​Finding Rhythm

“We are more alike my friends than we are unalike” – Maya Angelou
​
Middle school is a time of transition.  You could argue one of the greatest quests during these adolescent years is finding your rhythm - your pace and cadence and comfort level with your own unique beat.  This year we are working with students from Intellectual Virtues Academy on a Schoolyard Habitat Project.  We are slowly converting 3,000sf of non-native bushes into a dynamic local habitat for pollinators, birds, and other critters.  Along the way, we are exploring this concept of rhythm – finding it in your work, your speech, and your group dynamics.  In the first lesson, we worked on removing old growth juniper – a punishing task requiring grit and teamwork.  While working, we used different playlists to see if certain musical rhythms helped us find our cadence and flow.  It’s been a lot of fun, and many students seem drawn to the powerful spoken word rhythms of rap music.  We are hoping to use these nature-focused experiences to write some poetry of our own.