Flat Gabriel and a huge body project...

I don't remember a lot about second grade.  I know its been a few years, but even when I try to recall what we did in second grade, I can't remember too much more than the name of my teachers.  There is one other thing I remember, I don't ever remember doing the type of projects Gabriel has been doing in second grade.

In the last two weeks he's come home with some projects that make me wonder if he is in second grade or fifth grade.  Take for example the body project that I never thought we'd finish.  It started with him coming home with a piece of butcher paper as long as he is tall.  We were instructed to outline his body and then add all the necessary organs and body parts making sure they were colored nicely and labeled appropriately.

 Just glancing at the pictures of organs that needed to be identified, it didn't take me two seconds to know we'd be Googling a lot of body parts information.  And so that's what we did.  When that project was well underway, we started the second part of Gabriel's project.  The project that reminded me of my graduate school experience.... research.  Gabriel had to conduct research from at least 5 different sources that all explained how the respiratory system works, what other systems it interacts with in the body (and how) and what we can do to keep our respiratory system in top working order.  Keep in mind, all of the sources had to be in terms a 2nd grader would understand.  That my friends is challenging.  While Gabriel researched day after day, I encouraged him to take notes so that the third part of the four part project would be easier.  As we began the third part, the writing part, Gabriel soon realized he indeed should have listened to my suggestion and that we'd probably be researching while we wrote.

 At least three hours later we concluded with almost three pages of writing.  And then, finally, preparing for the fourth part, the presentation.  Of course we didn't get to that part until Sunday night, about an hour after Gabriel's normal bedtime and when we were both ready to do anything possible to just finished the body report.  Gabriel and I talked about his presentation and wrote note cards of what we would say the next day at school to his class.  After finally finishing the project, which including almost everyone in the family's help (including Aunt Barb from Iowa, Mom, Michael and even Isabelle helped color some of the body poster) we stuffed everything in his bag for school the next morning.

I felt so relieved when I dropped Gabriel that morning at school and wished him the best on his presentation.  I thought we'd be finished with projects for a while.   I. Was. Wrong.  That afternoon he came off the bus running and announced he had a new project we needed "TO BEGIN RIGHT NOW!"  I signed and wondered what body part I'd be Googling now.  As I walked through the front door, the boys had already thrown their shoes along the entry way and their back packs were only a few feet ahead of them.  The daily trail of school souvenirs had returned.  Gabriel cleaned out the papers from his black and blue bag and handed me his next assignment... to create a personal version of Flat Stanley.  A Flat Gabriel, one could say.

The assignment was born from the story of Flat Stanley himself.  In the book Flat Stanley's family couldn't afford to take him to all the places he wanted to go, so somehow (I haven't read the book but am going from a synopsis Gabriel gave me) they flattened their son Stanley and mailed him around the world/country so he could see all the sights.  Gabriel's job was to create a personal version of Flat Stanley and to write a story about how he became flat and what he wanted to see.  He also had to pick a place to send his Flat Stanley too.  I can't yet share where Flat Gabriel is headed, but hopefully it will arrive in the coming days.  Gabriel decided to create a flat Superman version of himself.  He then wrote a report and sent his back to school. Not only was the second project much easier but it also seemed really fun.

While I'm enjoying this week of no homework, thanks to the state testing, I can only imagine what project will be coming home next week.

Until next time,
Angie