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Session 2 is Off to a Great Start!

By Hero's Journey Academy

Year 4, Session 2, Week 1

We can’t believe Session 2 has already arrived! The heroes are finding their flow at school and expanding on their strengths. Any difficulties throughout the week have provided great opportunities for group discussions and reflection. Ask your learner what their favorite part of the week was!

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Two heroes hang upside down on a green playground climbing dome under a blue sky
Two heroes play outside under an umbrella beside a fence, using small bins and cups by a pond
A child stands by an outdoor pretend kitchen under an umbrella beside a chain-link fence and field
Two children stand at an outdoor table with blue plates under an umbrella by a fence
A young hero points to a U.S. map during a classroom geography lesson
Two young learners string beads at a table with a vase of flowers in a classroom
A young hero sorts colorful math tiles at a table beside a vase of yellow flowers
Two boys lean over a table, drawing on paper with a pencil
Two learners color at a table with baskets of crayons in a classroom

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Art

This week in art we began to tap into the spooky season by creating monsters. The learners created their unique monsters with markers and then used watercolor paint to bring them to life!  You can see these monsters hanging in the window of our studio. Come check them out!

Four learners draw with pencils at a table in the art studio, with watercolor sets and paper nearby
Two learners draw with pencils at a table in art class
Three young learners draw on paper at a long table during art class
Two learners draw monsters with pencils at a table during art class
Young learners paint at a table with watercolor palettes during art class
Young boy paints a monster drawing with watercolors at a table while a girl works behind him in art class
A smiling hero paints a monster at an art table while other learners work nearby
Learners at a table draw spooky monsters with markers and watercolor paint in art class
Girl with glasses paints a monster drawing with watercolor paints at an art table
Children paint watercolor monsters at tables in the art studio with shelves of green backpacks behind them
Young learner paints a monster drawing with watercolors at a studio table while another child works nearby
Learners paint small watercolor designs at a table during an art activity
Child's painting of a purple and blue monster with a red jagged mouth and raised arms
Child’s drawing of a crowned figure in blue with a rainbow arch on white paper over a pink sheet
Abstract monster drawing with painted color strokes on white paper over a green sheet

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PE

PE consisted of baseball, basketball, jump rope and when you need a break - sidewalk chalk!

Two children do a cone drill with a basketball in PE on the asphalt playground
A child sits on the sidewalk beside blue rope chalk art during PE

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Writer’s Workshop - Memoirs

The elementary studio launched this session’s writer’s workshop on memoirs! We read some examples of memoirs and compared the qualities that made one better than the other. They learned about mind mapping and began brainstorming ideas for the four memoir topics. To earn this badge they will need to write a memoir about: a time when nothing happened, a time they ate something weird, a time in their favorite place, and a special day they remember. 

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Build-A-Business Quest

Session 2’s quest is called E-Ship and it is all about building a business. The learners are exploring all the different facets of starting and running their own company. They will launch a business at the Children’s Business Fair on October 21st as part of their exhibition. One of their first challenges this week was to make a duct tape wallet to hold all of the “money” they earned towards materials for their business during quest time.

Three learners gather on a rug around a laptop during business quest, with scissors and pencils nearby
Three learners sit on a rug making a duct tape wallet, with a laptop open beside them

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Dungeons & Dragons Mini Quest

On Monday, the Elementary Studio played a teamwork game similar to Dungeons & Dragons. The game was led by Mr. Molley who set the ambiance with candles and a giant dragon poster! Together the heroes had to navigate a dungeon, and battle rats, in order to rescue a missing person. They were able to defeat the rat king, and are looking forward to a more challenging game after a discussion about what they could have improved on.

Guide leads heroes seated in a circle on the rug during a teamwork game, with cubbies of green bags behind them
Heroes and a guide play a teamwork dungeon game at a table with candles and a dragon poster
Guide and heroes play a tabletop D&D-style teamwork game with a dragon screen and candles nearby
Guide and heroes play a teamwork dungeon game at a table with a dragon poster in the background
Framed fantasy poster of a warrior facing a dragon, propped on a wall beside a light switch

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Civilization 

Civilization, or “civ” as it is commonly referred to in the Elementary Studio, began in Session 2. During this time, we dive into history through reading a chapter in a book and then having a Socratic discussion. This week we discussed farming and writing in ancient Egypt! 

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Little Heroes

The Little Heroes led yoga during their circle time. They each took turns picking a pose for the group to do together. 

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Children in the studio lead a yoga circle, standing with arms raised on a round rug
Five young heroes practice yoga poses on a circular rug during circle time in the elementary studio
Five children do yoga poses on a classroom rug during circle time
Five young children sit in a circle on a rug, clapping together during circle time

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Fun Friday

First, the group watched the movie “Elemental”. Then, the Little Heroes earned ice cream for Fun Friday and the ES earned cupcakes. Both studios decided to share with the other so we ended Friday with quite the party!

Little Heroes lounge on beanbags and rugs during circle time in a classroom with tables, shelves, and string lights
Two Little Heroes eat cupcakes at a table during Fun Friday
Three children eat ice cream at a table during Fun Friday
Three boys sit at classroom tables eating ice cream during Fun Friday
Two Little Heroes smile at a table while eating ice cream with spoons during Fun Friday
Young hero eats ice cream at a table during Fun Friday, with a cup and sprinkle-covered treat nearby
Young learner smiles at a table with a cupcake and a small cup of ice cream during Fun Friday
A young hero with pink glasses spoons ice cream beside a cupcake during Fun Friday
Smiling hero with blue glasses sits at a table with ice cream and a cupcake during Fun Friday
Children’s hands wearing colorful flower rings rest on a table

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