Inspired--thirty-eight years ago--by the small group dynamics at Outward Bound, Project Period is intense. Thirty five groups of students live and work together for five days, pursuing highly diverse activities. Approximately half of the projects are off campus; half are local. Most include some form of community service. Here's Abijohn with Andover Elementary School kids on the Teaching Internship project.

 

Each project reflects a teacher's passion or expertise. A perennial favorite is Quilting, which attracts a diverse crowd of students including some fans of NCAA basketball; (they can watch games in the evening.)

 

Project Period ended Friday afternoon and photos from some off campus activities are coming in. This group is knitting Swedish ski hats and story-telling at the Dartmouth Cabin.

 

This crowd is studying ecology on Cape Cod.

 

Mural Madness poses in front of its work: a jungle painting on the north wall of the biology room.



Josh Norris's project applied physics and fanciful construction to Aerodynamics, Jet Propulsion and Rocketry.


 

The idea here is that the rocket engine fires a final pop a couple of seconds after its thrust fuel is spent, jettisoning the nose cone and releasing a parachute that saves the body for another flight. Notice the Soviet sickle and star.





But the truth is that we're closer to Robert Goddard's work than Wernher von Braun's, and what begins as a spectacular flight can end in disaster. Sporting the letters CCCP, this missile returned to Carr Field much faster than desired by its builders.

 

It's all a learning experience! Next up: Dylan and Cody's "bumblebee," featuring fins painted a stunning fuschia.

 



Once again, the chute failed to deploy, and the rocket had to be removed from the upper branches of a distant maple tree. That flight was successful, however, compared to the failed launch of Scott and Spencer's heavy, menacing vehicle. If you look carefully, you will see that the rocket engine is somehow firing upwards--burning through the tube, charring precious cargo (a can of Red Bull,) and igniting the parachute.

 

Now we enjoy a much needed, restful weekend before plunging into the remainder of the spring term!