Session 4, Week 1
I know of no better way to ring in a New Year than to spend it with high energy, engaged young people. Heroes walked into the door excited to be back (albeit a little tired) and the excitement grew throughout the week as they plunged into their Session 4 quests and focuses.
The Spark Studio will dive into a study of Ancient Greece during Session 4. To start off the new session AND the brand new year we began our day with the Greek Myth of ‘Phaeton and the Sun Chariot’. This myth talks of the rise and fall of the sun each day. Many of the Greek myths are stories told as a way for the people to make sense of the world around them. This particular myth might have been a way to make sense of why the sun rises and falls each day. “Midas and the Golden Touch’ might have been a way to teach younger children to appreciate what they have and not be envious of others.
This week heroes explored new Montessori works associated with Greek culture: weaving, architecture, learning currency, map skills, and various Greek myths.
For the CHOICE work cycle, in order to help us imagine we were entering an ancient city, we launched with a story (Attack at the Arena) about two cousins getting ready to go back to ancient Rome. Heroes explored olive branch wreaths & togas,
Stories & themed games…
architecture, and creativity.
We started learning the 7’s skip counting song & reinforced the song as we earned our pretend money for the market. As the quest progresses we will participate in the Agora (Market), Olympia, Dionysia (theatrical performances), and develop other skills that were part of everyday life in Ancient Athens.
On the first day of Session 4, Fire Studio heroes were welcomed to a Happy New Year 2044! Heroes imagined what they might look, feel, and think like in the year 2044, and heard a possible scenario of how 31 amazing young people are changing the world, thanks to their unique passions and strengths.
Back in the year 2024, a good game of Shoe Throw got heroes discussing ways they have grown, changed, or influenced others so far this school year. This session is the high point of the learning arc this school year and high point energy and enthusiasm were evident in the game.
Squads reacquainted with one another through plenty of game time and also took on a challenge to learn about and share with the studio ways other countries and cultures celebrate the New Year.
On Wednesday, heroes celebrated Socrates, the ancient Greek thinker whose philosophy guides our many Socratic discussions each day. Heroes imagined themselves in the shoes of Socrates and Plato as they put their lives on the line to help new generations of learners ask questions and think for themselves on their Hero’s Journey. They also took on a squad challenge to learn to play the ancient Greek game, Knucklebones; the winning squads getting to choose first their squad mascot (Greek Letter) for the session.
In Civ, heroes didn’t shy away from deep and difficult topics as they studied and discussed the Holocaust. Some heroes chose to read Twenty and Ten, a story about 20 young learners who bravely decided to hide 10 Jewish orphaned children from Nazi soldiers and consider what it might feel like to be in their position as a Fire Studio.
With a new year and new session, heroes were motivated to set weekly goals and jump into Core Skill learning, during both silent and collaborative work time. It’s going to be a great year!
During quest this session, we’re exploring the world of ancient Greece. While many of the heroes are already familiar with the deities and mythology of ancient Greece, activities around the daily life, government, warfare, sports, arts, and philosophy are proving equally interesting and engaging. So engaging that many heroes were found working on their challenges before school, after school and during lunch! Their challenges are earning them coins which they will use to create a special exhibition for their parents and guests.
The week started off with a tough challenge requiring some patience and fine motor skills. Initial frustration gave way to excitement as the heroes who mastered the skill eagerly shared their newfound abilities with others who were struggling.
The DELTA Studio started off the new year and Session 4, with a renewed commitment to what it means to be part of the DELTA Studio.
We started off focusing on “Being part of – contributing to- an inclusive tribe”
We experimented with new systems to improve our “200% Accountability”.
There is no picture of this, but we are testing daily huddles. Rather than strikes, heroes meet briefly each day and give one another verbal cool and warm feedback as to how they are living up to their promises.
And accepted the consequences when we didn’t live up to that accountability.
We will explore our remaining three commitments: Using my freedom to work hard and grow, Mentoring others to help them grow, and Discovering and developing my callings and gifts in later weeks.
The DS heroes experienced quite the dramatic start to their new Medical Biology Quest when on Day 1 the heroes had to unexpectedly deal with arterial bleeding, a fractured pelvis, diabetic symptoms, choking, and heart trauma! Let’s just say many patients did not survive, and there may have been a few brief moments of panic that the simulations were real 😳.
It was a fun, high energy intro to explain that Exhibition will be a simulation where heroes will have the opportunity to triage patients, order the correct tests, read the results and correctly diagnose their patients in order to save their lives! This will require a great deal of learning about the body systems over the next few weeks.
The Heroes then moved on to different team challenges answering biology questions, solving puzzles to learn the Question for the Quest theme, “Should your Doctor be in charge of your health?”, and enjoying a healthy snack together.
Heroes were introduced to their medical teams for the session and collaborated on a Medical Team name and symbol.
This week was a crash course into learning the systems within the body so they can begin to dig deeper into the medical world these coming weeks. It’s pretty nice to witness a hero asking other heroes if they want to read medical books together!
On Tuesday we heard comments such as “this is impossible!”, “why would I know the answer to this?” Yet by Thursday they were already having discussions about being in charge of their own body, discussing gut health, and asking if it is ethical for companies to make products knowing it affects different systems in the body. They now know the word -derm means skin, and cardi- means heart…the language of the medical world is already becoming part of chit-chat in the studio.
The DS Heroes came back to school in the New Year with a new attitude. Heroes are more aware of what it means to be part of the DS and are striving to live it. They dug into challenges, worked hard, had fun together, and are striving to hold themselves and others more accountable. My favorite moment of the week however, had nothing to do with guide challenges or invitations. It was completely learned driven. On Thursday morning before school started, a few DS heroes saw that the neighbor’s garbage can had tipped over and garbage was spilled all over the street. Heroes gathered other heroes and they went outside and had a glorious time picking up the neighbors spilled trash. That moment epitomized the tribe they are striving to build and the incredible young people they are!
I have no doubt that the other two studios would have done the same thing! CHOICE is truly made of thoughtful, capable, inspiring young people who are seizing the opportunities given them to develop themselves and bless the world. As I observed all three studios this week, I had such great hope and excitement for not only Session 4, but for 2024 and all the years to come. Our future is in good hands!