Session 1: Year 6, Week 4 In Review
race cars, clubs and exhibition prep
Check out this week’s updates…
spark studio
As we approach the final days of Session One, let's take a moment to pause and contemplate the journey we've embarked upon.
How are you feeling about the progress we've made? What successes have we achieved? How can we further elevate our efforts? Our most recent adventure led us to the captivating Atlanta Motor Speedway, where we immersed ourselves in the exhilarating world of professional race car driving. It's empowering to recognize that we hold the reins to shape the outcomes of our experiences.
You might be curious about the insights gained by these budding learners during this captivating journey. Upon reflection, we posed the question, "What have you learned from this experience?" Here are a handful of captivating facts:
• The sleek racing machines command a staggering $1 million price tag.
• The racetrack clocks in at a mere 30 seconds to complete a single lap, an adrenaline-fueled dash.
• A remarkable 40 cars can gracefully race for victory simultaneously on the track.
• These powerful vehicles possess the capability to reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
• The pit stop choreography is an impressive ballet executed in just 12 seconds.
• The turns, characterized by a daunting 28-degree tilt, demand both skill and nerve.
As we gear up for the upcoming Exhibition, our next phase will take us into the design sanctum, where we will refine and fuse our ideas, fostering an enjoyable environment that nurtures our growing community.
lower elementary studio
"Sometimes, being flat can be an advantage. You see things from a different perspective!" - Flat Stanley
The Flat Stanley Project is a beloved activity that combines literacy, geography, and creativity. It is based on the Flat Stanley series of books, and in this session, we have been enjoying reading about Stanley’s adventures as a flat person. We have enjoyed it so much that each hero has created their own “Flat Stanley” that they are planning to send to friends and family who live in other states or countries who will then document their Stanley’s adventures and then send him/her back with pictures, souvenirs, etc. We can’t wait to see where we go and what adventures we will have!
In Civ, our heroes have spent the last few weeks on a Road Trip across the USA. Our Studio has been divided into “tour groups” and each group has been touring a section of the United States. They have been choosing destinations, planning routes, “buying” supplies, as well as learning about the geography, history, and culture of the different states. This creative exercise not only boosts their knowledge but hones their research skills as well.
In Quest, the heroes have begun building their Pinewood Derby cars. As the heroes design and build their cars, they learn about concepts like aerodynamics, weight distribution, and friction in a hands-on lesson in engineering and physics that sparks creativity and problem-solving skills. We look forward to next Wednesday to find out who the winner of The Phoenix 500 will be!
In addition to these things, we received our first postcard this week for our postcard project! It was from Graydon’s grandparents in Arizona. We were so excited to get it! If you know anyone in another state or country, we would sure love to receive a postcard from them! They can send it to: The Lower Elementary Studio, The Forest School, 461 Sandy Creek RD, Fayetteville, GA 30214.
As always, this week has been a time of exploration, discovery, and imagination. These are just a few examples of the exciting adventures that our Studio has been involved in this week. These experiences not only enhance academic learning, but also foster creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.
Enjoy the weekend!
upper elementary studio
Believe it or not, the end of session one is upon us! The learners have been hard at work preparing for the Exhibition next week. We will have finished our Pinewood Derby cars by the end of the week and are brushing up on our physics knowledge in preparation for the Learner-led speaking stations.
In addition to Exhibition prep, we have begun check-ins and elected this session’s Studio Council. Council plays a vital role in the Studio by helping propose real solutions to problems and grievances brought before them. They lead Town Hall meetings and facilitate voting on issues that are important to the heroes.
This year, you can expect an email for your hero each time we do a check-in. Check-ins will be each week and provide parents and guides with insight into the Learner’s feelings on Studio dynamics, relationships, and how they are learning.
