The Discovery heroes kicked of the new session by transporting themselves to Ancient Greece! Each morning, they climb into their time machines and transport themselves to Acton Athens, where they become their Greek hero avatar (there is a Poseidon, a Hephaestus, an Athena…..) and don their laurel wreath headwear. This week they compared and contrasted life in ancient Athens and Sparta, and thought deeply about questions like: is it fair to judge ancient cultures by today’s mores and values? would you prefer to be an Athenian or a Spartan? and what was more important to thrive then vs today: physical strength, mental acuity, or emotional resilience?
During quest they dive into projects like creating a wax tablet and learning the Greek alphabet, creating a salt-dough map and learning about geography, or sculpting a Greek hero, as well as engaging as a group in “Socratic Smackdowns” focused on the philosophies of Socrates, Aristotle, Plato and more.
During art, the heroes tie-dyed Greek togas and are excited to start wearing them soon. During athletics, the heroes planned the end-of-session Acton Olympics. And the end of each day we read aloud Homer’s Iliad.
So far, the children are quipping, “this quest is so much fun!”
But the fun this session isn’t stopping there. They are also working to develop persuasive pitches that they will present at the exhibition, pitching their ideas for a studio pet! There is no guarantee we will purchase a pet, but we will certainly consider a pet if all heroes and guides agree on contract terms related to care and maintenance. So far, the children have been focused on researching pet ideas and developing the “logos” (facts) portion of their pitch. They’ve researched animal characteristics, habitats, costs, and care requirements. Next week with be pathos and ethos.
We are excited to see if any new furry, feathered, or scaly friends join our studio in the new year!
Finally, in core skills, we are conducting Hero-Guide check-ins on end-of-session S.M.A.R.T. goals in preparation for a new round of goal-setting in the new year. Two heroes earned math and reading badges this session! A badge requires a LOT of work, and can take as long as a year to complete! Congratulations to all the Discovery heroes on all their hard work and focused effort!
