Another dynamic week of learning!

Year 4, Session 5, Week 1

Session 5 started with a whirlwind of engaging activities that left our learners curious and excited about what is in store for the next several weeks. Exploring physics, pop art, and baking are just a few things that made a jam packed 4 days. We hope everyone had a happy holiday and are glad to be back!

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Two boys high-five at a table beside a laptop and papers in a classroom

Five young learners sit at a classroom table smiling with lunchboxes and small toys

Two boys sit on a rug playing with dinosaur figures in a classroom with small tables and shelves

Three children build with colorful blocks on a classroom rug, with shelves and tables around them

Two young learners sit at a small table with a book and tray in a classroom display

Young hero glues colored paper at a classroom table during an art activity

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Art

This week we learned about the artist Andy Warhol and “Pop Art”. Pop art uses vivid colors and references iconic pop culture in the design. The learners were able to pick from several designs and complete their work in the colors of their choice. Check out their awesome masterpieces hanging in our studio window!

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Colorful Pop Art student artwork with repeated cartoon figures and patterned circles displayed in two rows

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Writer’s Workshop

This session the topic for Writer’s Workshop is “Science Based Fiction”. The ES heroes get to pick a science related topic of their choice and use it as the base of their story. While what they are writing is fictional, they must weave in ten true facts about their topic in order to teach the reader something. This week they began researching and chose which facts they wanted to incorporate. We can’t wait to see what they bring to exhibition!

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Core Skills

At Active we cover the basics of math, reading and writing in many different ways. Whether through online programs like Lexia, Dreambox, and Khan Academy, or hands-on manipulatives in our Montessori studio, our learners are able to progress at their pace!

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Two learners point at a laptop while working on a project beside paper sketches and a flower craft

A young learner writes in a workbook at a table in the classroom with folding chairs behind him

Three heroes write in workbooks at a classroom table with a pinwheel centerpiece

Two girls work with art and manipulatives at a classroom table while other learners sit in the background

A young learner arranges colorful Montessori manipulatives at a table in the classroom

Two learners work with letter tiles and a workbook at a classroom table

A young learner cuts a drawing at a table with crayons and a flower vase in the classroom

A young learner sits at a laptop in a blue classroom, using headphones at a table

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Baking

Once a week we take time to explore culinary arts! This week the Montessori studio baked a scrumptious crumb cake. Our little heroes practice fine motor skills such as cracking eggs, pouring, and mixing batter that will serve them well in everyday life. We love Wednesdays because the whole school smells of baked goods!

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Learners' baking station with a blue bowl of flour and a whisk on a table

A mixing bowl with brown crumb topping beside a foil pan and spatula on a counter

Three children in a classroom crack eggs into a blue bowl during baking

Two learners at a table mix baking ingredients in bowls during culinary arts class

Two young heroes pour flour into a blue bowl during baking in a classroom

Children mix crumb cake batter in bowls at a table during baking

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Quest

This session’s quest is called “Newton’s Toy Workshop” and is all about testing the laws of physics! Science took center stage as the Elementary Studio did hands-on experiments to test the effects of gravity and thrust. They constructed their own cars from basic materials such as cardboard, skewers, bottle caps, straws and tape. The first challenge was based on distance and accuracy of hitting a target without using any kind of force other than gravity. The learners could only let their car drop down a ramp. We conducted several trial runs and adjustments were made as the heroes deemed necessary. The second challenge was about testing the effects of thrust using a balloon engine. The learners had to get their car to travel the furthest distance on a flat surface using only the air from a balloon as a guiding force. It was awesome seeing the ES heroes work in teams and get excited about their physics discoveries!

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Two heroes test a balloon-powered car at a table with a laptop and trays of materials

Hero works at a laptop beside a tray of sticks and a balloon cap during a physics experiment

Learners work on a balloon-powered car physics challenge at a table with laptops

Two learners test a balloon-powered car at a table with a laptop and classroom supplies

Two boys test a small balloon car beside a laptop in a classroom

A homemade balloon-powered car made from a snack box sits on a table

Heroes gather around a balloon-engine car on a ramp during a physics challenge

Four children adjust balloon-powered cars on a table during a physics challenge

Two barefoot learners pose with a balloon-engine car beside folding chairs and tables

Balloon-powered car made from a cardboard box and bottle caps on a table during a physics challenge

Elementary heroes build balloon-powered cars together at a table with craft supplies and a laptop

Elementary heroes work in teams testing a balloon-powered cart at a table

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