We welcomed a new hero to Discovery this week! In order to prepare to welcome him, the Discovery heroes discussed what makes a successful tribe, and what the role of leaders within that tribe is. They decided that it’s important to help tribe members and to act as servant leaders. They also remembered back on what it felt like on their first day of a new school, and the ways in which they have grown since joining Acton Academy Madison West. One hero said he is better now at persevering through challenges. Another said she has been able to step up as a leader. And another said he has become more responsible for his own learning.
Math Exploration
We have been exploring math throughout this session. This week, we launched the “Be Sal Khan” challenge. One of the best ways to learn is to teach, and in this challenge, the heroes have the option to create a video lesson (like one they would find on Khan Academy), explaining a challenging math concept. In order to win the prize, they need to present their video at the upcoming exhibition. Let’s see what they create!
Core Skills
The heroes completed their journey meetings with parents this week and returned to school fired up to set goals and create their weekly work plans. The heroes work with a guide every two sessions to set end-of-year goals, and break those goals down into session goals and develop a work plan they can follow to stay on track towards those goals.
The guides also launched a “Session Four Core Skills Challenge” at the beginning of this year, which has helped the heroes re-focus on their core skills goals. Specifically, if each hero in the studio can move up two freedom levels, or top out at Soaring, the entire class will earn a reward.
Coding & Robotics
The Discovery Heroes have been exploring coding for the last four weeks, completing a challenging block coding course on Code.org. They have also explored the internet, conditionals, loops and events through “unplugged” games. This week, they got to learn from a real-world software developer who came and talked with them about her hero’s journey learning myriad computer languages and navigating a career in Silicon Valley!
Next week, they will begin building and programming Mbots in preparation for a friendly programming competition during the exhibition.
Art
This session, we are exploring math in art. Last week, the children explored symmetry through snowflake art, and this week, the children worked with watercolors to create “hidden numbers.” They will also explore patterns and geometry.
Communications Challenges
Given we have a new friend in the studio, the Guides shifted the communications plan to focus on social-emotional challenges. This week we played “curious conversations” which is a get-to-know you BINGO game that supports children’s conversation skills and ability to get curious and dig deeper when meeting a new friend.
We’ve also been using morning launches to re-visit some of our systems like freedom levels and points. We are slowly introducing hero bucks and re-introducing the studio job board – both of which are highly motivating to the heroes. They can use their hero bucks on Fridays to shop at the school “store.” We can create a lot of fun challenges and games using hero bucks as prizes!
Why So Many Games?
Games are fun! The heroes love challenging games and an important role for guides is to be gamemakers. Through games and challenges, children work hard, focus, have fun, and develop a love of learning.
