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Maritime

We are not out of school until next Friday. The 6th, 7th, and 8th graders get to be part of expeditionary learning experiences and the one I am involved with is Maritime Academy. This is an 8 day curriculum event, where the students take block courses of language arts, social studies, science, math, and art, as well as a mix of boating (longboats), boat building, maritime trade tours, and also experience the simulator of driving a real boat.

Can I just say---wow! I am pretty dang lucky to have gotten the position I did. I A) love my 7th graders and 8th graders; B) have been BLESSED with such beautiful weather all week, I feel NO GUILT for being able to be outside and experience all that I have; and C) What an AWESOME way to end the year.

If you have never been to Port Townsend, it is a unique, small town on the Peninsula. On a beautiful a clear day, as the past 4 days have been, you can see Mt. Baker (Canada), the Cascades, the Olympics, and Mt. Rainier. Every day this week has been light wind, blue skies, sun, and about 70 degrees. It has been incredible. Forewarned that the weather is not always this nice, but thankful that God was smiling on me during my "birthday" week and giving us nice weather, even up through next week.

Here are some pics of what my week has been like. We have 4 more days until the end, so I will include a follow up post with our culminating activities. I tried not to post many pictures of the kid's faces, out of privacy, but this gives you a good idea of what I get to be a part of this week.

Just liked this "line"  dragon

Working on their maps

View from my classroom 

Outside the Martime Center

The Compass Rose

Our ships articles

Getting ready for a relay

Rowing---and yes that's me on the right!

The other long boat out with us

Learning knot tying

One of the boats they are building

He's far away, but that's a seal

Tools from various maritime trades

Sail loft

Pygamy Kayaks (you build these yourself)

Boat shop 

Porpoise
Sails up today!

Lunch break on the beach 

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