I hope you had a great week! My family and I have been navigating this transitional time as we slowly get into the groove of school. Their pod school has begun in earnest affording them two afternoons out in nature, learning and exploring. It’s heartening to see that their childlike enthusiasm has returned after months of making do and isolating. Our tutoring begins next week, so we will continue to adjust as we’ve been doing almost on a daily basis since March. So I guess you could say we’ve had a ‘soft opening’ when it comes to back-to-school. LOL
Back in May, if you would have mentioned the term ‘pod school’ to me I would have thought you were suggesting an Apple educational app. Now, that phrase is firmly in our vernacular. As I helped my daughter design ‘Pod School 2020’ t-shirts for her cohort, it got me thinking about how we’ve all been required to cocoon in one way or another. If you’re like me, you may even want a single pod for some peace and quiet. A ‘she-shed’ could provide an escape from the most triggering three words: “What’s for dinner?” An innocent enough question, but when it's asked at 8:30 am..it gets to be a bit much.
This week we look at how we’re collectively forming our own pods...whether it’s college students living and studying together in a distinct group, re-imagining the office cube or finding your solace in a remote cabin. This concept may be with us for a while, so it’s useful to think about how we can best find our happy place and soak in serenity.
For those of you in the U.S., have a great holiday! For the rest of you, have a wonderful, restful weekend.
Suzanne
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- A buzzword in our new normal- but what does it actually mean? This article explains what a social bubble or “pod” looks like in practice
- In a time when all available educational options look somewhat unconventional, college students worldwide have found some truly unique approaches to online classes
- Need your solo escape pod? Here are some great ‘she-sheds’ to inspire you
- Could this new cube design be the answer to the WFH/busy office conundrum?
- The modern cabin aesthetic many people are dreaming of during quarantine has grown in popularity- and these architects are sharing their designs
- A new study highlights the ways online exercise groups benefit participants (hint: social interaction is a major component!)
- With all of this talk of quarantine “bubbles”, a Naple, Florida restaurant has installed literal social distancing bubbles for outdoor seating
- See the Apollo 11 Space Command module in 3D
- VRBO suggests some pods to rent that may just give you that getaway you needed
Things to Do Around the World
- One of kids’ favorite aspects of a typical school year- a field trip. Click here for the St. Louis Zoo’s synchronous virtual field trips for individuals or small groups, and click here to read about all the virtual field trips planned by museums in Milwaukee
- This podcast from the Air and Space museum keeps you up to date on the latest in the country’s most popular museum
- These resources from the National Gallery of Art are perfect for virtual learners of any age
- This podcast from the BBC offers latest in short stories for your entertainment