Explore Year 6. Session 2. Week 3.
This Week in the Explore Studio
The Explore learners journeyed to Hiring and Competition + Substitute Islands in E-Ship Quest, began drafting their persuasive essays in Writers’ Workshop, and celebrated the fall season in Art.
QUEST
This week, Explorers dove into an experiment on production efficiency, comparing assembly line and individual production methods. As a Studio, they collaborated to develop a rubric, establishing clear standards of excellence for their work. Armed with their rubric, teams got to work assembling care kits, using both production styles. Afterward, they analyzed their results and found that while the assembly line method appeared to be the most efficient, they noted that the sample size was too small to confirm universal results. The experiment sparked thoughtful discussions on teamwork, quality, and productivity!
On Friday, the Explore and Discovery Studios came together for an entrepreneurial challenge: The Trail Mix Stand-Off. The Explorers were challenged to work in teams to create a Trail Mix Stand. Each team started with $15 Hero Bucks to purchase ingredients for the trail mix they would sell. They had to consider what would make their trail mix stand out to customers over their competitors. Discovery learners allowing heroes to step into a customer’s shoes to better understand buyer behavior. The Discovery learners each had $5 Hero Bucks to spend at the Explorers’ Trail Mix Stands. After the experiment, the entrepreneurs in Explore counted their profits and reflected on how the choices they made when setting their prices, decorating their stands, and choosing ingredients impacted the success they had.
WRITERS’ WORKSHOP
In Week 3 of Writers’ Workshop, learners launched into the drafting phase of their persuasive essays. As a Studio, they reviewed the 6 Traits of writing, focusing on Voice as they typed their first drafts.
ART
Explorers embraced the season’s spirit by carving pumpkins with the Discovery learners. They saved the seeds to share a special fall treat during the campus pumpkin party. The learners from Spark, Discovery, and Explore gathered to enjoy the fall festivities.
On Thursday, Explorers engaged in a learner-led launch about Diwali! One of their fellow Explorers facilitated a thoughtful Socratic Discussion on Diwali’s traditions and significance. Explorers then created rangolis and mandalas, experimenting with colored rice to create vibrant, intricate designs inspired by traditional Indian art.
FRIDAY OUTING
After donating the care-kits to Caritas, the Explore learners played in Pease Park. They hung around, climbed to new heights, and looked at the world around them from different perspectives!
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the Session! The Explorers’ journeys are just getting started, and we’re excited about what’s to come.
For more from Session 2 Week 3, click here: Explore Session 2, Week 3 photos & videos