Accountability: Heart, Mind, Soul.

We began a new unit on Accountability this past week in our YESS classes at Shaw Heights. Our first lesson was entitled, "Heart, Mind, Soul," and asked our scholars to try and reflect on what is in their heart, mind, and soul and how they can use this information to make wise choices as they work toward specific goals. Before we started the worksheet, however, we did a quick journal prompt on dreams. Each scholar was asked to contemplate what he or she was dreaming for the future, whether it be a simple dream (have my own bedroom) or a more complex dream (have my bank account and my own house). We discussed Langston Hughes and his poem, "Harlem," in order to place some context on what may happen if we defer our dreams. Our scholars quickly connected with the poem which asks, "What happens to a dream deferred?" They were all able to recognize the need to nurture and fulfill dreams if we are to live a happy, successful life. It was agreed upon that not following one's dreams can lead to a very unhappy, resentful life.

Heart, Mind, Soul worksheet

Once we had spoken a bit as a class, our YESS scholars filled out a worksheet which asked them to use the human body as a diagram to better understand what is in their heart, mind, and soul. They were to write their dreams above the head; their favorite sounds next to the ears; how they would like to be seen by others next to the eyes; whatever issues they are facing were to be placed on the shoulders; whatever they loved near the heart; their favorite foods in the stomach area; the hands were to detail on one side who supported them while the other explained what they made or did with their energy; and last, but not least, one foot was representative of where they went each day, while the other details where they would like to go in the future.

A group project from 3rd Period

After each scholar had completed the worksheet, we moved into working as tables of four to bring the worksheet to life as a large project on butcher paper. Each mentor and mentee had to decide which pieces of information were most pertinent and were asked to place this information on the larger version of the human body (which our scholars accomplished by tracing out one member of the group onto butcher paper--it was a quite a fun day!). Once all the written information was done, the groups had to then add detail and color to the project.

A group project from 4th Period

Some of the Emotion Sculpture Projects on display in our YESS classroom.

An "Anger Cave" Emotion Sculpture Project

All in all it was a great start to our new unit. We had a great Mentor Monday talk about Cesar Chavez and the need to remain non-violent while protesting in order to affect real, positive change. This week we will discuss the life and actions of Martin Luther King, Jr., and we will continue our discussions about accountability in the context of creating ESMART goals with our scholars. Below are some more great Emotion Sculpture projects from last week- enjoy!