Banque Alimentaire

Saturday 29th of November 2008

CAS element: Service
Time: 3 hours

This service to the society consisted of helping a French association 'Banque Alimentaire' that fights against hunger in France. I had to help collect food that will later be given to people in needs. I was in a supermarket and was instructed to give at the entrance a plastic bag and a brochure of the association to the entering costumers. If they were willing they could buy and donate food that we at the exit. Everyonce in a while someone would pass to collect the boxes full food donated. At the beginning I was not very confortable, as it was my first time doing this kind of service, but then I gained confidence and managed to persuade even reticent people to accepted to donate. It was a bit long standing there for three hours. My back was kind of hurting, but fortunatly I was with a friend from school, which made it easier. The shift I was in, was not the busiest of the day in term of costumers, but we succeeded in filling quite a number of boxes. Nevertheless this experience was very interesting and I really feel proud of myself as I feel I made a difference for some people.

Craft Workshop Project

Friday 14th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I first spent this first hour to brainstorm on my workshop project and gave myself five to six lesson to complete it. My idea is to make wool "pompom" and make key chains or small animals out of it to give away during the Christmas period. I will need cardboard, wool, scissors, and colored paper.

Friday 21st of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today I started my first pompom. It was not very hard as I had brought the instruction to make them found on the Internet. What was funny was that everyone was looking at me. They had no idea about what I was doing because when you make it does not look like anything, at least not until the end, so my peers were perplex. However when I cut the

wool and tied it up, which is the critical instant, many were surprised of the result and wanted to touch it.

Wednesday 26th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I am continuing my project slowly but surely. I must admit, it is taking more time to make a pompom than I had expected. This just encourages me to work even faster to make this project successful. I am up to three pompoms now.

Friday 28th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

As I was doing my fours pompoms, I went around to look at friends' projects. They are all different both from their appearance and methods. Some doing 'papier mache', some designing their cloth, some knitting and others even making their own jeweleries.

Wednesday 3rd of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today I had to continue on my craft workshop in the cafeteria, which was crowded with kids running around. The environment was not of the most appropriate. The tables were dirty with food and spilled soda, I stood most of the time. Nevertheless I managed to finish a pompom and started a bit of the second one.

Friday 5th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I think I know what I will make off all those pompoms. Counting the one I did today, it will be my six pompom. I will aline all of them one behind the other and pass a metal wire through each one of them to make a giant caterpillar that could be used as decoration in a house.

Friday 12th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today I lost a bit a time because I had to remake cardboard disks due to the fact that all the others ones were torn and bent. I did not get the time to finish my pompom completely, but I will just finish it at home. It is also interesting to see that other projects, in the class, are rapidly coming to form like the rubber ball and papermache project.

Wednesday 17th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I felt motivated today and worked briskly with nevertheless efficiency. I finish

ed a pompom and got the time to start another one. Of course I could not finish it, but that did not matter. I cannot wait to assemble them and finally make this giant caterpillar I have been thinking about.

Friday 19th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

It was the last day of school before the Christmas holidays, so I was quite exacted and even a bit distracted. Nevertheless I finished hopefully my last pompom and even started assembling them. It turned out to be more challenging than expected, so more time will be needed to finish it.

Friday 9th of January 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today I focused on assembling the pompoms together to form a fluffy giant caterpillar. I passed through each pompom a wire to give it a strong but also bandy core. I bent the two ends to stop the pompom from sliding away. I also got the time to start making the antennas.

Friday 23nd of January 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I finished the antennas and then made eyes out of cardboard. My scissors were not the best for cardboard and it made it a bit difficult. I also glued colored paper to the eyes and pupils. The hardest part was to make them stick to the pompom. I managed with super glue, but I doubt it is held very strongly.

Friday 30th of January 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I had to fix the eye as they had fallen off. I used more glue and I added black pupils to

make it look more realistic. I also cut off the extra length of wool from each pompom. However I kept some of them to join them together so the caterpillar can be hung if wished. Finally I went around the class and was able to observe that all the other craft projects were coming out good.

