Whew...I guess this is that time where I start dating my self, and say things I never thought would come out of my mouth as an adult.
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| "Let's Go to the Hop" Season 2 Ep 14 |
At first, I thought, man are these things annoying. A wooden ball attached with a rope to this weird looking stick. Clicking around the hallway or being swung around the classrooms, I felt like we had this new pandemic just like Family Guy...Just put it down already!!!
It got bad after awhile too. I mean, I was like the Kendama assassin. Sneaking up behind kids, cutting the string, lecturing about it being a "gateway" game. It was bad.
Then all of a sudden, a teacher friend opened a brand new art studio just outside of town. Glow Fish Studios had their first Kendama tournament to usher in their grand opening...and it was a hit! The kids at school were excited like I've never seen them before. It blew my mind and actually was a little contagious. I went online and ordered three blank Kendamas, which would have custom paint jobs, to give away at the tournament. This whole event opened a big door of creative customization that I never knew existed for my students. We have had deeper conversation about materials, paint schemes, and construction of these Kendamas more then any art project we have ever done.
I'm not sure how long this fad will last, hell, by the time you read this, it might be over! I do know one thing...this fad, as weird or silly as it may seem to me, gets my students talking. They talk about skills, product construction, marketing, everything!!! If it has gotten my kids this excited, maybe it can't all be that bad.
These are interesting, they do remind me of the old ball and cup game that I wasn't any good at. I haven't seen them in my middle school over here on the west side of the state. Maybe I should buy one and start the trend.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen these either! What I love is that you were able to take a fad (that was likely very annoying and distracting in school) and actually capitalize on that in your classroom! If it's a fad that students are into, why not embrace it?
ReplyDeleteThe Harmlem Shake was a HUGE fad in my school district. The students wouldn't stop watching different versions of it on their smart phones. So, being a media teacher, I suggested that classes produce, film and edit their own Harlem Shakes! They had a great time doing it, and they had to use their media skills to create it. :)