Explore Studio

Explore Year 6. Session 1. Week 3.

September 20, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

The Explore learners kicked off week 3 of Session 1 with high energy. They worked together in team-building challenges, reflected on the culture they are creating, and held spirited debates while defining their Studio Contract.

WRITERS’ WORKSHOP

The Explorers dove into poetry writing in Writers’ Workshop this week. They wrote Acrostic poems and Haikus, then offered warm and cool feedback to their fellow travelers with comments about what they enjoyed and suggestions for what could be improved. The learners in Explore created final drafts of their poems and included illustrations, then shared them with one another.

TEAM BUILDING

The Explore learners paired up for a Trust Walk on Monday morning. They bravely chose to trust one another as they were blindfolded and guided around campus. The Explorers practiced giving feedback to, and receiving feedback from, their fellow travelers, then reflected on how they can continue to offer and receive feedback to support them on their Hero’s Journeys. Later in the week, The learners in Explore were challenged to cross a chocolate river using marshmallows. If someone was not standing on a marshmallow, the hungry crocodile ate it and they had on less tool with which to cross the river! Together, the Explorers rose to the challenge with creative strategies and challenged themselves to see if they could do it faster each time!

EGG DROP CHALLENGE

This week, the Explorers joined the learners in Discovery and Spark to construct a capsule that would protect and egg when dropped from a second story building! They led their teams with warm-hearted and tough-minded guidance and enthusiastically supported each other in the final competition on Friday.

For more from Session 1 Week 3, click here: Explore Session 1, Week 3 photos & videos

Explore Year 6. Session 1. Week 2.

September 13, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

The Explorers dove into the second week of Session 1 with a shared excitement to get back to work!

WORK CYCLE

The learners in Explore completed a Tech Challenge this week. They discussed how to be safe while accessing the Internet, best practices in caring for their tech, and how they plan to hold each other accountable. After they finished the Tech Challenge, they signed their Tech Contract and began using their tech during Work Cycles. The Explore learners reviewed their Badge Plan in Journey Tracker and set long-term goals to reach higher heights in their learning. During Work Cycles, Explorers got into flow and offered solutions to fellow travelers who expressed frustration with what they were working on, such as taking a peace walk to move their bodies before returning to their work.

ART

The learners in Explore practiced contour drawings in Art this week. They drew blind contour portraits of each other on Tuesday, and continuous contour drawings of objects in the Explore Studio on Thursday. They took time to observe the drawings in a “gallery walk” and offered warm and cool feedback to their studio mates.

TEAM BUILDING

The Explorer learners participated in team building games and reflected on how the challenges are opportunities to create the culture they want to have in their Studio. Explorers practiced kindness and leadership during challenges and supported one another with growth mindset language. The learners in Explore discussed how the team building challenges are valuable for building trust in one another and learning from failures.

For more from Session 1 Week 2, click here: Explore Session 1, Week 2 photos & videos

Explore Year 6. Session 1. Week 1.

September 6, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

WELCOME TO YEAR 6, EXPLORERS!

The learners in Explore spent their first week of school getting to know fellow travelers and their spaces.

BUILD THE TRIBE

Laughter could be heard coming from the Explore Studio as the Explore learners played team-building games this week. They worked together to choreograph, practice, and film a Lip Dub for which they outlined their own rubric to support themselves to create an excellent video. The learners in Explore discussed how to earn freedoms, and the responsibilities that come with those freedoms. They voted on and agreed to a Provisional Contract that includes their founding principles: “I will keep the studio sacred. I will pass my words through 3 gates: is it kind, necessary, or true. I will not distract myself or others. I will respect others and myself.” The Explorers landed their week by reflecting on these promises; which ones they were most challenged by, which ones they were able to practice with ease, and expressed a shared commitment to building a culture they are proud of.

For more from Session 1 Week 1, click here: Explore Session 1, Week 1 photos & videos

Explore Year 5. Session 7. Week 6.

July 13, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

The learners in Explore landed the year working hard to achieve their Session-long goals, serving their community, reflecting on their year and having fun!

SCHOLAR’S CHOICE

Explorers finished their year strong as they continued to focus on achieving their goals. They supported each other with encouragement and celebrated each others’ hard work.

CELEBRATION OF HEROES

The Explore learners supported their community by cleaning up the campus to prepare for the Celebration of Heroes on Wednesday. They used teamwork and grit to move heavy items and wash different areas on campus.

