Improving Our Tribe One Day At A Time

Session 1 Week 3 Year 5

This week both studios focused on improvements within their tribes! The Little Heroes worked on improving their kindness and conflict resolution. When they are caught being kind they get a character call-out and are able to add a leaf to their “kindness garden”. The Little Heroes also practiced expressing their emotions in a friendly and kind way this week. They were introduced to a new heart and star wand at their peace table. When you hold the heart wand you speak from the heart and kindly express how you feel. The other person holds the star wand and practices being a “star listener”. This has helped peacefully resolve conflicts in their studio!

Heart and star wands with smiling faces on a table at the peace table

Fall leaves hang in a hallway beside a black door, storage cart, and rainbow-striped bag

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The older heroes made changes as well to improve the cleanliness and organization within their studio. They had a discussion on people not picking up after themselves when lunch ended. The ES heroes then voted unanimously to make the leader of the day responsible for checking the cleanliness of the tables after lunch. On Friday, they decided to have a cubby clean out to stay more organized after town hall.

Two heroes organize black storage bins at a table in the studio

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It is impressive what children are able to accomplish when they work together!

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Quest

The ES heroes continued to work at their own pace on individual challenges in the “Prediction Tools” quest. Most of them worked on creating their own experiments and testing them out using the scientific method! Charlie also worked on statistics and sampling using different methods with colored popsicle sticks and recorded his data.

Two children work with popsicle sticks and colorful pom-poms at a classroom table

A boy stands at a table in a classroom, thinking over his laptop and science papers

Two girls use a measuring tape together on the classroom floor

Boy sorts colored popsicle sticks at a table with scissors, a plastic bag, and a worksheet during quest work

Four heroes stand in a classroom around a science experiment with balls, chairs, a rug, and a whiteboard

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Parent Coffee

On Thursday, the parent’s of our heroes were invited to have a cup of coffee, or tea, and stay to observe our morning launch. We even had Moroccan lemon cake and strawberries courtesy of Ms. Gigi!

Moroccan lemon cake and strawberries on trays for Parent Coffee

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Lip Dub

Each year the heroes create a lip dub video as a teamwork exercise during the “Build A Tribe” quest in session one. This year they learned the song “Try Everything” by Shakira. The older heroes guided the little heroes in making props and planning the choreography. They rehearsed several times and filmed the final version this week. We can’t wait for the parents to see it at exhibition!

Children draw colorful props on paper at an outdoor table with crayons and markers

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Writer’s Workshop

On Tuesday in writer’s workshop, the heroes learned a recipe for writing a quality thank you note. They each picked one person outside of the studio and wrote a thank you note to them for their contribution to this session. On Thursday, they gave each other peer feedback and revised the notes. They will surprise the recipients after exhibition!

A hero holds up a decorated thank-you note in the classroom

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Art

We are learning about South Africa this week and the Little Heroes discovered that penguins live there! Our art project this week was “The Rain Dance Penguin” which was a penguin drawn in traditional South African style and then modge podged to a painted canvas. Some of the older heroes decided to get creative and add their own element in the middle rather than a penguin!

A boy in a green shirt paints dots on a canvas at a table while other children work nearby

Young girl paints blue dots on a canvas at an art table during a classroom project

Children paint dot patterns on paper plates at a classroom table during art time

Young hero sits at a table with paper and pencil during an art activity

Two children in costumes draw at a table during art class

Student artwork on white paper shows a dark abstract figure with blue raindrops on a blue background

Six student art cards with colorful drawings and blue dot patterns on a patterned fabric surface

Four small canvases show penguin-inspired art with blue dots and painted animal figures

Five small canvases with painted figures and blue dots arranged on patterned fabric

Cooking

This week Mrs. Molley led the heroes in cooking South African yellow rice and West African chicken kabobs (recipe says beef but we used chicken). The learners were able to try golden raisins before they were put in the rice and smell turmeric. We had a ton of rice and chicken and the heroes ate it all!

Printed recipe page for South African yellow rice with ingredients, instructions, and a rice photo

Printed recipe page for West African Beef Kabobs (Suya) showing times, ingredients, and a small dish photo

Printed recipe page for beef kabobs with ingredients, instructions, storage, and make-ahead tips

Mrs. Molley serves food to children seated around a table during cooking

Yellow rice with raisins piled on a red oval plate on a patterned tablecloth

Chicken kabobs on a glass platter on a patterned tablecloth

Bowl of golden raisins on a patterned tablecloth during cooking

Guide serves South African yellow rice to two learners at a cooking table, one tasting a chicken kabob

Hero in red shirt prepares South African yellow rice at a table with paper plates and flowers

Young hero sets a paper plate on a table beside a vase of purple flowers in the classroom

Two young learners eat at a table with paper plates, rice, chicken kabobs and a small vase of purple flowers

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Fun Friday

On Friday, Xander got to pick the movie and everyone watched “We Can Be Heroes”! Afterwards, the Little Heroes had free play and the older heroes did arts & crafts.

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Elementary Studio

The ES heroes took turns leading yoga this week during the mid-day circle and they also finalized their contract this week! The contract is a list of promises that they came up with themselves and agree to uphold to keep the studio running smoothly.