A few months ago--I think it was around October--I started noticing that one of my second graders was filling up his sketchbook with planes. I would give the class a word to draw during their 10-minute drawing, and he would somehow skew it so that the result was always a plane. The planes would vary, but the drawing was always a plane.
The planes might be flying, landing, taking off, or sitting on the runway. They would often hold a popular airline's logo of some sort: Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, British Airways, KLM, or Singapore Airlines. Rarely would they be colored in, but always meticulously drawn in pencil with lots and lots of detail.
I also enjoy flying. It's probably one of my most favorite things to do that doesn't involve me. I've mentioned this before: it's sort of a forced relaxation where I can sit above the clouds and think. No stress. So I was completely drawn to his playful obsession.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an email to his parents and asked them if I could interview him for my blog. I told them that I was interested in asking him some questions about his love for planes. They discussed this possibility as a family and decided it would be okay as long as I protected his name and whatever else he felt was important. This is the first in what I hope will be a bi-monthly series: interviewing students about their work, their creative choices.
I've always been fascinated with children's drawings (mine included). Students give me pictures all the time and I keep them. I have a growing collection, some of them are 10 or more years old. I have them hanging in my house. I even have a triptych that I made for my dad when I was 4. In fact, I found the drawings when I was in his library and going through some books. They just fell out of the book into my hands. And they are beautiful.
All student drawings are beautiful. The lines are fragile and wiggly. The colors are specific and chosen not because they are necessarily the best choice, but because at that moment in time they are the student's most favorite colors--they identify with them personally and emotionally.
This is why I have chosen my first interview candidate. He is making very particular choices about the work he is creating. He is growing a passion, and setting up what will surely be an adventurous life for himself. So without further ado, I present a brief question and answer session with a lovely little second grader named "L".
How old are you? 8. I was born in 2005.
Where are you from? Brisbane, Australia
Why are you interested in planes? Because I--um--was interested in flying.
When was the first time you ever went on a plane? I was 3.
Did you immediately like the plane ride? Yes.
Did your parents notice this? Yes.
Do you go on planes a lot now? Quite a lot. Yes.
What's your favorite thing about planes? The different airlines.
Where's your favorite place to sit? I like to sit near the window, in an emergency row . . . Because if there is an emergency, we can get out. Also the back, and the cockpit.
Why? Because my friend is cabin crew and he said it's more safe to sit at the back. He's part of the Qantas team.
What is your favorite airlines? Malaysia Airlines.
Why? The cabin crew is very nice.
Do you like turbulence? A tiny bit. But if you are eating a meal, it will go everywhere.
Why do you draw planes? When I grow up, I'm planning myself an airline.
You mean you want to own one? Yeah.
So do you want to be a pilot? Yes.
Have you ever been in the cockpit? Only once. The captain asked if we would like to go in the cockpit.
Have you ever been on a runway, but not in an airplane? Only at the Gold Coast Airport, we walked around on the runways.
How many countries have you been to? Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Singapore.
He brought in several drawings to show me. Most of them were designs for the airline he is hoping to start and manage, later on in life. But he kindly told me to erase all signs of the logo and brand name he is planning on using. So I photographed them the best I could, smudging out logos and brand names. Some of the drawings were on sheets of paper that were the same length as he is tall: giant planes with giant internal seating maps. Incredible, I tell you.
Do you have any questions for "L"? If so, please leave them in the comments below.
I find it only appropriate to end this post with one of my favorite music videos from many moons ago . . . A video featuring--what else--planes. Enjoy!
The planes might be flying, landing, taking off, or sitting on the runway. They would often hold a popular airline's logo of some sort: Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, British Airways, KLM, or Singapore Airlines. Rarely would they be colored in, but always meticulously drawn in pencil with lots and lots of detail.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an email to his parents and asked them if I could interview him for my blog. I told them that I was interested in asking him some questions about his love for planes. They discussed this possibility as a family and decided it would be okay as long as I protected his name and whatever else he felt was important. This is the first in what I hope will be a bi-monthly series: interviewing students about their work, their creative choices.
I've always been fascinated with children's drawings (mine included). Students give me pictures all the time and I keep them. I have a growing collection, some of them are 10 or more years old. I have them hanging in my house. I even have a triptych that I made for my dad when I was 4. In fact, I found the drawings when I was in his library and going through some books. They just fell out of the book into my hands. And they are beautiful.
All student drawings are beautiful. The lines are fragile and wiggly. The colors are specific and chosen not because they are necessarily the best choice, but because at that moment in time they are the student's most favorite colors--they identify with them personally and emotionally.
How old are you? 8. I was born in 2005.
Where are you from? Brisbane, Australia
Why are you interested in planes? Because I--um--was interested in flying.
When was the first time you ever went on a plane? I was 3.
Did you immediately like the plane ride? Yes.
Did your parents notice this? Yes.
Do you go on planes a lot now? Quite a lot. Yes.
What's your favorite thing about planes? The different airlines.
Where's your favorite place to sit? I like to sit near the window, in an emergency row . . . Because if there is an emergency, we can get out. Also the back, and the cockpit.
Why? Because my friend is cabin crew and he said it's more safe to sit at the back. He's part of the Qantas team.
Why? The cabin crew is very nice.
Do you like turbulence? A tiny bit. But if you are eating a meal, it will go everywhere.
Do you like landing or take off better? Touch down is my favorite.
Why? Because you are arriving somewhere new.
Why do you draw planes? When I grow up, I'm planning myself an airline.
You mean you want to own one? Yeah.
So do you want to be a pilot? Yes.
Have you ever been in the cockpit? Only once. The captain asked if we would like to go in the cockpit.
Have you ever been on a runway, but not in an airplane? Only at the Gold Coast Airport, we walked around on the runways.
How many countries have you been to? Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Singapore.
He brought in several drawings to show me. Most of them were designs for the airline he is hoping to start and manage, later on in life. But he kindly told me to erase all signs of the logo and brand name he is planning on using. So I photographed them the best I could, smudging out logos and brand names. Some of the drawings were on sheets of paper that were the same length as he is tall: giant planes with giant internal seating maps. Incredible, I tell you.
Do you have any questions for "L"? If so, please leave them in the comments below.
I find it only appropriate to end this post with one of my favorite music videos from many moons ago . . . A video featuring--what else--planes. Enjoy!
