Session 5 Week 1 Year 6

Last week marked a joyful return to school as all of our learners came back from the holiday break energized and excited to see their friends. The halls and studios were filled with smiles, stories, and a renewed sense of community as we settled back into our routines and launched new learning adventures together.

In the Elementary Studio, learners began an exciting new Game Design Quest. This week focused on laying the foundation for thoughtful and engaging game creation. Learners explored what makes games fun and fair by play-testing several different games and discussing elements such as rules, balance, and player experience. They also began learning about probability, an important concept in both board games and digital games. Before jumping into coding their own online games using Scratch, learners will work collaboratively in groups to design and create a board game, giving them hands-on experience with game mechanics and teamwork.

Writer’s Workshop introduced a new focus on Technical Writing. Learners first practiced following and evaluating instructions by making crafts, which led to great discussions about clarity, order, and detail. Next, they will begin drafting their own sets of instructions that their studiomates will test out, helping them refine their writing through real feedback and iteration.

In Civilization, we listened to chapters about the Diaspora, the forced scattering of the Jewish people during the Crusades. This led to an excellent and thoughtful discussion about freedom of religion, empathy, and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.

We wrapped up the week with Fun Friday, traveling to Scotland by watching Brave, the heroic tale of Merida. It was a fun and engaging way to end a week full of learning, collaboration, and curiosity.

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