The Renaissance Award
"The Renaissance Award recognizes those among us who demonstrate extraordinary amounts of effort and preparation in their solutions or outstanding skill in engineering, design or performance."
As a parent who is sick of participation trophies for 5 year olds who can't pay attention long enough to remember what direction to run around the bases, I am particularly pleased that some kid activities refuse to do that. Destination Imagination is not perfect, but I really appreciate it that awards are reserved for those that deserve them. The different challenges are all judged by specific criteria. Some, like the structure weight and how much it holds, is concrete. Some, like the skit or the approach to the problem, are subjective. And some awards, like the Renaissance Award, are awarded only if the judges decide they should be awarded.
As I heard the announcer read the nomination for The Renaissance Award aloud, I recognized my daughter's team. They have a skit about the bombing of Nagasaki. Mary plays the role of a tree that survives the bombing and advises some school children. The skirt is made of elaborate newspaper loops. They have to remake the top portion of the costume for every performance.
"This costume was just plain cute, but also played a central role in tying the team's skit together. It was clear that much time and effort had been spent on both design and construction. The team used this costume to schowcase much of their research."
I watched the kids react as they too recognized their creation. They bounded forward to accept their special award.
The team did not do so well overall. After an impressive structure and skit performance, they fell apart in the Instant Challenge portion of the competition (they get a problem, tools, and a short period of time to solve the problem under the scrutiny of judges) and placed fourth overall. They still qualified for State and they have already begun talking about how they can improve their team skills so that their Instant Challenge doesn't impede their overall score.
"I want to make the skirt even bigger!" Mary exclaimed. "And make something for my head!" She turned the skirt upside down and the loops of newspaper fell over her face. They all laughed.
It is said too often, but I really do feel it is true about this activity, the benefit is in the process, not the result. But the awards are nice, too. ;-)
As a parent who is sick of participation trophies for 5 year olds who can't pay attention long enough to remember what direction to run around the bases, I am particularly pleased that some kid activities refuse to do that. Destination Imagination is not perfect, but I really appreciate it that awards are reserved for those that deserve them. The different challenges are all judged by specific criteria. Some, like the structure weight and how much it holds, is concrete. Some, like the skit or the approach to the problem, are subjective. And some awards, like the Renaissance Award, are awarded only if the judges decide they should be awarded.
As I heard the announcer read the nomination for The Renaissance Award aloud, I recognized my daughter's team. They have a skit about the bombing of Nagasaki. Mary plays the role of a tree that survives the bombing and advises some school children. The skirt is made of elaborate newspaper loops. They have to remake the top portion of the costume for every performance.
"This costume was just plain cute, but also played a central role in tying the team's skit together. It was clear that much time and effort had been spent on both design and construction. The team used this costume to schowcase much of their research."
I watched the kids react as they too recognized their creation. They bounded forward to accept their special award.
The team did not do so well overall. After an impressive structure and skit performance, they fell apart in the Instant Challenge portion of the competition (they get a problem, tools, and a short period of time to solve the problem under the scrutiny of judges) and placed fourth overall. They still qualified for State and they have already begun talking about how they can improve their team skills so that their Instant Challenge doesn't impede their overall score.
"I want to make the skirt even bigger!" Mary exclaimed. "And make something for my head!" She turned the skirt upside down and the loops of newspaper fell over her face. They all laughed.
It is said too often, but I really do feel it is true about this activity, the benefit is in the process, not the result. But the awards are nice, too. ;-)
posted by Lea at 7:09 AM
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