Happy new week from the Spark Studio! We’re “snow” excited to share highlights from our “frostastic” week!
In the spirit of the new year, the Spark heroes accepted the challenge of extending their core skills time (focused on reading, math, and writing) from 1 hour and 45 minutes to 1 hour and 55 minutes. They agreed to the goal to reach two hours by the end of this session. The learners seamlessly embraced the extended learning time and all agreed that they didn’t notice the additional minutes ticking away! Time flies when you’re having fun.
They also agreed to practice a new way of goal-setting. Instead of tying goals to a specific number of problems or pages, they are engaged in the “Marshmallow Challenge.” To earn a marshmallow, each learner selects an area of focus for each of the four sections of time. Throughout that section, they stay committed to maintaining a “marshmallow body” – a quiet body and voice, ensuring they do not distract others as well as staying focused on the work they have chosen. This shift has significantly increased focus and provided more freedom for learners to choose Montessori tools that resonate with their interests.
During this week’s Buildings and ‘Bots Quest, the children explored the purpose of bridges and the factors influencing their strength. In small groups, learners tested materials to create bridges that would successfully support the crossing of our “Three Billy Goats.” Additionally, the quest included an engaging Lego bridge-building activity, adding a creative dimension to our learning experience.
As part of our weekly Hero Spotlight morning launches, we explored the life of Martin Luther King Jr. The learners reflected on his impactful words in his “I Have a Dream” speech, and shared their own dreams on how to make the world a better place.
We’re looking forward to more exploration, discovery, and growth in the Spark Studio next week!
Kicking off the “Coding & Robotics” Quest this Session!
What a fun week back in Discovery to kick-off the new year! This session, the heroes are embarking on explorations of mathematics, the middles-ages, coding and robotics, gratitude, passion projects, learning-to-be badges and taking responsibility for their own journey meetings with parents.
Mathematics Exploration
We consistently work to integrate mathematics into everything that we do in the Discovery studio. For instance, asking the heroes to total and average up their own points to calculate their core skills “freedom level.” This week they learned about “pro ration” and how to pro-rate their points for a three-day week.
This session though, we are explicitly exploring mathematics through a few challenges. The first is the “Be Sal Khan” challenge where the heroes can choose to use ClipChamp to create a math lesson video which will be shared at the exhibition. There is arguably no better way to learn a concept than to have to teach it.
We are also closing the days with math fluency games, like speed math BINGO, and math books like Sir Cumference series and the Multiplying Menace, to just name a few.
Finally, both the Discovery and Spark heroes will explore mathematics in art. Ms. Lauren, our art specialist, has planned an entire session dedicated to concepts like symmetry, geometry, patterns, hidden numbers, and fractions.
We also continue to have a math power hour every Friday where the children play challenging math games!
Coding & Robotics Quest
This session the Discovery Heroes launched the coding and robotics quest. They are completing a course on code.org and learning logical block coding. They seem to be having a blast because a number of them made the choice to code during their free time. Over the course of the quest, the children will also engage in some “unplugged group challenges” to explore concepts like loops, conditionals and variables. Finally, they will build and program Mbots towards the end of the session!
Fascination Friday
This sessions’ “Fridays Reward” will come in the form of “Fascination Fridays.” A number of the children have passion projects they would like to pursue, and this is a block of time where they can focus on those passions. Two children are working to launch a drama club and would like to put on a play – they were inspired by the partner plays they did during the Ancient Athens quest. One chose to spend his Fascination Friday coding. And two others spent the time in the makerspace practicing bubble letters and using the lightbox to draw famous ships like the Titanic and Edmund Fitzgerald. He may make a coloring book out of the outlines to sell at the upcoming Acton Children’s Business Fair.
Gratitude and Learning to Be Badges
As a group, the heroes are exploring gratitude through this session’s communications challenge: a gratitude letter. In order to brainstorm things they are grateful for, the heroes started a gratitude wall which they will keep going this week.
Each hero also chose a Learning to Be badge to focus on this session. A few chose the gratitude badge which requires them to complete a significant number of character callouts of their fellow heroes!
Civilization
In Civilization, we completed the Ancient Times book and will start now on the Middle Ages. It’s the fall of Rome, and now Britain, and its population of barbarians, is emerging as the new European power. During civilization, the children work on coloring pages related to the topic, and then engage in a formal Socratic discussion about the text. In future sessions, we will build in some civilization research challenges!
