Heroes in Action: From Ancient Strategies to Modern Snow Day Magic

spark studio

Parks & Recreation
The Great Park Adventure

In the town of Fayetteville, a very special meeting was called. Mayor Denise stood on the steps of City Hall with a big poster that read, "Our Dream Park!" She smiled and said, “Heroes, our town needs your help! We’re designing a park where everyone can have fun—kids, grown-ups, animals, and even plants! That means making sure we listen to what everyone needs, especially those who might need extra help to enjoy the park.”

Mecca and her friends were thrilled to help. Mayor Denise handed out sketch pads and crayons and said, “As Park Designers, you’ll create ideas for the park. But remember, the most important part of this adventure is to try to understand others before being understood. That means listening not just with your ears but with your eyes and heart, especially to kids who might have different needs than you do.”

Grace scratched her head. “What kinds of different needs?”

“Great question, Grace,” said the mayor. “Some children might need ramps instead of stairs, swings with extra support, or quiet spaces to rest. Everyone deserves to feel included, so we need your help to make this park special for all!”

The children got to work. Grace wanted to add a giant climbing wall, but her friend Leo, who used a wheelchair, said, “I’d love a way to play up high too!” Grace listened and drew a wide, winding ramp leading to a treehouse. Leo smiled, “Now I can play up high too!”

Wilder suggested a loud splash pad, but Elliott, who liked quieter spaces, said, “What if there’s a quiet garden where I can relax?” The children agreed and added a butterfly garden with soft benches and shady trees nearby.

When it came time to build their models with blocks and Legos, everyone worked together. Liam added swings with harnesses for kids who needed extra support. Grace built a smooth, bumpy-free path for children using wheelchairs or walkers. Mecca even made a cozy nook with soft cushions for anyone who needed a break.

Finally, it was the day of the Park Open House! Families, friends, and even real park planners came to see the heroes’ amazing designs. Mayor Denise was so proud. “Heroes, you’ve shown that by listening to others and working together, you can create a park where everyone feels welcome and included.”

The new park opened a few months later, and it quickly became the happiest spot in Fayetteville. People of all abilities laughed, played, and explored together. Birds chirped in the trees, butterflies danced in the garden, and even the tiniest ants felt at home.

And so, the heroes of The Forest School learned that when you try to understand others before being understood, you can create something magical—something that brings joy to everyone.

The end.

If you guessed that we will become park designers and create our very own dream park to pitch to the Town of Trilith, you’re absolutely correct! A thriving community makes space for everyone to flourish, and what this town needs is an all-inclusive park—a place where the joyful sounds of laughter and delight can be heard by all, from newborns to centenarians. This will be a space where everyone can find their place to play, relax, and connect.

Spark learners will take on the exciting challenge of designing this dream park by creating blueprints, building mock-ups with Legos, and finally pitching their team’s vision to family, friends, and local experts. To inspire and guide our work, we’ll visit the LEGO Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

We’ll need eight chaperones/drivers to join us on this fun adventure! If you sign up to chaperone, your primary responsibility will be transporting learners to and from the event and supervising a small group while we’re there. Please use this link: SignUp Genius to sign up.

If you wish to go but cannot transport any other learners, please do not use this link. Instead, let us know by emailing Spark@theforest.school, and we will plan accordingly.

Thank you for helping us bring this exciting project to life!

The letter of the week is “J” (as in jungle).

lower elementary studio

And we’re back!

Welcome to 2025! Session Five is off to a great start in the Lower Elementary Studio. Learners have really been in flow this week, staying engaged, upholding our studio standards, and having fun along the way.

We’ve explored new games, worked on pattern recognition and math, and, in Civilization, we talked about ancient Mesopotamia. We discussed the ways our world has been impacted by their gifts and discoveries, particularly learning how to divide a day and use the sun to tell time with our own sundials.

We also launched our next exciting Quest with guest expert and retired local veterinarian, Dr. Mike Younker! Dr. Younker shared his journey and knowledge about veterinary medicine. We are so grateful to have him share his expertise with our Studio.

In Story Arts, we refined our skills for crafting the perfect elevator sales pitch. We had big discussions about equality and equity and introduced our next habit: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Additionally, we wrote stories about our break, speeches to run for council, and imagined what we might do with a snow day!

