Step outside

We're back in the swing of things at CCHS! The start of my year tends to be swallowed by the mega English Skills module - a month-long class for new students at CCHS - so I try to mix in some fresh ideas for the modules I offer concurrently for our Old Dogs (returning students). 

This week, I offered an Outdoor Writing module. My goal: get students outside and reflecting on their relationship (or lack thereof) with nature.

​We read an analytical article about how kids these days aren't getting outside enough, and then I challenged the students with three creative writing prompts:

Write a free-form paragraph responding to the question, "what is your relationship with the outdoors?"

1. Go outside and find your 'happy spot'. Sit there for a bit and describe everything you see, hear, feel - using as descriptive language as you can think and incorporating specific literary devices
2. Take a photo that somehow represents each of the five senses. Then, write a 1-2 sentence caption that helps your audience experience the sense you are conveying through your photo

These prompts definitely pushed the students to think outside the box! Some responded with excitement, others with frustration at first - but the end results were pretty fun to read. 

​Here's a sampling of what students in the module wrote:

My relationship with the outdoors - by Sierra

As a kid, I remember spending an abundant time outside playing with my friends. We’d stay out, playing in the dirt until the sun went down and our mothers called us in. Growing up, nature wasn’t very fascinating to me anymore. I found myself inside, doing something more entertaining such as coloring and watching T.V. When you get older, things start to get boring, and I think that’s what happened to me. As I entered my teen years, I remember walking around town after a rainstorm with my friends. Whether it was to get hot chocolate or to start chaos at the park, I enjoyed the way the stars shined on our faces as the moon snuck out to say hello. Nowadays, the only time I notice myself going outside is when I take walks when I’m upset or feel like taking pictures of the beautiful scenery. All in all, I would say my relationship with nature has grown far apart, but I would like to change that soon. ​

Happy place - by Seth

With a swish and a swirl, my favorite place in nature is sitting near a dreamy stream of crystal clear water drops. Sitting near, I can feel the power vibrating the ground below me. The pop of millions of bubbles gasping for air as they rushed ruthlessly downstream. Big round rocks trying to fight the power of this whispering created by the splash and movement. The smell of musk mixed with a bit of fish when the gentle breeze carries the mist. The green giants surrounding, trying to quench their thirst from the sweet flowing water we all call the Arkansas River.

5 Senses (Cali) - by John