Today’s No School Experiment

This morning, I placed materials on the table on the outside deck of our home in Platanillo, Costa Rica.

• rope

• basket

• tape

• scissors

I presented my children a problem. Get the oranges from the jungle to the animals in Rosie’s shelter without embarking on the perilous journey through the jungle.

No hands. Only a pulley system would work.

They began. I stuck around but left them to it. They built pulleys, designed an animal shelter with their stuffies in the spare room. They collaborated, shared ideas and solved problems through communication and a little support from Super Step Dad. They made medicine for the animals, wrote signs for each animals home and transported goods backs and forth.

The project designed to bring our their differing strengths.

Rosie, passionate about animal care, creating and designing. Charlie, an engineering master, building and solving problems. The intention was to invite in collaboration. To give them the reins and the freedom to explore in a way that felt real and true.

It was past dark when we called them in.

Let’s see if tomorrow will bring a continuation and a deepening.