Immersion Day 8A

Ah, the Immersion day at Tumalo Creek. Both classes of new 8th graders were immersed in the past, present, and future of Tumalo on this first day of the 2011-12 8th grade Tumalo adventure. As will happen for many weeks to come, the day kicks off with the opening circle.  

Opening Circle

The day kicks off with a quick welcome from the teachers and an explanation of the boundaries, followed by a former student’s writing piece about Tumalo, “A Home Away From Home”. After that, the basic purpose of the day is explained, and then everyone sets off! 

Map Activity

The Map Activity is where you figure out where you are using multiple maps, including Google Earth Maps and basic maps of Central Oregon. 

Exploration Activity

The Exploration of the Study Site, which is where we write our Notice and Wonder about the Study Site. This also includes sharing of powerful words, and signs of Health and Human Activity. Then afterward everyone just meanders around exploring and having fun. 

Solitude and Reflection

Students recording data

Solitude and Reflection was about writing Sensory Imagery, so writing about each of the senses in detail relating to what we “sense” from Tumalo, describing what we see, feel, smell, hear, and yes, taste. Everyone is very concentrated with their “senses”.

Closing Circle
The day finished with the closing circle, where the day’s learning targets were reviewed and many eager students shared their reflections. 

These are a few of the more powerful quotes from our immersion day— 

"The spring has changed, the fragile vegetation that was once here has bloomed into large grasses and plants with new deciduous trees."

— Jessica Lester 

"As I sit in the willows I can faintly see the massive hulks of fir trees in the distance."

— Keyan Lee 

"The crisp sweet smell they produce in observational peace."

— Martin Girardi 

“The spring has changed, the fragile vegetation that was once here has bloomed into large grasses and plants with new conifer trees."

— Maddie Collins 

"The sound of the water flowing smoothly down the creek."

— Jessica Lester 

"The bare trunks of trees past, defiant even in death."

— Ian Churchill

Examples of our 8^th grade students literary and poetic genius. Content created in 20 minutes or less.

      Tumalo Creek has no juniper, no juniper, and no pieces of home. Well, this is where I am. I have decided to make it feel like home. In my attempts to try and relate the two location not one single thing matched up, this place is peaceful to birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and more, because this is all they have ever known. I thought all I had ever known was peace. I stand corrected by Tumalo Creek. I know it’s loud and all, but it’s the most inconsistent yet so similar group of sounds…

Students identifying where they are on a topographic map

     
     We are sitting in a bowl with hills of countless trees on each side. Aside from the sun, the sky and a gravel road, you’d say, you were on a different planet.

     
     From where I lay, I can see the river, a glorious flow of liquid obsidian, black as the unluckiest cat. If I crept closer I would see, white like cotton, or green like the rings in my brother’s eyes. I see birds splashing in the water, like small children. I’m surrounded by bushes out of a painting done with talent. The leaves are green. But doused with a yellow to be found on Patty Labelles dress. The stems of the bushes on red with a layer of white, if you took your thumb and cleaned off the white, you would see a beautiful red. It smells so breathable. Breathable as in the clean air without the smog an average city contains. It smells like freshly cut grass, and the few moments after rainfall. It smells like Tumalo  Creek. Tumalo Creek maims your ears with its roar. The trees of Tumalo Creek dance and sing with the wind healing your ears like a doctors finest works. Tumalo Creek feels like a safe place. A place to let go. To forget, to forgive. And of all and everything Tumalo Creek is, I love the way it feels the most. It feels beautiful.