Session 6: Year 5, Week 26 In Review
Renaissance, accountability and public speaking
Check out this week’s updates…
spark studio
I have a bug and a wish to give you today. It bugs me when I lose an hour of sleep and I wish spring would just stay already. We all felt this sentiment as our bodies were adapting to lost sleep and yet again frigid temperatures this week.
“Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm,
to humiliate and to humble.” - Yehuda Berg. In Spark, we are constantly learning how much our words affect others and how to best use them. Learning to use kind words to ask our friends to not disturb our work, or to speak words of praise when it's someone else that has reached a goal and mastered a work.
Themes just organically seem to emerge in the Spark Studio. This week we had language, character formation, setting, beginning, middle, end, and story writing on the schedule. Yet somehow, numbers, fractions, word problems, square roots, and multiplication just took over!
By the end of the week, we seemed to be diving deeper and deeper into numbers! Parts of speech however stood firm and were elaborately experienced!
As always, we have been touching on the current holiday. We looked at the history of St Patrick's day, and the person behind the holiday. We learned more about Ireland and even tried the Irish Jig! (IT’S NOT AN EASY JIG!) Overall it was a beautiful week.
elementary studio
Our elementary heroes are in full writer’s mode.
In StoryArts this week, they continued writing their books and began editing. We incorporated Art as heroes started to look at book covers and put their first illustrations on paper. We have some budding authors on our hands!
Our civilization challenges this week had heroes continuing their study of Explorers and the indigenous people they encountered in these new lands. They stepped into the shoes of either an explorer or an indigenous person and created journal entries for their perspective.
Finally, in Quest, heroes are working through the design thinking process to plan the Outdoor classroom for the new Spark studio. We are using the DEEP design process (D - Define the problem. E-Empathize), and heroes have completed the first two steps.
We will move into the final two steps next week as we continue to E-Experiment and P-Prototype. Thanks so much to the Spark guides, heroes, and parents we interviewed and got great ideas from. We can't wait to see their designs.
middle school studio
Completing badge work on time is an essential part of academic success. Understanding the importance of accountability when it comes to finishing assignments is crucial. By holding the studio accountable, we can ensure learners complete their work on time and avoid making it up later. This means being proactive and planning their time wisely to ensure they can complete the required work. The studio has “HOMEWORK” now to help them be on track and stay ahead instead of Nesting.
During Quest, one tool that was used was Scribble Diffusion with AI. This technology uses algorithms to analyze an image and detect areas where the art has not been completed correctly. This makes it easier for artists to identify and fix any mistakes, ensuring that the final work is of the highest quality. Additionally, Scribble Diffusion can save time and reduce the need for excessive touch-ups, allowing for a smoother and more efficient workflow.
In addition, during Story Arts, the studio continued learning how to write and recite their TedTalk and write their books correctly. They had some practice with talking. For example, during a TedTalk, speech, and delivery can significantly affect how the audience perceives the speaker and their message. Effective communication skills are essential for any public speaking engagement. This means practicing tone, body language, and timing to convey the message effectively. The studio was given these opportunities to have a successful outcome.
Finally, during Civilization, the studio discussed the Northern Renaissance. This period of art history has had a significant impact on the world. This era began in the 15th century and was characterized by a renewed interest in classical art and humanism. This period produced some of the most famous works of art in history, such as Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
The Northern Renaissance also significantly impacted the development of science, politics, and philosophy, making it an important period in history. For their Maker’s challenge, they had to create their own 15th-century art piece and compare and contrast other Renaissance to the Northern Renaissance.
In conclusion, completing class work on time, using technology like Scribble Diffusion with AI to create art, practicing effective speech and delivery, and understanding the significance of historical periods like the Northern Renaissance is essential to success in various fields.
By holding our learners accountable and using the tools available, they can achieve great things and make a meaningful impact in the world and at The Forest School.
high school studio
In a small town nestled in the heart of a lush forest, a group of learners were eager to make a difference.
They are part of a community that values learning and self-discovery, but they felt that the existing school systems need improvement. So they banded together to create a new plan and share their thoughts on what they wanted in the long term.
As they explored the forest this week, they created mystery challenges in preparation for Exhibition and encouraged problem-solving and teamwork. They delved into the history of crave yards and learned about the burial grounds that lay hidden within our country.
And then, exciting news arrived: Eleah is in labor! A new addition is coming to The Forest School Family. The learners and staff eagerly await the arrival, ready to welcome Mila and share their knowledge and adventures.
As they continued challenging the existing systems and pushing boundaries, the learners knew they were part of something special. They are a community that values creativity, critical thinking, and exploration, and they are excited to see where their journey will take them next.