The learners in Explore were honored for their perseverance, integrity, hard work, commitment, and bravery at the Celebration of Heroes. Three Explorers gave speeches and told stories that were emblematic of their year. They shared some of the lessons they learned, such as the challenging moments being the best moments because that was when they grew and learned about themselves.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Explorers enjoyed their final Friday outing of the year at Bull Creek. They found a natural water slide and courageously slid down it into the pool below.

Water play continued as the Explorers joined the Discovery and Spark learners in Water Day; a time-honored tradition at Ascent.

Congratulations to the first Explore studio learners for a year full of growth, learning, leadership and friendship!

For more from Session 7 Week 6, click here: Explore Session 7, Week 6 photos & videos

Explore Year 5. Session 7. Week 5.

July 3, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

In week 5 of Session 7, the learners in Explore discussed the Studio culture they have cultivated over the course of the year and reflected on how creating their culture is not about the destination, but the ongoing practice of respect for their fellow travelers, their Studio, and themselves.

GROWING CURIOSITY

In week 5 of Session 7, the final group of Explore learners led the Film Quest they wrote in the Discovery Studio. The Explorers guided the learners in Discovery through challenges such as writing a script, making props, as well as filming, and supported Discovery learners with following their guardrails during Socratic discussions.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

All Session long, the learners in Explore and Discovery have trained for volleyball and played scrimmages against each other. At the beginning of Session 7 they were presented with the opportunity to earn an off-campus volleyball game based on participation. On Tuesday, two teams-the Maroon Mushrooms and the Electric Ballers-who had earned the most points for their consistent participation in PD during the previous 4 weeks, played a volleyball game at the Mary Elizabeth Branch sand courts in Mueller. Learners on all four teams shared their excitement and pride at how much they have improved and encouraged one another to give their best.

WORK CYCLE

Explorers worked independently and collaboratively to get into flow during their Work Cycles. They set SMART goals that supported them in achieving the goals they set at the beginning of the Session and motivated each other to work hard and finish the year strong.

For more from Session 7 Week 5, click here: Explore Session 7, Week 5 photos & videos

Explore Year 5. Session 7. Week 4.

July 1, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

The learners in Explore got into flow in Writers’ Workshop, Work Cycle, and reading their badge books this week. They reflected on the importance of finishing the year strong and shared their commitments to continue working towards their session-long goals with one another.

GROWING CURIOSITY

In week 4 of Session 7, two Explorers led the learners in Discovery on the Animal Quest they wrote. The Explorers facilitated Socratic discussions and supported the Discovery learners with their animal research and animal modeling challenges.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

The Explore learners teamed up with learners in Discovery to play a volleyball game. They communicated with their teammates when they were going for the ball and encouraged each other when it was their time to serve. After the game, gave call-outs for their fellow travelers’ perseverance and good sportsmanship.

FRIDAY OUTING

The Explorers hiked at Spy Glass Trail on the Greenbelt on Friday. They found a large boulder and took on the challenge of climbing to the top of it. They helped each other by giving tips about how best to make it to the top as well as sharing words of encouragement to their fellow travelers.

For more from Session 7 Week 4, click here: Explore Session 7, Week 4 photos & videos

Explore Year 5. Session 7. Week 3.

June 24, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

This week, the Explorers worked hard to make progress on their session-long goals and reflected on their studio culture.

GROWING CURIOSITY

In week 3 of Session 7, a pair of Explorers guided Discovery learners through a Quest they created and named Fashion Figure Out. The Explorers led discussions and supported Discovery learners with challenges such as researching different kinds of style, designing an accessory, and constructing it.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

The Explore learners teamed up with the Discovery learners to play volleyball games. They encouraged one another during the games and concluded PD with call-outs for good sportsmanship and perseverance.

QUEST

The learners in Explore dove deeper into their Personal Passion Quest challenges. They followed the Quest plans they created and reflected on their progress.

NATURE WALK

The Explore learners went on a nature walk through the campus orchard on Friday. They stopped along the walk to reflect on questions such as, “How do Explorers approach their learning?” and, “How do Explorers face challenges?” in their journals. At the end of the walk they drank tea while they shared their reflections in the yurt.

For more from Session 7 Week 3, click here: Explore Session 7, Week 3 photos & videos

Explore Year 5. Session 7. Week 2.

June 16, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

The Explorers got into flow this week while they worked hard to make progress on their session-long goals and celebrated one another with call-outs for perseverance and kindness.