Upcoming Journey Meetings
In the spirit of taking responsibility for their own learning, the Discovery heroes will be setting new goals for the next two sessions and preparing to hold their own journey meetings with their parents at home. The journey meetings will focus primarily on core skills, how they are moving through their badge plans, and demonstrating that they are in charge of, and care about their learning and growth!
Happy New Year from the vibrant Spark studio! This week was filled with excitement as we warmly welcomed a new friend into our creative space. Together, the children revisited the promises, systems, and expectations that set the foundation for our amazing learning journey at the the beginning of this year.
The Spark heroes enjoyed the launch of the “Building and ‘Bots” quest by designing and creating mini-treehouses using the materials in the makerspace – pure creativity unleashed!
The Spark guide had a mishap over the break – a sprained ankle from tripping while carrying laundry down a staircase. However, this unexpected twist taught the children a valuable life lesson. It shed light on the fact that adults, too, can use a helping hand, and it doesn’t always have to come from another adult. Any act of kindness, regardless of age, leaves a lasting impact.
It was truly heartwarming to see each Spark hero offer assistance as the Spark guide maneuvered her way through the days on a wheeled scooter and crutches. They also served as leaders, embracing the studio’s latest joiner and showing her the daily ropes of being a member of the Spark community.
Here’s to a year filled with growth, kindness, and lots of smiles!
Designing and Building Treehouses Using Materials from the Makerspace – part of this session’s “Buildings & ‘Bots” Quest in Spark
Using Montessori Materials for Core Skills Allows Children to Work at Their Own Pace
At Acton Academy Madison West, children unleash their creativity and making-skills everyday in our STEAM-based makerspace. You can do the same at home. Rather than toss those holiday boxes and wrappings, re-use them to create a mini-makerspace.
Makerspaces are fun, and support the development of the 4C’s: creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.
Key Materials and Tools
We often think of makerspaces as high-tech, but low-tech materials are a treasure trove to children: cardboard, gift wrap, ribbons, paper towel tubes, plastic containers, fabric, egg cartons, bottle caps, yarn, paint, clothespins and toothpicks, etc. Tools include scissors, markers, paintbrushes, and glue.
That should be plenty to keep your child engaged. However, for inspiration, here is a list of all we keep in Acton Academy’s makerspace for weekly art, choice-time and ongoing project-based, thematic “quests” like “Newton’s Physics of Toys” or “Exploring Ancient Athens.”
Prompts
Often it’s enough for adults to step back and let children employ their innate creativity. However, a prompt can be useful:
Take apart and rebuild a broken appliance together
Solve problems for characters in books – for example, create a strong wolf-proof home for three little pigs or build a bridge for the chicken to cross the road
Let children fix their own broken toys
Create a habitat for their favorite animal
Explore the work of other makers – this current MMoCA exhibit is wonderful example of using everyday items to make art
Focus on Process
Finally, focus on the process of making rather than the “right” outcome. This approach allows children to use their own imagination while building confidence in their creative and problem-solving abilities.
Younger and older heroes creating an ancient sistrum (musical instrument) together at the session-end Exhibition of Learning
The Discovery Heroes wrapped up their Acton Athens quest this week! As with every thing we do at Acton, it was an opportunity for the children to “learn to learn.” They choose from myriad “doing” challenges each day: knit a hat, build an abacus, create a wax tablet and write your name in Greek, make a sistrum (ancient musical instrument), engage in a “Socratic Smackdown” and many more! The children enjoyed the hands-on nature of this quest, as well as the freedom to “choose their own adventure” each day. The greatest learning though, was building the knowledge and confidence that they could learn to do things on their own, either by reading through and following step-by-step instructions or watching curated YouTube videos. And they built new skills through “doing.”
How many times have you looked up a recipe online? Or a new cooking technique? Taken a class? Humans never stop learning and children at Acton begin to see themselves as agents in their own learning, rather than empty vessels dependent on teachers and adults to fill them up with knowledge.
Another fun element the heroes explored this week was drama! They engaged in “partner plays” as an active way to learn Greek myths. Two heroes have been inspired to work with the rest of the school to put on a play!
The exhibition was a success! For the first time, the heroes created feedback forms which all attendees completed. The average rating was a 4.5 / 5. After every exhibition, the children reflect on what went well, and what they would like to do better next time. They realized there is a need for an emcee and more clear instructions for the attendees.
