With week 1 quickly coming to an end, ORA students at Balliol College have immersed themselves in the activities on offer and had a fun time doing so.
Masterclasses
On Tuesday, students attended a series of Masterclasses to try their hand at something new and exciting.
Some went to the Soap Science Masterclass, where they got to learn how to make soap and create original and colourful bars to take home. Others opted for the Creative Writing Masterclass, giving them the chance to improve their writing skills and let their imaginations run wild. A few chose instead to join the Salsa Lessons class and attempt to learn the fast and exhilarating dance, whilst film fanatics joined the Hollywood Cut Masterclass to find out how to edit movies.
Natural History Museum
With Masterclasses successfully completed, students were treated to a day of museum visits later in the week. Pupils went to the Natural History Museum, the Ashmolean and the Pitt Rivers Museum, a selection of the finest collections in Oxford. The shrunken heads awed students at the Pitt Rivers Museum, whilst the impressive classical sculpture at the Ashmolean inspired creativity and calmness. Students learnt a great deal and many developed a curiosity about the past through their visit to the world-famous museums.
Evening Activities
Evening activities this week included a range of board games and the chance to create a tie dye shirt. The shirt designs were all original and eccentric, with each appearing unique in its own way. Pupils agreed it was an entertaining activity and were pleased with their results.
For those still seeking a creative outlet, cupcake decorating was another popular choice, and the icing and sprinkles covered the tables as marvellous designs were created.
Real Tennis
An exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity this week was the chance to play Real Tennis, a game supposedly introduced by King Henry VIII in the 16th Century. This game differs from modern tennis, as the walls can be used to bounce the ball over the net – think a mixture between squash and tennis. With very few places actually offering the chance to play Real Tennis nowadays this was an amazing chance to try something with historical foundations in England.
Tonight ORA host their end-of-week Venetian party for students staying at Balliol and there are bound to be amazing photos coming in over the weekend, so stay tuned!
