Mid week days are the best days because we get all day to work on our projects (and our Tinkering School Goals). Whether during project session design meetings, using the tools or at lunch and park. This is when we get to see kiddos trying really, really hard and making mistakes in a new environment that we tailor to be safe and trusting.

Morning circles are an important part of the day. Here we get an opportunity to check-in with each other, reflect on our projects and prepare ourselves for a new day full of challenges. Sometimes we make time to reiterate our goals and share examples with each other of what we found hard and what we found that worked!

On day two we discussed and adopted a new agreement to our collective agreements. The Tinkering School Platinum Rule: "Treat Others the Way THEY Want to Be Treated"!

We remind ourselves of our goals before getting started.

Then we design!

Anaya adds strings to the Deer design to show how we might be able to make joints that move and allow the deer to walk.

And get to building! Trying out our designs and putting all those ideas into constructed objects.

The deer moving leg/joint idea left us with the question, "How do we make wood bend?" Here Anaya, Juliana and Molly try out various ways to make a joint pivot.

We often encounter mistakes. Sometimes they remind us to slow down, often they require us to try again in a new and informed way. Occasionally they send us back to the drawing board.

Max shows how two pieces of wood selected to be even don't appear to be flush.

We break our new materials. Our tools test their strengths and our imaginations stretch their capabilities.

Rio and Silas try covering the bird body with some butchers paper to keep the light from shining through in hopes it'll cast a solid shadow.

We ask for help and develop teamwork.

After trying a few times to drill a hole into the back frame of the deer body Max realised that dipsite using all his strength his body just kept slipping away from the project so he asked Anya for a partner push.

We ask that kiddoes try harder then usual to focus and stick with something.

Ryo takes turns drilling holes into the bird head frame for his partner to follow behind and drive in screws.

Meanwhile Oscar, Moss and Kerin jam out on the second frame head for the frame.

Hudson and Oscar add stability and a connection point for the neck to the bird body.

We take a midday break to eat lunch, move our bodies around and play. Hard work like this group is putting in demands it!

We spin! The merry go round is a definite park time favorite with this bunch of kiddoes.

We climb! Strengthening the muscles in our arms and faces.

We fuel up! Reinforce and develop our new relationships by sharing stories and playing games.

After break we come back to the space and third project group takes form. Shadow Lab is a huge hit and interest for some of the tinkers who are burnt out on building and eager for a new challenge!

Nolan works on connecting a corner for the huge frame that will be covered in cloth to capture the shadows of the animals being made.

We take a moment to celebrate in project landmarks and successes!

Here Kerin stands proudly with the completed skeleton of the bird puppet.

At the end of day 2 and 3 we take time to test our puppets. Share what we observe and determine next steps for the following day.

Caroline demonstrates the mechanics of the bird's beak and takes suggestions from the campers on how to improve it and what are the priorities for the next day.

Shadow Puppets! Session 2 - Day 2-3