Oh Good Heavens

   I don't know what I would do if I was facing the daunting task that Romina is.  I need to have a plan, I need to plan out many worst case scenarios, I base this on the norms of a typical high school class, room, and for an allotted 45 minute period.  I don't know what I would do with 45 students for 5 hours in an auditorium like setting!  The ideas talked about in class of moving the bodies to different stations, signage to the different locals, lot's of breaks and assistants is a great start, but God, this seems daunting for a young twenty something to handle!  And THIS is the experience that will contribute to her make-up as a teacher.
   I feel like I could handle the situation with variables.  45 students for 1-2 hours perhaps.  I would have an opportunity to work on projects from start to finish.  Things with construction like chicken wire and paper mache.  Things like teaching design problem solving: posing a question, brainstorming, thumbnails, sharing, and then creating.  Work that can be made into a performance would also be fun for a large group.  But this is providing there is cooperation, quiet to concentrate, and assistance.  I once had the pleasure of working with http://greatsmallworks.org/, a puppet theatre group that helped put together a pageant that was derived from the students.  Maybe there are other organizations that can come in and work with a group, and your time with them is used as mini-lessons to prepare them for this adventure.
   I feel like I could also handle 20 students for 6 hours.  I remember that was the make up of my painting and drawing classes in undergrad.  We worked from about 9-12, took an hour lunch, and then worked for another 2 hours.  It seemed manageable for both the teacher and student.  It was setting up a still life after settling in, and then at the day ended with sharing work, or homework.

   Maybe looking at it as an ideal situation with some tweaking can make it a positive, exciting time, that when you look back on it you can think, "Wow, if I could do that, I can do anything!"  Or maybe "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"