Summer in the City Session Two Week One

The first week of Summer in the City Session 2 was a blast! Students developed new relationships while learning about social skills, managing problems, tolerance, and more.

On Monday, the students and staff members became acquainted with each other with some introductions about themselves and where they are from. Students made a Coat of Arms which highlighted their personal interests and values.  The team also discussed expectations for the program, and each student set a goal for themselves and came up with ways to achieve their goal. Once everyone got to know each other, we took advantage of the sunny weather by walking across the historical Brooklyn Bridge. Everyone was appreciative of the beautiful views and students were able to have a fun time while getting some exercise.

Students visited The Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum on Tuesday.  We had a lot of fun exploring the many levels and decks of the ship. We were able to view fighter pilots and helicopters, among many other very cool exhibits. In the afternoon, we began to talk about tolerance, and the importance of accepting different people. We also played a fun game of Boggle in order to help sharpen vocabulary.

On Wednesday, the students visited the Central Park Zoo and were able to observe and learn about a variety of animal species. Students were especially intrigued by the two grizzly bears playing in their natural habitat. During the afternoon, students participated in an Introduction to Communications lesson to give them an opportunity to experience a college-like class. Students reflected on the statement, “Communication is much more of an art than science,” by identifying whether they agreed with this statement while incorporating information to support their view. Students also discussed the communication model of sender/receiver and brainstormed strategies necessary to be an active listener.

On Thursday, students viewed the film, “Tiny Giants” in IMAX and explored the Space and Earth exhibit at the Hayden Planetarium.  Back at the office, students learned about stress management and how to incorporate coping strategies in situations where they feel impatient and uncomfortable. Students also discussed how to manage stress through meditation. We defined and discussed strategies on how to meditate to relieve stress and other body tensions.

Students demonstrated amazing progress in just one week and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and build relationships with each other next week!