Session 7, Week 1
As we commence our final session, we are exploring the session question “How can I find joy in the JOurneY? Each studio is exploring this question in different ways.
The Spark Studio explored some amazing inventions that children around the world created. The question was asked, “Did the children have more fun because they did something hard or because their invention worked? All week long the Spark heroes purposefully found the joy in doing hard things.
During Montessori work cycle, the heroes were invited to create their own Montessori works and make them challenging.
Our field trip to Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum did not disappoint. Heroes explored things they were passionate about and dove deep to understand more. Whether it was creating and racing cars, creating a clubhouse, or channeling their inner artist, heroes found joy.
One hero discovered how to make holes in the Lego car and that it raced faster this way. Another hero discovered how to make rushing water slow down (just like the dam we saw during Forest School). Another hero discovered the power of a piano duet is that the other person could reach the piano keys that they couldn’t.
During CHOICE work cycle, heroes had the opportunity to sign up to do their own launches. We had our first hero launch on Wednesday. It was a joy for us to see the hero share something he loves and lead a discussion with his peers.
Session 7 in the Fire Studio is always exciting as heroes who are pitching into the DELTA Studio get to lead their own Day Quest. The Days Quests thus far have been fun, informative, interesting, exciting, engaging and inspiring for the other heroes. Topics have ranged from origami, gymnastics, basketball and ukulele to cats, rockets and marine life; it can be any topic that brings the hero joy!
The heroes also beat some tricky escape rooms with teamwork and tenacity in preparation for IOWA testing.
Heroes are experiencing their first “all boy” and “all girl” studio splits. Some heroes found the split disconcerting, others dove right in. It is fun to watch the dynamics. Fun fact: So far the Core Skills studio has looked equally cared for at the end of the Studio Maintenance, whether it was cleaned by the boys studio or the girl studio.
We had an opportunity to find joy as emotions ran high in the DELTA Studio this week. With ten heroes preparing to graduate, there is a lot of reminiscing, nostalgia and sadness. But the DELTA heroes aren’t sitting around moping, they are experiencing and sharing these emotions while also trying to make the most of their last time together, while also working on IOWA, while also working really hard to finish their goals.
We took some breaks from the hard work to finish long standing art projects,
create and perform dances (watch the videos in the picture folder, they are hilarious!),
go to the park for P.E. to learn how to throw a football and a baseball,
And enjoy a long time favorite team building activity!
Whether at work or at play, CHOICE heroes of all ages know how to create and find JOY in their JOurneY!