At the end of the week, the heroes competed in their very own Acton Winter Olympics! The children have been planning the Olympics since September when they began practicing new sports like the biathlon, hockey, snowboarding and bobsled! We are so grateful to Ms. Kathryn who volunteered as our PE specialist and brought in so much cool equipment as well as creativity to simulate these sports without snow! One the heroes’ favorite days was “bobsled” races with scooters outside!
The children also completed their “pitch-a-pet” persuasive writings! They voted for a mini-loop rabbit as the class pet. Next step: develop a plan for a rabbit’s care and commit to it via a contract to address things like, who will feed and water the rabbit each day? When can they play with the rabbit? Who will care for it during breaks and over the summer?
Looking Forward
The heroes are looking forward to next session after the holidays. Some things to expect:
Core skills and S.M.A.R.T. Goals: with the Guide, they will reset their core skills S.M.A.R.T. goals, and lead journey meetings engage in journey meetings (our version of parent-teacher conferences) in January
Quest: Coding and Robotics!
Communications Challenge: Letter to a Hero
Focus on Math: Lots of fun math-focused storybooks and a “Be Sal Khan” teaching video challenge!
The heroes wrapped up a fun curiosity-Sparking session this week. Here is a glimpse into the highlights:
The young Spark learners delved into the wonders of grassland habitats! They engaged in hands-on activities to create a vibrant habitat collage to bring their collaborative grassland to life.
To close out the winter celebrations quest, the children explored the winter celebrations of Christmas and the Winter Solstice—learners engaged in festive activities and discussions, discovering the traditions associated with these special occasions.
A highlight of the week was our school-wide Winter Olympics! Spark learners showcased their sportsmanship and teamwork in various activities, adding a dash of friendly competition to our spirited week.
Another highlight for the Spark learners was completing their first read-aloud studio chapter book, “Wayside School”! They are looking forward to reading the next book in the series when we all return in the new year.
Finally, the Spark heroes engaged their parents at their final exhibition. Some chose to share their latest learnings in core skills using Montessori materials. They also showed off their art works and quest works on display: ancient Greek pottery, holiday ornaments and decorations, snow globes, collaborative collages and artistic renderings of holiday celebrations!
As we bid farewell to this wonderful week, we are excited about the upcoming unit on Robots and Building quest when we return in the new year. Get ready for an adventure in creativity and innovation!
Wishing all Spark families a joyful winter break filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments. We look forward to welcoming our learners back in the new year for more learning adventures!
One of our promises to families who attend Acton Academy Madison West is that we won’t come between parents and their children. This includes family time. We offer flexibility for family travel and we don’t assign homework that can creep into home life.
As the hustle of holidays is upon us, how can families maintain this cherished time together? Here are three Acton practices that can help:
Be Together – Acton schools have a strong culture of reading. We set aside time everyday to “drop everything and read” in a cozy, comfortable spot. Families who commit to reading aloud together at home, share more intimacy. You care together about the characters and what will happen next. You may be sad when a story ends, and look forward together to the next one. Give a book to your whole family this holiday to read together. This is one of our favorite lists to inspire you.
Be Intentional – at Acton, each family develops a plan, inspired by the book The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family. Together, parents and children write a mission statement, a set of values, and a rallying cry – or goal – they are all excited about. Maybe it’s a challenge to consistently have family dinners, or spend more time outdoors. Whatever it is, it’s meaningful to every family member and ensures that time a family spends together is purposeful.
Be Curious – it’s easy to take each other for granted. At Acton, we create rituals where we get curious about our friends and their journeys. One of our favorite tools are conversation cards full of interesting and thought-provoking prompts. Oh, and they make a great holiday gift!
Focusing in on Montessori core skills on the “space rug.”
It was an exciting week in Spark, filled with exploration, creativity, and a touch of dance magic! Here is a peek into the highlights:
World Culture and Celebrations
In the exploration of world cultures and celebrations, the Spark heroes learned about Kwanza, delving into its principles and customs. To bring the spirit of Kwanza into the studio, each hero crafted their own Kwanza Kinara—a beautiful representation of unity, self-determination, collaboration, and responsibility.
Quest: Animals and Day at the Zoo!
Our animal habitat exploration continued with a focus on deserts and the Arctic. Collaboratively, the Spark heroes crafted two unique posters showcasing each habitat’s distinctive animals and landscapes. So much teamwork and creativity!
