Internal and External Growth - Year 3, Week 12 in Review
Are Compassion, Empathy and Resilience as Important as Learning Math and Science?
This week our learners explored growth in nature as well as growth within themselves.
spark studio
As we continue on our nature journey we are discovering superheroes in nature. Our focus this week has been on spiders, birds, and huskies. Did you know that Weaverbirds create detailed nests by sewing and weaving nesting materials together using their beak and feet. The heroes decided to create nests and bird feeders to discover what will attract birds to the playground ... a nest or food?
There is an exciting buzz around the studio as our pumpkin seeds have sprouted. We plan to plant them next week during our gardening quest.
Nature provides countless opportunities for discovery, creativity, problem-solving, and STEM education. Interacting with natural environments allows children to learn by doing and experiment with ideas. In nature, children think, question, and make hypotheses — thereby developing inquisitive minds.
elementary studio
. –Christopher ReeveA hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles
Resilience is the ability to bounce back after a setback. But is having some sort of a setback a requirement to becoming resilient?
Heroes grappled with this question all week. Last Friday, learners were sent home to work virtually not knowing whether they would return on Monday or Wednesday. Some heroes chose to continue to work virtually throughout this week, meaning many Quest teams were separated and had to figure out how they could continue to work together. While the Guides pivoted to complete more Storytelling and Civilization challenges, heroes began to think through what Quest would look like with a partner at home. They came up with solutions such as: breaking the work into parts, one hero doing reflections while the other built the prototype, and even creating together over zoom.
This was a powerful, real world opportunity for heroes to put on their thinking caps and problem solve to still reach their goal. So I posed the question; Is a setback a requirement of resilience? Most answered, that it is something you’re born with, but get better at as you practice. This week was a big practice test for them and they passed with flying colors!
middle school studio
What does it look like to learn to live together?
At The Forest School, growing in the skills of empathy, collaboration, and cross-cultural competence is just as important as reading or math. In fact, to graduate from the school, learners must present proof that they've mastered those skills.
The election this week highlighted just how divided we are as a nation. The next few days, weeks, and months will be challenging to navigate — for adults and young people alike. Our overarching question this year is "How might we learn and love across lines of difference?" Never has that question seemed so relevant.
I'm encouraged that, here at The Forest School, learners from the age of 5 get practice at researching, debating, listening, disagreeing, and compromising. Our studios are microcosms of self-governance. We see the tensions and conflicts of learning to live together on a daily basis. But we also see the victories, the muscles being developed by his sort of practice, over and over, day in and day out. And that gives us hope for the future.
high school studio
The power of togetherness is the greatest power of them all. -Iti Rawat
With an intense Design Thinking quest, spike in COVID cases, Presidential election, and continuous self progress, this week in history will be one to remember. Pulling for the “Making of a Politician Quest”, learners reflected on the current election and mapped out their projections based on electoral votes. We played a game where they themselves ran for president and had to win the majority of electoral votes, allowing them to think through fundraising, polling, commercials, and in person rallies. Heroes stated the game was one of the most fun ways to learn about the road ro the White House.
In addition, heroes received expert feedback from none other than Dr. Tokea Morales, Mr. Tony Tringale, Mr. Russ Keifer, and Mrs. Jilea Hemmings. During this time, heroes broke down their understanding of hunger, mental health, elderly isolation, sex trafficking, and educational stressors as well as brainstormed action steps to help solve for the current issues. One task at a time learners continue to dig into social issues with an ultimate goal of helping find sustainable solutions.
Two weeks remaining! Remember, the exhibition is Thursday, November 18. Be prepared to think critically!
-Onward
Have a great weekend!
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