool?