A Journey Through Storytelling, Strategy, and Self-Governance

spark studio

Learning, Mastery, and Creativity

This week in Spark has been full of exciting challenges, creativity, and growth. From building sentences to mastering math concepts, our learners have been on an incredible journey. Let’s take a closer look at the highlights of the week.

Building Sentences: A Creative Journey

We started the week by playing with words to build sentences. Using simple elements like articles, nouns, adjectives, and verbs, students crafted sentences that were not only grammatically correct but also imaginative. For example, “The curious cat swiftly jumped over the fence.” This exercise allowed learners to see how a small change in the article, noun, or verb can entirely transform the meaning of a sentence. It was fun to experiment with different combinations and create unique stories.

Playing "Around the World" in Math

Playing Around the World is proving beneficial as we learn math facts. As students challenge each other to solve problems faster, they build fluency and confidence in their math skills. Leveling up through each round is an exciting experience, as learners see their progress and celebrate their achievements. It’s a fun and engaging way to reinforce math facts while also fostering a sense of friendly competition.

Advancing to Mastery: What It Takes

Advancing to mastery isn’t just about getting the right answers—it’s about perseverance and reflection. We discussed the importance of consistent practice, learning from mistakes, and pushing through obstacles. Mastery comes with effort and time, and this week, our learners took another step forward by embracing this mindset. It’s about putting in the work and understanding that mastery is a journey, not a destination.

Abstract Painting: Reflection After It Dried

In the arts, students experimented with abstract painting. The process was about letting go of control and embracing creativity. Once the paint dried, students reflected on their work and found deeper meanings in their abstract designs. This exercise helped them see how the act of creation can mirror the process of learning—sometimes, it’s messy and unpredictable, yet beautiful when you take a step back and reflect.

The Letter of the Week is “F”

lower elementary studio

Lower Elementary has really taken the initiative this week to own their learning and lead their Studio. The Council led off the week with a Town Hall, where learners brought forward their concerns and ideas to help improve their Studio systems. Three issues were discussed at length, the Council came up with some solutions, and a vote was taken by all learners present. It was awesome to see learners not only recognize problems but also offer solutions and work together to come up with a learner-led response!

When we were not rocking self-governance, we were busy learning about podcasts—how to script them and create them. Shoutout to Mr. Ben Toler for helping us create our musical introduction! Ms. McKenna is helping learners hone their research skills and build digital literacy at the same time, while Ms. Brooke is challenging learners to expand their vocabularies with the “Word of the Day.”

In Quest, we explored the stages of the forests, the types of forests in Georgia, and some more animals we might see in them. We asked important questions about how to manage land in a way that encourages or discourages these animals as well.

In Civ, we talked about technologies and trade and had a lively debate about which technology is the most important to humanity—ask your learner for more info!

All of this while pushing forward in our math skills and diving deeper into books to build our knowledge, creativity, and comprehension.

Last but not least, we leave you with these challenging thoughts that we are exploring:

What is accountability, and can you hold someone else accountable?
What is empowerment?
How do you own your learning?

upper elementary studio

Wildlife, Culture, and Collaboration

This week in the Studio was packed with challenges, competition, and creativity. From our first wildlife judging event to exploring the storytelling traditions of the Māori people and designing our own team-building games, every day brought a new opportunity to test our knowledge, skills, and teamwork.

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Wildlife Judging: Our First Competition

We kicked off the week with our first wildlife judging competition of the session, diving deep into animal identification, a wildlife knowledge quiz, and scenario-based oral reasonings. Learners put their observational skills to the test, identifying species based on physical characteristics, habitats, and behavioral clues. The wildlife knowledge quiz challenged their understanding of ecosystems, conservation efforts, and species adaptations.

The most intense part of the challenge was the scenario oral reasonings, where learners had to defend their decisions based on real-world conservation scenarios. Whether it was prioritizing species protection efforts or making habitat management choices, this part pushed them to think critically, explain their reasoning clearly, and apply what they had learned in a real-world context.

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Civ: Māori Storytelling Through Tattoos and Hakas

In Civilizations, we explored the Māori culture and how storytelling is deeply woven into their traditions, particularly through tattoos (ta moko) and hakas (traditional war dances and ceremonial performances). Learners discovered how ta moko tattoos tell personal and ancestral stories, often representing identity, lineage, and life experiences. We analyzed traditional designs and discussed how symbols can convey meaning without words.

We also learned about the haka, its history, and its role in both war and celebration. Learners practiced creating their own group haka, focusing on expression, rhythm, and unity, understanding how movement and voice can tell a story just as powerfully as words or images.

This challenge wasn’t just about history—it was about recognizing how storytelling takes many forms across cultures and how we express identity and belonging in different ways.

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Story Arts: Designing Team-Building Games

For Story Arts, we shifted our focus to collaboration and game design, with learners tasked with creating their own team-building games. The goal was to design a game that strengthens communication, problem-solving, and teamwork—essential skills in any creative or professional environment.

Learners brainstormed different game mechanics, tested prototypes, and revised their designs based on feedback. They explored what makes a game fun, engaging, and effective for team bonding. By the end, each team had created a unique activity that challenged players to work together, think strategically, and adapt to unexpected obstacles.

This wasn’t just about designing a fun experience—it was a hands-on lesson in how collaboration itself is a skill that can be developed, much like storytelling or critical thinking.

middle school studio

This week, our learners engaged in a dynamic mix of creativity, strategy, and problem-solving as they tackled real-world challenges and prepared for an upcoming multimedia pitch.

Monday kicked off with Quest groups diving into marketing and outreach plans for their food desert or swamp intervention strategies. Whether promoting mobile markets, nutritional education, or community gardens, learners thought critically about how to spread awareness and drive change.

Tuesday was all about storytelling. Learners crafted compelling TED Talk "hooks" using Pixar’s storytelling techniques and Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, ensuring their future presentations would persuade and inspire their audience.

By Wednesday, they turned their focus back to their food access projects, designing detailed Impact Measurement Plans to assess the effectiveness of their proposed solutions. Then, creativity took center stage in Art, where learners explored still art techniques.

Thursday brought history and artistic expression together. Learners created their own modern-style artwork, inspired by ancient Indian religions, deepening their understanding of the varying beliefs held in ancient society.

As the week wrapped up on Friday, the Studio buzzed with energy as learners assembled their key deliverables for their Exhibition multimedia pitch. With only a week until the experts visit for a Q&A, they refined their projects, ensuring they were ready to present their fully fledged ideas in three weeks.

Beyond Quest, learners demonstrated leadership in other areas. They took charge of reorganizing the library and even planned a warm welcome for the baby ducklings that will be joining our Studio for a short stay! Additionally, our High School Guide visited for a Q&A session, offering insight into the next steps in their learning journey.

From strategic planning to artistic expression and hands-on leadership, this week was a testament to our learners’ creativity, initiative, and commitment to making an impact!

high school studio

This week, our heroes have been diving deep into the complexities of Civilization, particularly focusing on the idea of censorship—who controls information, why certain voices get silenced, and how history has been shaped by those in power. Through engaging discussions and thought-provoking activities, we've explored real-world examples of censorship throughout history and its impact on society.

Our heroes have asked critical questions: Who decides what should be hidden? What happens when voices are silenced? The conversations have been eye-opening, challenging us to think critically about freedom of expression and the role we play in shaping the world around us.

At the same time, Story Arts has been an immersive, hands-on experience as our heroes move into the heart of rehearsals. The energy is high as they work with industry experts—including celebrities and accomplished professionals—who bring their invaluable experience to our process. These mentors have provided guidance, insight, and motivation, helping us refine our performances while pushing our creative limits.

Rehearsals have been both challenging and rewarding—a blend of long hours, dedication, and teamwork, but also moments of laughter, breakthroughs, and deep artistic growth. The passion our heroes bring to their craft is inspiring, and every rehearsal takes them one step closer to delivering something truly remarkable.

As we continue pushing forward in both Civilization and Story Arts, we’re reminded of the power of knowledge, the importance of expression, and the impact of storytelling. Whether through historical analysis or performance, our heroes are learning to navigate the world with curiosity, resilience, and creativity.

Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come!

Session 6: Year 7, WeeK 32 In Review