Environmental Club sign-ups for Upper Elementary are opening up for the next session. This club seeks to expose learners to the wonders of the natural world and the importance of environmental conservation. Through the club, they will gain knowledge and experience through hands-on activities and exploration of the wild world around them. Club dues are $15 dollars per hero, which will go towards snacks, materials, and excursions. If you have any questions or are interested in being a chaperone for excursions, please reach out at gage@theforest.school.
middle school studio
This week was full of activity in the Middle School. We had a couple of experts visit us, advising us on our Exhibition plans. We hosted a Conflict Resolution workshop with role-playing, worked on composing email update summaries to our parents to share our progress, and enjoyed some active team-building games. We experienced two math labs and visits from some fantastic health experts in which we conducted experiments on hand washing, bacteria, and more. Many of our launches were focused on interpersonal skills and relationship building as we are starting to get to know one another better and establish norms.
One week from Exhibition, heroes spent a good bit of time working with their groups to craft the most effective and fun station as part of the Exhibition next week. We have learned a ton about one another, made significant progress on building our contract, and have been thinking deeply about small solutions for the challenges we’re facing. Heroes have been pitching their ideas all week for their portion of Exhibition, and they are getting such great practice at giving and receiving feedback from their peers.
I am announcing to the heroes today that we are taking a half-day field trip next Tuesday to Roam at Trilith! We will walk over the facility in large groups with Guides and chaperones. Heroes will tour the facility in groups, do some team building outside, and maybe even have an opportunity to grab a donut at Hero! We are in need of a few more parent volunteers to help support this fun excursion all about workplace culture, so please reach out if you are available. The time frame would be 8:45-11:45.
Buckle up for Exhibition, parents, because you will be the stars of this experience! On Wednesday, August 30, we are asking that heroes arrive at 5:30 pm in order to be ready for our 6:00 pm Exhibition time. See you there!
high school studio
On Monday, we enthusiastically delved into the math lab, absorbing new terms and experiencing a vibrant math community known for its exceptional collaboration.
Throughout the week, we honed our core skills, with our heroes quickly finding their flow within minutes – a remarkable improvement from the previous week. Almost all running partners’ meetings were productive and inspiring, resulting in the formulation and achievement of some remarkable goals by Friday – a definite reason to celebrate!
For Quest this week we built and broke some wooden bridges! But aside from all the fun we had, our learners truly demonstrated their learning as engineers, it's going to be remarkable to see them in action at Exhibition next week!
In Story Arts, our focus this week is learning how to paraphrase, a valuable skill for the future! We also embarked on a journey through Greek mythology learning so much, and reenacting so much more, it was a great show per group. And as a final highlight. With this eventful week behind us and a bigger week ahead preparing for Exhibition, here's to wishing you a fantastic weekend ahead!
wellness review
This week we welcomed our first wellness experts to share their knowledge about hygiene!
Erin McDowell Former Microbiologist CDC-Pox Virus/Rabies Division; National Center for Zoonotic/Vector-Borne Diseases and Terri Russell RN-C in Inpatient Obstetrics with experience in Occupational Health visited each Studio as a team with fun, powerful experiments. They worked to show the range of a sneeze by utilizing glow dust and highlighting the droplets with a blacklight. Learners were shocked to see that it could range up to 6 feet and land on clothes, tables, and even toys.
We also shared handshakes and high-fives with glow lotion demonstrating how we pass between humans while also showing that the further you are from the infected source the less likely you are to become infected yourself. Our third experiment made soap's importance more tangible by showing how soap not only disinfects but also works to break the surface tension of germs by dipping a finger covered in soap into a bowl of water with pepper flake “germs” on the service. Spark through High School were fascinated by the reaction.
High School students dove into a discussion on immunosuppression with Erin sharing her experience at the CDC, explaining how safe hygiene and trust between partners is imperative. Learners in High School and Middle were fascinated to learn about studies on rabies and how experimental treatments and CDC protocols can save lives. We were able to see photos depicting a rabies infection from blackberry picking and coming into contact with a bait trap. Elementary Studios and the Spark Studio discussed the difference between “good” and “bad” germs and brainstormed ways to avoid the “bad” and welcome the “good.” We are so grateful to our experts for sharing their knowledge and time with us!