Students from The Urban Assembly Institute of Math & Science for Young Women (UAI) recently designed and flew their own kites! This year, teaching artist Laurie Krupp is collaborating with 10th grade Geometry teacher Mr. Adrian to integrate design and visual arts into the Geometry curriculum.
Classes designed kites using parallel and perpendicular structures and experimented with various materials to construct their kites so that they would fly as successfully as possible. To test their finished kites, students recently visited a nearby park to fly them, making adjustments to improve them along the way. Afterwards, students reflected on how they could improve their kites so that they could fly higher and for longer periods of time.
'We made kites. It was a pretty good experience for me to learn how to build it and what materials to use. The kite helped me with measuring and using a protractor and ruler. it was helpful. I didn't imagine that it would fly, but I was running and it flew! The weather was beautiful for flying. Thanks to Ms. Laurie for coming to do this with us. I never did a project like this. I really liked it." - Jannat, 10th grade
"My kite is a basic kite, sort of like an irregular diamond. It's disappointing that it didn't fly more, but I had fun making it. I think if there was more wind it would have been better. I want to make another kite that maybe could fly better next time." - Taenisha-Imani, 10th grade
My name is Leneya and my first day of MediaLab was Monday, July 11. The first two days we learned the basics of documentary production and researched our documentary topic: Undocumented Youth. I learned the roles of script supervising and set design. My classmates learned how to operate the digital video cameras, the still camera, the lights, the sound equipment, how to set up a shoot and be directors and producers.
The third day, we went to The New York State Youth Leadership Council which is the only undocumented youth led organization in NY that works on improving access to higher education and creating equal opportunity for immigrant youth and children of immigrants regardless of immigration status through leadership, development, organizing and advocacy. They are working on passing the NY Dream Act, a bill that if passed will allow immigrant youth who have grown up in the US to access to state funded financial aid programs, obtain financial support for their education, ability to enroll in health insurance programs, access to NY state drivers license and equal access to any and all internships. We went there to interview one of their youth leaders, who is a Columbian born undocumented college student at Lehman college, named Melissa. It took us 45 minutes to set up the shoot and make Melissa feel comfortable. As the set designer, I chose the sign that would fit perfectly with the tone of the interview. It read: Pass The Dream Act Now. I also arranged how and where she would sit and helped advise on where the lights and cameras would be placed. It took a few trials to get the set in order.
Through listening to her story, I was able to place myself in her shoes and understand how she feels and the struggles she goes through as an undocumented resident. I was inspired when she shared the quote that her mother and grandmother tell her “ People can steal anything from you, but they can’t steal your education.” This quote is relevant because your education is your key to success and we all need to work on passing The Dream Act so all people have the right to an education. We appreciate how the other members of The New York State Youth Leadership Council were very open to sharing their space with us and allowing us to interview Melissa so she can make the documentary personal.
Blog Post by Leneya
Photography by Kendra
