The Avatar Project: Turning my Class into a Tribe

Peter O’Brien @peter_obrien1

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/avatar-unit

Project Background

http://www.davidterron.com/wpmu/?p=722

Project Background

The Real Avatar: James Cameron supports Brazilian indigenous tribe

http://bit.ly/al7mFu

Collaborative Teaching @mistercmj

Planning

Home Class

Live by values rather than rules Reflect on these throughout the year

Tribal values

Launch Display

Using the Blog forestfields-year6.blogspot.com

Writing examples

Writing examples

Making masks

Life size Na’vi

Banshee Pop ups

Tribal Jewellery (which turned to friendship bracelets)

Tribal Symbols

TERRATARS!

I respect you

Tribal Symbols

I am getting ready to listen

I understand

I need guidance

YES!

Call for Guidance (based on beliefs of the Zulu Tribes)

word weaver number bearer

language listener

beauty creatormovement maker

the thinker

The Spirits of Home Class

Haka Activate

Other inspirations : Zulu and Navajo dancing

Haka

Click on the image to view the video

Context: This Haka was performed by this group of boys at our Forest Fields’ Got Talent Show. Note the diversity in the group and no matter race, religion or even physical ability they are all very proud to be performing together.

Celebration of work

Community Circles to discuss their week ‘I feel this way because…’

Raise self esteem from mutual respect (Using the symbol ‘I respect you’ often)

Praise and rewards through precious stones

Transfer leadership – respect a collective authority. Everyone has their place and space in their tribe and we appreciate them.

The Avatar Project: Reflections

Sense of community, friendship/preferred working partners seemed to dissolve.

Vehicle to move children on creatively especially if your class are not a cohesive unit

They reflect on their own learning and identify strengths and weaknesses and look to improve or help others

Increases attentiveness as children demonstrated higher order listening skills

The Avatar Project: Reflections

I really enjoyed the Avatar project. During SATs I got stuck on my writing and I called The Word Weaver to help me. I think it worked too.

Member of the Terratar Tribe

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The Avatar Project: Reflections