Putting their newfound habitat knowledge to the test, the children embarked on an exciting zoo trip! The young explorers closely observed and compared the habitats of various animals, discovering how each creature is perfectly adapted to its surroundings.
Art
This week they got a glimpse into Acton Athens with the Discovery heroes and completed their tie dye togas and “ancient” pottery!
Core Skills
The heroes are loving core skills. They have built a strong morning routine of getting into “flow” and learning so much through the hands-on exploration of Montessori math, reading and writing materials. It’s impressive to see their focus and persistence in learning new concepts!
As another busy week passes, we eagerly anticipate more exciting discoveries in the coming week. Stay tuned for upcoming lessons on winter celebrations around the world and further explorations into the world of animals!
The Acton Athens quest is proving to be a favorite! The heroes are working hard and having a lot of fun exploring the quest areas: Oikos (home), Academia (the Academy), Stoa (place of debate), and Agora (marketplace).
Each day the heroes learn a bit about ancient Greece. For instance, do you know about the myth of the Minotaur? And did you know it’s an example of the way ancient cultures used stories to explain natural phenomena? In this case, it helps explain the many earthquakes in Crete.
They also explored some of Plato’s ideas about music and its effect on a person’s ethos. Ask your hero if they think music has the power to subdue, or even make a person angry.
Art – Ancient Greek Pottery
In art, the children explored the ancient art of pottery. They look at historical designs for inspiration, and designed their piece using markers and watercolor. Then they created the actual pottery piece.
They were also thrilled to complete their tie-dye togas and all enjoyed donning them for the day! They put them on anytime they get into their time machines and travel to Acton Athens.
Pitch-a-Pet
The heroes have been working on hard on their persuasive writing. Each hero has researched a potential studio pet, and using logos (facts, logic), pathos (emotion, story), and ethos (data, expert testimony), to craft a compelling pitch. What new friend will be joining our studio!?
Zoo Field Trip
What a great time the heroes all had exploring possible exotic pets at the Zoo. Just kidding 🙂 But the pitch-a-pet challenge was a wonderful reason to explore all the amazing animals at Henry Vilas Zoo. Ask your child which animal was their favorite!
The Tango?
As an aside, some of the heroes are showing an interest in the tango and partner dancing. Something we will need to explore!
Heroes lead their own discussions in Stoa where they engage in “Socratic Smackdowns” to explore ancient Greek philosophers and their philosophies!
This week in Spark, the heroes set sail on an adventurous journey, exploring the magic of winter celebrations and the enchanting habitats of our planet’s creatures. Here’s a peek into what they have been up to this week!
This session, they are embarking on a global exploration of winter celebrations. Our first stop? Hanukkah! We lit up the week by delving into the traditions and stories of the Festival of Lights through crafts, books, and songs.
In addition to celebrations around the world, Spark learners are taking a close look at the different habitats animals live in. This week we took a deep dive into the mysteries of the ocean and the enchantment of the forest. Through hands-on activities and engaging lessons, they uncovered the secrets of these diverse ecosystems, meeting fascinating creatures along the way. Creativity soared as they collaborated to craft vibrant habitats filled with the wonders of ocean and forest life.
The excitement for the upcoming holidays has already begun, so we decided to channel that energy into a Winter Break Countdown Chain! Each day, our learners eagerly take turns removing a ring, unveiling a new winter or animal fact. It’s a daily dose of joy, bringing us closer to the magic of the holiday break.
Feel free to sprinkle some curiosity into your conversations with your little explorers. Ask them about their favorite winter celebration traditions or the incredible creatures they encountered in the ocean and forest habitats!
Wishing you a week filled with winter wonders and whimsy!
The Discovery heroes continued with their marine science quest this week! First, they examined a couple of real fish specimens. The heroes were fascinated by their scales and eyes. The next day, they explored marine food webs. Some were surprised to learn that humans are at the top of the marine food web, and explored Read more…
This week’s focus was growth mindset. We explored questions like are you born smart or do you get smarter with hard work? We also discussed the word “yet” and explored how powerful it can be when we encounter a challenge, as in “I can’t do this……YET.” We’ve continued to explore weather through books and activities. Read more…
This week, our Discovery heroes dove even deeper into the mysteries of the ocean with an exciting project on light and how it transforms underwater. They started by cutting out deep sea glasses and taping them onto file folders. Next, they taped blue film over the eye holes, allowing the glasses to filter light similarly Read more…
