--"You are all individuals!"
--"We are all individuals!!"
--"I'm not."
It's funny, the group that came today seemed so sweet and nice and good. They were in 3rd grade, and they marched down the hill in chilly weather on silent feet; little 3rd grade mouses, they were.
I thought, This is going to wonderful. Good kids. Quiet kids. Listening kids.
They remained quiet as I introduced them to myself and the building and we got into the Planetarium.
As soon as the lights started going down, apparently the Ritalin wore off. They went from civilized to feral in the blink of an eye. I have no idea what triggered them, but they were turning upside down in the seats and all talking at once. It was very odd.
When we got to full dark, a couple of the girls started shrieking. I can put up with a lot (I can!! Stop laughing!!), but not shrieking. Ow. I just sat there with my head down for a moment waiting for the screeching to cease.
It did. Eventually.
So then I started talking about the stars and constellations. I often start with the North Star (Polaris), and the Little and Big Dippers. I pointed out Polaris and stated that it was in the Little Dipper.
Before I could even indicate what I meant by that or put up a picture or anything...
"I SEE IT!" One kid yelled out, and at full volume.
Immediately all the other kids had to prove that they saw it, too. A cacophony of "I SEE IT! I SEE IT!" rose up in the room. Mob mentality is an amazing thing. Once they all had their scream out, and a second of quiet had passed, one lonely, quiet voice said, "I don't see it."
This was the voice of honesty, and I respected him for it.
This went on for the rest of the show -- "Up in this area is Pegasus."
"I SEE IT! I SEE IT! I SEE IT!" went the chorus.
"You know, I just don't see it," chimed the voice of honesty.
It made me laugh a couple of times.
As an afterward: When I talked about the planets I mentioned that an atmosphere is sort of an invisible blanket around the planet... when I said that, one kid yelled, "I SEE IT!" But this time he was alone. At least some kids were listening when I used words like 'invisible'.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Too old to get it.
I am just not fit to deal with 4 year olds! I know I've always complained about them and complained about complaining about them, but they are simply too young for me to understand.
Example: Yesterday I had a group of 4 year old kids. I did the whole program -- moon, stars, constellations, planets -- and went to the usual Q & A at the end. They often ask incomprehensible questions; I kind of expect it.
One girl hand her hand up, and I asked if she had a question.
"Nope," she told me.
"OK," I said, and went to look for another hand.
Her hand goes up again.
"Did you think of a question?" I asked.
"Nope!" she said, in a happy way.
I began to turn away again, when she said, "Wait!"
"What is it?" I asked.
"I have to tell you something," she said. It made sense now.
"What's that?" I asked her.
"I have a joke," she proudly beamed.
"Is it about space?" I asked.
"Yes!" she told me.
All right! I thought. A joke! Now we're getting somewhere. It's always good to have extra material.
"What's the joke," I excitedly prompted.
"Why did Mickey go to Pluto?"
"I don't know..." I was ready for the bang up punchline... this is going to be good.
"To see his dog Pluto!" she finished with a flourish of her hands; the gesture said 'Taa-dah!'.
There were crickets chirping in my head.
"Ohhhh," I nodded, trying to fake a laugh, failing horribly. She looked a little hurt that I did not wet my pants at this tremendously humorous joke.
I just don't get little kid jokes.
I just don't get little kids.
I am just not fit to deal with 4 year olds! I know I've always complained about them and complained about complaining about them, but they are simply too young for me to understand.
Example: Yesterday I had a group of 4 year old kids. I did the whole program -- moon, stars, constellations, planets -- and went to the usual Q & A at the end. They often ask incomprehensible questions; I kind of expect it.
One girl hand her hand up, and I asked if she had a question.
"Nope," she told me.
"OK," I said, and went to look for another hand.
Her hand goes up again.
"Did you think of a question?" I asked.
"Nope!" she said, in a happy way.
I began to turn away again, when she said, "Wait!"
"What is it?" I asked.
"I have to tell you something," she said. It made sense now.
"What's that?" I asked her.
"I have a joke," she proudly beamed.
"Is it about space?" I asked.
"Yes!" she told me.
All right! I thought. A joke! Now we're getting somewhere. It's always good to have extra material.
"What's the joke," I excitedly prompted.
"Why did Mickey go to Pluto?"
"I don't know..." I was ready for the bang up punchline... this is going to be good.
"To see his dog Pluto!" she finished with a flourish of her hands; the gesture said 'Taa-dah!'.
There were crickets chirping in my head.
"Ohhhh," I nodded, trying to fake a laugh, failing horribly. She looked a little hurt that I did not wet my pants at this tremendously humorous joke.
I just don't get little kid jokes.
I just don't get little kids.
Energy Thief, the Hunter.
I was performing a program for some 3rd grade students yesterday. I was showing them some constellations (Cygnus, Pegasus), and was leading up to the one that most kids know: Orion.
I used my usually intro -- "This is a pretty well known constellation [I point it out]; he's the hunter, and he's wearing a very well-known belt.... does anyone know what it is?"
Usually a bunch of 3rd graders are familiar with Orion's Belt.
After a very slight pause, one kid yelled out "Enron!"
"What was that?" I asked.
"Enron!" he told me again.
"Actually," I hesitantly corrected him, "It's Orion."
"Oh, right," he said.
What an odd news corporate culture mental crossover!
I was performing a program for some 3rd grade students yesterday. I was showing them some constellations (Cygnus, Pegasus), and was leading up to the one that most kids know: Orion.
I used my usually intro -- "This is a pretty well known constellation [I point it out]; he's the hunter, and he's wearing a very well-known belt.... does anyone know what it is?"
Usually a bunch of 3rd graders are familiar with Orion's Belt.
After a very slight pause, one kid yelled out "Enron!"
"What was that?" I asked.
"Enron!" he told me again.
"Actually," I hesitantly corrected him, "It's Orion."
"Oh, right," he said.
What an odd news corporate culture mental crossover!
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Damp.
It's raining. It is raining pretty hard I must admit.
My morning program cancelled. BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. They didn't want to walk to little childrens out in the rain. Here's a thing: If they are too young to handle RAIN, they're likely too young to come to the Planetarium.
Rain.
Sheesh.
I really can't complain; that knocks me down to 2 shows for the day instead of three. Bonus! And anytime 3 year olds decide NOT to come is a good thing.
It's raining. It is raining pretty hard I must admit.
My morning program cancelled. BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. They didn't want to walk to little childrens out in the rain. Here's a thing: If they are too young to handle RAIN, they're likely too young to come to the Planetarium.
Rain.
Sheesh.
I really can't complain; that knocks me down to 2 shows for the day instead of three. Bonus! And anytime 3 year olds decide NOT to come is a good thing.