Cracking Nuts

I am using this post to collate responses to a training session I ran with our TDU (trans-disciplinary units) teachers, which modelled using a personal artifact as a starting point for enquiry.

We started off by examining our emotional responses to the object (yellow), then described it (orange) and asked questions of it (blue).

Teachers have now began some exploratory initial research to answer some of these questions and uncover narratives and facts associated with the object or objects like it.

This is a very similar process to one that I underwent (using a mincer) on a recent masters unit at the University of Bristol ran by Ruth Deakin-Crick and Martin Sandbrook.  It is also a process that we intend to roll out with students in Year 8 after Easter using their own artifacts.

I will continue to update the space below with staff responses, and then model the next steps in the process. Though I am reticent to use the word steps as the process can and possibly should be very organic and emergent so sequential chronology is not neccessarily concrete, especially for more able users.

Nutcracker poem

Bernt's nutcracker

Cracked Nuts - Orange Pants

The Nutcracker Ballet