If this week is any indication, we are in for an awesome new year!

upper elementary studio

We are thrilled to dive into our Veterinary Medicine Quest, which promises to be both educational and impactful!

This week, learners kicked off the Quest with an inspiring visit from a local veterinarian. He shared fascinating stories from his experiences in the field and highlighted the importance of veterinary medicine in fostering a healthy society. Learners explored the "triangle of care" between pet parents, veterinarians, and the animals they treat.

We are also proud to announce our partnership with Project Street Vet, an incredible organization dedicated to bringing care to the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness. This collaboration will allow our learners to engage in meaningful, real-world problem-solving. Over the next several weeks, learners will explore the essentials of veterinary medicine—from anatomy and wellness care to first aid. Using the design thinking process, they will prototype pet first aid kits, which will be pitched to Project Street Vet in the hopes that these ideas will be incorporated into their existing programs.

We are also excited to announce that for Exhibition Week, we’re organizing a pet food drive to support a local animal shelter! Stay tuned for more details on how you can contribute and help make a difference for animals in need.

In Civilizations, learners are embarking on an exciting exploration of ancient history with a case study on one of humanity’s most revolutionary inventions: The Wheel! They are investigating its origins, development, and profound impact on transportation, agriculture, and society at large. Through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, learners will reconstruct models and explore how early humans leveraged the wheel for efficiency and innovation. These activities aim to deepen their understanding of how technological advancements have shaped human history.

In Story Arts, learners are stepping into The Shark Tank to pitch their ideas for an upcoming field trip. This creative challenge encourages learners to research, collaborate, and present persuasive arguments to advocate for a memorable and educational experience. The "sharks" will listen to their pitches and determine which ideas might become a reality.

middle school studio

We kicked off our Veterinary Medicine Quest this week with an engaging session led by a special guest, Dr. Mike, a veterinarian. Heroes were captivated as they learned about animal care, diagnostics, and the science behind veterinary medicine. This Quest promises hands-on activities and real-world learning, inspiring those with a passion for animals and medicine.

In Civ, we explored the flow of history by comparing ancient Egypt to modern times through timelines. Heroes creatively aligned significant events from ancient and modern eras, using equal increments of time to draw thought-provoking parallels. This exercise sparked curiosity about how history connects to our present and future.

Story Arts took a reflective turn as we began brainstorming timelines of our own lives. Heroes identified key moments that have shaped who they are today, selecting artifacts to represent these defining experiences. Sharing in small groups, they recounted how these moments have influenced their identities, setting the stage for writing personal autobiographies.

Leadership was at the forefront this week as five heroes were elected to the new Session Five Council. Each candidate was interviewed about their plans for studio improvements, their approach to enacting change, and the personal qualities that make them effective leaders. Their thoughtful, persuasive responses highlighted the depth of their character and commitment to the Studio's success.

In Wellness, our Seven Habits challenge took center stage as heroes worked in groups to write scripts and star in short videos illustrating the habits from The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens. After sharing their scenes, they received constructive feedback from our Wellness Guide. The creative and entertaining presentations offered meaningful lessons about these transformative habits.

As always, the Studio is alive with learning, creativity, and collaboration, with a focus on Habit #5: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” We’re looking forward to another exciting week of discovery and growth!

high school studio

Welcome Back to Session 5!

This week marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter filled with twists, turns, and plenty of learning explosions! Our Heroes dove headfirst into challenges that encouraged critical thinking, teamwork, and strategy.

We started with Civilization and Heroes, where we explored various military strategies, including offensive, defensive, flanking, and divide-and-conquer. These exercises weren’t just about tactics—they were about decision-making. Heroes faced dilemmas where they had to choose between being selfish or selfless, all while striving toward a shared goal. These moments sparked meaningful discussions about leadership, collaboration, and the importance of community.

As we look ahead, the next two weeks will focus on Story Arts and preparation for the final project. The anticipation is already palpable!

And what’s a week of learning without a little unexpected fun? On Friday, we experienced our first-ever snow day, giving Heroes and their families the chance to connect and enjoy the winter magic together. It was the perfect reminder of the importance of balance, joy, and making memories outside the Studio.

We can’t wait to see what the next week holds as we continue this incredible journey together. Have a fantastic weekend, and thank you for being part of this amazing adventure!

Session 5: Year 7, WeeK 23 In Review