Thumbs up! Ms. Kyles class divided into small groups and were given the instruction to arrange themselves by their thumbs. What? Yep. By their thumbs. After a few minutes to talk and come to an agreement about how they would do this, the students presented their "arrangement" by group.  A couple lined up according to length of thumb, one group divided into two because half their group had thumbs which curved at the end, while the others were straight. Another group looked at the lines on the top of their thumbs and still another considered the color of their nails.
     The students then sat down to talk about the process and make some observations about what it takes to have a successful group process.

1. Each person gets to talk.
2. Make sure everyone is invited to speak--invited SINCERELY.
3. Listen to everyone's ideas and include in discussion.
4. Explore ideas by looking at birthdays and seasons.
    (The class came up with these words to replace the traditional pros and cons. The offered words that had positive meanings and words represented change, rather than "bad." After a vote, the group chose birthdays and seasons.)

We'll continue to explore community agreements.

The students were then asked to examine their thumbs closely, from all angles, and do a quick sketch. A good writer takes notice very ACTIVELY. Lots of times, we assume we know something well, even something so close to us as our thumbs. The students looked at their thumbs and used their other senses as well. Even tasting!
Assignment: Pretend your thumb can speak. What story would it tell about you and what voice would it use to tell the story. Write a paragraph ( or more).
 
  Community is... a garden of friendship and power

 swaying across the soft and moist world.

Community is... a garden of friends,

Community is... a strong punch!

Community is... ants, helping anyone

and playing with family.

Community is... friendly, chocolate, cable

friends, smooth and sleep.

 

Community is... the favorite word

of Mr. Grimy who went to sleep

on a smushy electricity plant and

poured frappucino on his face.

Community is... playing in the garden.

Community is... chickens choke

Poseidon extra smooth in France.

Community is... sticky and people had to work hard.

But something working

in a community can be grimy but you do it anyway

to save the world.


Community is... smushy, soft dance, savers are people

such as spiderman.

Community is... hens in a coop that are laying eggs.

Community is... people helping France fly

frappucino and chocolate run!!!!

Community is... where Octopus chases Thor

to France with his strong power.

 

Community is... squishy and slimy

calming down with chocolate, grimy, frappucino

Community is... slimy chickens that Thor

smoothed out with a caffeine choked hawk

In the city while prancing open mushy chocolate

watching cable.

Community is... sticky electricity

swaying and bouncing towards the lumpy

Smushy city springing  toward the diving goo

with its grimy strut.

Community is... slimy caffeine

flying into chocolate that’s inside a frappucino.

 
Community is... diving with friends

Friends is also playing and dancing together.

Community is... a big garden, city, family, dancing

and playing together.

Community is... bumpy people eating chocolate in France.

 Community is... cars and flying, thanings

Ants, hawk.

Community is... play together

Doctor sway

Airy

The end.