Friday 6th of February 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I thought my caterpillar was quite dull after all, consequently I have decided today to fabricate it a small accessory to make it unique. I constructed a small black hat out of paper. It was more challenging than I expected, especially when it came to glue the different parts together. When I was done, it fitted perfectly on its head and made it look smart.

Friday 13th of February 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

This was the last day to work on your craft workshop project. In the class some projects were already done, most were almost done, and few still needed to be worked on a bit more. Finished or not this was the last day anyway. My timing was great, as I was done with my craft and just had to fix some details, like the hat that had broken off. Overall I was proud of my creation. It turned out as I imagined it, if not better. Now I have to figu

re out to who I will give it to. I think my little sister will very much like it.

Friday 27th of March 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today our craft pieces were the starts of the day. We took pictures of our creation as to provide a prouf of their existence before we each bring them to our homes. I took many pictures of my caterpillar in

various different angles. I think I was kind of proud of it.

Origami

Thursday 20th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Using models, we have to create a range of animal by just folding paper. I enjoy very much origami as it is relaxing and I managed to make A bird, an elephant, and a fish. At the end, when enough animals had been made, we will all glue them on a big paper to create a scene.

Thursday 27th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

We continued to make animals. The ones that need to be added to the list would be a penguin, a dog and a crabe. I think I got the hang of it, as I grasp the folding technique faster now. I find it fun to create things just out of a piece of paper and a bit of dexterity.


Thursday 4th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we started doing higher level, four and five stars, origamis. The first challenge was a chicken, which I managed fairly quickly to finish, however the second one, the rabbit, was more complex and got me thinking. I even brought it home to finish it, as I could not figure out the last two step.

Thursday 11th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

We continued with the high level ones. I made a beautiful mice and an adorable koala. I kind like doing that now, every new one is now seen like a challenge to test my skills. Each success makes me more eager, more determined to challenge the next one... so much for... origami!


Thursday 18th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today I got to make the scorpion. What an honor and a privilege. Just looking at all the steps, I was lost, gone, strike by the complexity of them. However when I started folding, the complexity of the folds opened up to me and even though it took me the entire hour, I succeeded in giving life to my scorpion.


Thursday 22nd of January 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today was the last day to make the animals, before exposing them into a scene. For my last creation I decided to make the complex frilled lizard. For this one I had to use my dexterity at its full capacity to achieve the desired result. And that was it the lizard was made out of pink paper.


Thursday 5th of February 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we were divided into two groups and were assigned each a school board. With all the paper animals we had constructed, we had to fabricate a scene in which each animal was found in its natural ecosystem. I had a good group; we worked well together. We started to make a bright yellow sun, a deep blue sea and an island of soft sand and green trees. I found the activity very amusing and I cannot wait for next week to finish the fresco.


Thursday 26th of March 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

We tried to finish the fresco that had been started by adding more animals on land, in the sky, in the water and even in the paper trees. At this end the scene looked a bit crowded, but the mixture of many different colors made it look quite pretty. I was proud.

Thursday 2nd of April 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we just finalizes some details that were not perfect yet, to really make the scene neat. Sometimes you only need on or two default to ruin a work. We then cut out letters out of colored paper to right at the top 'CAS IB1'. We finished by writing 'Origami Project' and our names by hand.

Drama

Thursday 13th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

I started a new activity and today was my first lesson of drama. We first started by a warm up that I found unusual but I guess necessary for this activity. We then did some exercises to introduce us to drama. I had to pick a scene and make a human canvas. I liked it, it was interesting.

Thursday 20th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we had to write on a piece of paper our most embarrassing moment, then we would each pick a paper and go on the stage and tell the story. The objective of the activity was to improve our skills in telling persuasive stories. It was actually fun and interesting to guess others students' embarrassing moment.



Thursday 27th of November 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

The all class paired up and we spent the all hour writing our monologue that then will be performed the next week. With your partner we had to brainstorm and help each other write our monologue. I found it helpful to talk about my experience to someone before putting it into words.


Thursday 4th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we had to perform the monologue we wrote last week. However before starting we were given some ten minutes to prepare ourselves. I was going to talk about my first para gliding solo flight and what went through my mind just before I ran toward the cliff. I must admit I was a bit anxious going alone in front of the class, but at the end it went alright.


