Finding New Hobbies, Tuesday 5/27, Period 1

[stykera]

Class this week was back in a classroom and not in the library. The library aides wouldn’t have enjoyed the mess that might result from today’s activity being done in the library.

A table at the front contained potting soil, varied pots, and a selection of both seeds and plant starts.

“I thought this week we could try gardening,” Stark said. “Although there’s no garden here, just pots for plants. Not everyone has space for outdoor plants but some of you do and all of you ought to have space for at least a little pot.”

Not that kind of pot, Stewart, although you could grow that if you wanted. Stark just hadn’t brought any of those plants with him.

“Taking care of plants can be very…calming,” Stark said. “Meditative. For some people. Some hate it. Some people find it frustrating or just aren’t good at plants. Some plants are easier than others. I have sunflower seeds, because those grow very easily. And I have a few other flowers that grow quickly and easily. Dirt goes into the pots, seeds go into the dirt, and then you add water and you wait. The little plants also go into a pot with some dirt and then get watered but they require less waiting. Since they’ve already started.”

He nodded at the assortment of baby plants. “Some are vegetables.” No zucchini though, it might take over the island. “Some are different flowers, as you can see, and then some are succulents. There’s special dirt for those and they need much less water than the others do. I have…here.” He picked up a pile of papers. “Some pointers on various plants. Especially the succulents. Wouldn’t want to drown them.”

“Oh, I have gloves here if anyone wants to use them. You can choose your plants and your pots. Some of the plants will grow well together in a larger container, but not all of them will work well like that. So…plant some things. Maybe learn a bit about the ones you choose.”

Stark looked at the assembled students. “It’s a good way to keep busy, plants. The planting, tending to them, removing dead leaves and flowers, and sometimes they’re just nice to look at. So, let’s get started.”

Norse Life, Tuesday, Period 2

[ifwebeworthy]

Today, upon entering the Danger Shop, the students would find themselves back on the same stretch of beach as last week, this time with a boat.

"Today, I thought we could go sailing!" Thor greeted his students. "Behold the longship, used by the Vikings for many an exploit!" He began to expound on the ship's many fine qualities, such as its light weight and design, which made it possible to reverse direction without turning the ship around, before handwavily explaining the basics of how to row and maneuver such a ship. "Now, quickly, all aboard and we shall set out upon the sea! Fear not that you shall have to row overmuch; we are guaranteed a fine wind for our sail." By programming, not his powers. That was why they were doing this here instead of on the real beach with a real boat (well, that and the reduced risk of anyone drowning): nothing could get away from him and turn into a summer storm.

Paintball, Monday, May 27, 2025

[heroic_jawline]

"You don't get paintball guns today," Steve announced as the contenders arrived. "Instead, we've added buckets of paint throughout the course. You can use them to throw at each other, but if you set off one of the tripwires and get covered, you're just as out as you would be if you got shot."

Tony was positively beaming at this. "They're prototypes. Real world feedback is going to be great."

Yes, they allowed him to do this to his class. Thank the moose, everyone.

"It's going to be so great," Steve said enthusiastically.

Assuming, of course, that Thor wasn't gunning for him. Bucketing for him?

"Oh, we added hoods for the suits for this," Tony said. "Because paint buckets."

"And helmets because we've met you," Steve added a little wryly.

The Wonderful World of Art [Tuesday, 3rd Period]

[jedigrammarians]

"Conceptual art," Aphra announced to the class. Almost randomly. "The most abstract of abstract art."

Not that they'd explained abstract art. Or post-modernism, or even just plain modernism. You know, the kind of things that might give the class some background here.

"At its best, it challenges ideas about culture, politics, the idea of art itself," Aphra continued without care in the world. "At its worst, it's random nonsense. And sometimes the the only difference between the two is your ability to spine a line convincing people your random nonsense has meaning." She did not sound like she thought this was an entirely bad thing.

"And how much you're able to con out of someone with too much money and too little sense of aesthetics," Isabela added. Helpfully.

"So today we'd like you to pick out a random medium, create something, then swap art with a classmate and explain your new artwork's deep and meaningful meaning."