Session 7: Year 5, Week 30 In Review
life skills, earth day and cold cases
Check out this week’s updates…
spark studio
Gever Tulley said it so well when he said, "Persistence and resilience only come from having been given a chance to work through difficult problems."
This last session of the school year may be the longest and most testing, but we are tackling it with resilience, strength, persistence, motivation, and responsibility! We have seen remarkable growth already, and we are pushing on even further!
Parent observations this week have been truly inspiring, and we managed to focus, despite their presence in the studio. To mark the end of our week, we celebrated Earth Day by educating ourselves on the importance of recycling, reusing, and reducing. We also planted flowers and tidied up the studios and yard. Furthermore, we discussed ways to be more conscious of the environment and how to better care for our planet.
We leave you with a few definitions of resilience from our Spark Heroes:
"To work hard and never give up!"
"To recover quickly from difficulties"
"Trying and trying and trying and never giving up even though it's really hard!"
elementary studio
What motivates you?
Finding what motivates us is often a dynamic and lifelong process. As adults, our motivators tend to be high-stakes and consequence-based. We have standards of livelihood for ourselves and those who depend on us. Therefore, we go to work, pay bills, buy groceries, etc. Applying this consequence/reward motivation model to youth has been the norm in traditional education. You may have heard the old adage of “the carrot or the stick” regarding this model. However, here at the Forest School, we have broken the stick and thrown away the carrot.
Heroes are guided towards their own path and set their own goals. The journey towards these goals is its own intrinsic reward, which research has shown to be much more effective in youth than the extrinsic motivators that are so often forced upon them in traditional school settings.
In Upper Elementary, we reinforce this intrinsic motivation through daily goal setting, progress reflections, and celebrating each Hero’s journey along the way. In Lower Elementary, Heroes are setting goals together daily and reflecting on those at the end of the day. Our goal challenge this week was called “The Big Cheese”. It is a maze printout that allows learners to create and track their goals in a visual way and fosters intrinsic motivation in each individual. One of our most important reflections is in the form of After-Action Reviews (AARs). Heroes are currently working to complete them, so you can look forward to reviewing them with your Hero next week.
As we finish our year strong, Heroes are working toward mastery of their badge plans. This includes Quest, where we learn the importance soil and plants play in the health of our planet. Civilization, where they continue to talk about the start of our country.
One of the qualities that make Story Arts at TFS unique is that our Story Arts Guide, Ms. Quameiha creates alongside our Heros. This week Ms. Quameiha gave Heroes a live demonstration of a Wax Museum. We also refreshed ourselves on our character traits by choosing a world change-maker that displays the qualities we've talked about throughout the year (curiosity, motivation, respect, civility, responsibility, honesty, and resilience). Ms. Quameiha dressed up as Marie Claire Felicite, the first Empress of Haiti. Heroes learned about her contributions as a war nurse, constitutionalist, and educator. They began researching change makers ranging from Frida Khalo to George Washington Carver. Our Heroes are learning how to gather and interpret stories that can inspire them to be changemakers in this world. In our own Forest School society, Heroes are leaning into these principles!
Have a great Weekend!
middle school studio
Learning about forensics and crime scene investigation can be an exciting and engaging experience for learners. This week in Quest, learners have taken a deep dive into the fundamentals of crime scene investigation and have learned how to solve Cold Cases.
One of the key takeaways from this week's lessons is the importance of taking accountability for your actions. As a quote by Mahatma Gandhi goes, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." In the context of crime scene investigation, this means that investigators need to take responsibility for their actions and ensure that they follow proper procedures to ensure justice is served.
During the week, learners also learned about the advantages and disadvantages of Cold Cases. Cold Cases are investigations that have been inactive for a long period of time but are reopened in hopes of finding new evidence or leads. The advantage of Cold Cases is that they give investigators a fresh perspective and a new opportunity to solve a case. However, the disadvantage is that evidence may have been lost or destroyed, and witnesses may no longer be available.
Another important aspect of crime scene investigation is understanding blood types. Learners got the chance to explore the different blood types and the role they play in forensic investigations. Blood type can be a crucial piece of evidence in solving a case, as it can help identify a suspect or confirm the presence of a victim.
In Civilization, learners also learned about the spread of reading and writing in the late 1800s. This is an important aspect of history, as it marks a significant shift in the way information is shared and communicated. This shift profoundly impacted society and paved the way for future advancements in communication technology.
In Story Arts, Middle School has taken a pivot. We began the session by focusing on the art of Calligraphy. Our Heroes enjoyed recreating the logos of Google, Harry Potter, and Netflix. We are taking this session further and allowing our learners to bring their creativity and research to life through Wax Museums. Our Heroes were given a changemaker to research. That list of changemakers ranged from Ruth Bader Gendber to Neil Degrass Tyson. Heroes had to record their research by hand so that we could work towards improving our Hero's handwriting while still giving them a creative and expressive outlet.
Finally, learners continued to work on their AAR (End of Year Action Review), which is an important reflection exercise to help them evaluate their progress over the course of the year. This exercise is essential for learners to take accountability for their own learning and set goals for the future.
Overall, this week in Quest has been an engaging and informative experience for learners. By exploring the fundamentals of forensics and crime scene investigation, understanding the importance of taking accountability, and practicing practical skills like Calligraphy, learners have gained a well-rounded education that will serve them well in their future endeavors.
high school studio
We are excited to share an update on the recent topics covered in our high school curriculum for our heroes.
This week, our Heroes had the opportunity to learn about important life skills, including fire safety, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, and Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit writing.
As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our Heroes, we welcomed Forest's dad Hernan Dominguez to share his expertise. Our Heroes learned about fire prevention, evacuation procedures, and how to use fire extinguishers, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills to handle emergency situations responsibly.
In addition, we also focused on DEI in the workplace to promote inclusivity and respect for diversity. Our Heroes explored a case study and engaged in thought-provoking discussions and activities that emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive work environment where all individuals feel valued and respected for their unique identities and perspectives.
Furthermore, our Heroes had the opportunity to explore their creative writing skills through the lens of comedy writing. They delved into the art of skit writing, drawing inspiration from the popular TV show SNL. This allowed them to hone their comedic writing skills while also learning about the significance of humor in our society.
Enjoy the weekend!