Thursday 11th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we had to create our own sketch so we were divided in two groups. We had to brainstorm and write the plot and the characters' descriptions on a piece of paper. From what we have decided our sketch is extremely comical. The story is very basic but filled with twists and turns. If it is well done, it will be funny but I am not sure my poor acting talents will be able to portray it fully.

Thursday 18th of December 2008

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

We continued to work on our sketch. We first wrote down detailed scene by scene scenario to finalize the story. We even started to write up the dialogue of scene 1 with the two guards of the museum frivolously talking. All of us are working hard to make it work and I very much enjoy the ambiance of the group.

Thursday 8th of January 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we had to give in the final draft of the plot and the characters' description. We also finished scene 1 and almost completed scene 2. This scene takes place in a kebab shop were the two gags decide to steal the Pen of Glorious Ink in the Louvre museum. Our sketch is quit complicated as we have a lot of actors to include. It will take time but we will make everything work out.

Thursday 15th of January 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

We managed to finish scene 2 and then principally talked about scene 3. This scene is the longest and most complicated as the acting in this scene contains extremely few dialogue. It consists mostly on the different gags and the guards chasing each other in the hope to steal the Pen of Glorious ink and own it.


Thursday 22nd of January 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today was the last day to write up the script. I thought we were almost done, however at the last minute we decided to make some modifications in the scene 2. We lost a bit of time, but we managed to give in the almost final draft of the complete dialogue of the play.

Thursday 5th of February 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

We did something quite different today. We each had to draw out our character in our sketch; his physiognomy, his appearance, his style. In addition, we had to draw any kind of props our character needed to have and write a short description of him at the bottom. It was interesting to visualize my character in his fullness and imaging him coming to life.

Thursday 26th of March 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we worked on what part of our sketch was the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. We also were assigned each in my group a role. I was chosen to be the choreographer. I have no idea how it will turn out, but I will try my best to fulfill my role. We finished by the props and the costumes that will be needed for the performance.

Thursday 2nd of April 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Since today was warm and sunning, we grabbed this opportunity to have the class outside. We gathered on top of a small grassy hill in the park at the end of the street. I did drama exercises to first make ourselves comfortable and then teach us how to use the space around us.

Thursday 7th of April 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today was simple we had to finish up and organize the dialogs for each scene. Most of the work had anyway already been done. We just had to type it out and organize it, so it could be presented to the CAS coordinator.

Thursday 30th of April 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today we did various exercises to improve our acting skills. One of them was to mime an occupation and at the same time figure out which other person mimed the same one. However, my favorite one is a game called 21. It is quite an usual game, which challenges your ability to focus and to work in a team.

Thursday 7th of Mai 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Our script finished, typed and edited we started working on our lines today. As we went through each scenes, I realized that our play was not as funny as I thought and even almost lame at points. Furthermore the sketch is quite short and the story superficial. Nevertheless, we are not experts just novices, we created something and I am proud even if one had higher expectations.

Thursday 14th of Mai 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

To warm-up we did a game were we had to answer a question with another question. It was a bit peculiar at the beginning but then when we were started it was fun, although I did not win. We then worked on our lines and I realized I had to make few adjustments to the ones I had, as so they come out more naturally.

Thursday 28th of Mai 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

This week we really focused on the set up of the sketch. How would be each entry and exits and what kind of props we will use. We also practiced our lines and tried to memories them has much as possible. The end of the year is coming soon and I realized that we still had a lot to work on. I hope everything will turn out fine.

Thursday 4th of Mai 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

Today each group was given ten minutes to quickly rehearse their sketch on the stage. It was not enough my group barely had time to go through half of the scenes, but the supervisor wanted each group to have enough time to perform their full sketch on stage in front of the other group. It was interesting to see what the other group has been working on and to compare their performance to ours.

Thursday 11th of Mai 2009

CAS element: Creativity
Time: 1 hour

This was actually the last drama class of the year, since there are exams next week. A performance in front of a crowd will not be possible this year due to a lack of rehearsing time. Nevertheless we are planning to continue this next year. Our goal is to get to perform our sketch in front of people or at least to videotape it so as to keep a proof of our efforts.