Canopy Exercises
CURIOSITY
Curiosity is one of the best motivators of genuine learning, so we stimulate it in each session. When a student has a need to know – especially a focused, even burning curiosity--the answer, when it comes, seems to really stick. That’s why BrainBuilders are required to ask questions—and we start with things students are naturally interested in and then expand those subjects outward with internet treasure hunts, games in the Cultural Literacy dictionary, and stimulating conversations.
RIGHT BRAIN WORK
The left-brain mentality of our modern cultures which focuses on science, technology, research, and bottom line creates intellectually unbalanced young people. BrainBuilders helps to rebalance students one by one through discussions and exploration of websites dealing with aesthetics, philosophy, theology, meaning, and mystery.
CREATIVITY
Although valued by educators, the intentional creativity of grade school arts and crafts wanes significantly in high school. We make more time for creative expression, knowing that the fun-factor of creativity exponentializes the learning process, and fast-forwards intellectual development. So we work puzzles, build marshmallow sculptures, create timelines, fold origami Christmas Tree ornaments, and create tessellations.
WONDER
Every now and then students need to be awe-struck by some new and amazing truth or factoid. Something mind expanding, something that even reaches the heart. BrainBuilders Mentors have a reservoir of “wonder”ful facts that, when shared at just the right point in a discussion or project, can leave a student speechless with wonder, amazed by the unthinkable, and humbled by the possibility of unsuspected and infinitely greater realities.