QUEST

The learners in Explore are creating their own Personal Passion Quest in Session 7. They brainstormed a topic and received feedback from their studio-mates and planned out 9 challenges to complete and reflect on over the course of the session.

GROWING CURIOSITY

In week 2 of Session 7, another group of Explorers guided Discovery learners through a Quest on baking. The Explorers launched discussions and presented challenges for the the learners in Discovery that explored the main ingredients in baking, how to make a recipe, and finally how to bake!

BOOK CLUB

The learners in Explore have started a book club in Session 7. They are reading Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura. They read a few chapters last week to prepare for their discussion of the book in week 2. They drank tea and reflected on the action-packed chapters, the characters, and what they think will happen next!

FRIDAY OUTING

The Explore learners hiked at Shoal Creek on Friday. They excitedly interacted with wildlife, cautiously balanced on river rocks, and joyfully concluded their outing in the tree house in Pease Park.

LUNCH CLUB

The Explorers hosted their first Lunch Club on Friday! Two Explorers planned the menu and the whole studio supported each other to prepare it. They made watermelon agua fresca, avocado toast, and had celery and carrots with peanut butter.

For more from Session 7 Week 2, click here: Explore Session 7, Week 2 photos & videos

Explore Year 5. Session 7. Week 1.

June 9, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

Explorers dove into the first week of Session 7 with high energy and shared powerful reflections about the culture they have created and the legacy they want to leave at Ascent.

WRITERS’ WORKSHOP

The Explore learners created journals this week. They discussed the value of keeping a journal and got into flow answering prompts in their journals. They wrote about who they are, what they do, what they like, and what they want their journal to do: be a record for their future family, a record for the world, or a reflection for themselves to process.

GROWING CURIOSITY

In Session 6, the learners in Explore worked in groups to create week-long Quests to implement in Discovery in Session 7. They worked together to write launches and create challenges on the various topics they chose. In week 1 of Session 7, the first group guided Discovery learners through a Quest on painting. Explorers facilitated Socratic discussions and actively supported the learners in Discovery with challenges that explored symbolism in art, drawing background and foreground, and choosing colors based on the emotions each learner wanted to evoke through their painting.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

The Explore learners teamed up with the Discovery learners to play Volleyball in PD this week. They cheered each other on as they completed agility drills and partnered up to practice passing.

Explorers reflected on and set personal Session-long goals. They set goals based on what they need to achieve to get to earn Badges, a specific math goal, and a goal related to an area they would like to grow in. Once they wrote down their goals, they broke down what they will need to do to achieve their goal into smaller, week-long goals. They posted their goals and their plans of action in the Studio for accountability.

For more from Session 7 Week 1, click here: Explore Session 7, Week 1 photos & videos

Explore Year 5. Session 6. Week 6.

May 26, 2024/in Explore Studio/by ascentanactonacademy

The learners in Explore spent the week preparing for their Exhibition of Learning, worked together on team challenges, and practiced reading aloud at closing groups.

EXHIBITION OF LEARNING: QUEST

Explore learners and Discovery learners had a joint Exhibition at the end of Session 6. They presented their work and answered questions from their guests about their learning in the Astronomy Quest, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, and other reflections.

EXHIBITION OF LEARNING: WRITERS’ WORKSHOP

The Explorers spent Session 6 writing creative fiction in Writers’ Workshop. At their Exhibition, all of their prewriting, along with their final draft, was posted for their guests to see and read through. Explorers shared how proud they were of their stories and that they had written more than ever before.

EXHIBITION OF LEARNING: ART

The learners in Explore created varying pieces of art over the course of the past 6 Sessions which culminated in an Explore Art Exhibit. They showcased their self-portraits, their paintings of places that remind them of home, and their sculptures of everyday items that hold meaning for them.

In Session 6, the learners in Explore and Discovery wrote, produced, and acted in plays that they performed for their guests at their Exhibition.

FRIDAY OUTING

Explorers continued their Friday tradition of an outing along the Greenbelt. They hiked, investigated wildlife with curiosity and respect, and pushed themselves out of their comfort zone by attempting challenging maneuvers on the rocks!

END-OF-SESSION CELEBRATION

On Friday, the learners in Explore were invited by the Spark learners to see the Theater in a Box projects that they created in Session 6.

To celebrate the end of the Session, the learners in Explore hosted the Spark learners for an end-of-session snack they all worked together to create. Explorers baked biscuits to go with the peach jam that the Sparks made from the peaches in the orchard.

For more from Session 6 Week 6, click here: Explore Session 6, Week 6 photos & videos