Revel Recap: June 13 - 17, 2022
Spark Studio
Mindfulness
We started our week by gathering together and sharing our weekend experiences. Many Sparks spent time at their cottages and even said they played in the rain! Then using their great imaginations, the Sparks created their own story using story cards. On Tuesday, the Sparks connected their directed drawing with their week of music by drawing a guitar. They turned out awesome! As for Wednesday, everyone came together and stretched their bodies to prepare for Smile Power Day! Thursday, the Sparks worked on free-hand drawing or worked on colouring pages of instruments. To end the week of mindfulness, everyone wrote in the gratitude journal about an instrument they would like to learn to play.
Quest
Music week was so much fun as we learned about different music genres, beats, and instruments. To start the week, we read the book A Song in a Rainstorm written by Glenda Armand. The Sparks were so interested in this story about “blind Tom,” who became one of the greatest musicians of his time. We spoke about how our different senses can be powerful in other ways to allow us to pursue goals in life. On Tuesday, we learned about Aretha Franklin, which led us to a mini-history lesson on the Civil Rights Movement. We read the book Sing, Aretha, Sing!, which had the lyrics of a song about identity and joy while giving hope to people trying to make a change. It demonstrates that music can play a role and reach out to others based on situations they may be going through. Lyrics can be so empowering. We also played Guess the Instrument and Musical Chairs. The Sparks listened to the song “Respect” during musical chairs but then asked for rock and techno music. On Wednesday, we introduced the drums. We listened to the story Drum City by Thea Guidone, and it explained that if we don’t have actual drums, we can use many other objects like pots and pans or buckets. The Sparks used the stools in the studio as their drums to follow a beat. For art, we used popsicle sticks as drumsticks and listened to Ms. Kaitlin plays a rhythm on the drum. The s would tell her if they wanted a soft or hard beat. Some paint went all over the Maker Space, but it was an entertaining activity! On Thursday afternoon, the Sparks used an instrument of their choice to follow along with the beats being played. They had also got into groups to create a song to sing and play in front of the others! Everyone was a fan of the “Frog Song” one of our Sparks wrote. To end the week, we played a game called Tissue Dance. It was a lot of fun! The Sparks then created their own beat, using up to ten notes for others to follow along. They each picked their instrument for this activity. Everyone shared their song and followed along. We think it’s time for our studio to start a band!
French
This week, the Sparks got to play with their mini-selves in a beautiful dollhouse. They visited each room in the house and practiced naming some of the furniture in the rooms. Many Sparks were interested in visiting…the chimney! We read a book called Chez Toi Chez Moi by Marianne Dubuc. It tells the story of a little rabbit’s birthday party, but we also get to see what the other animals in the giant house get up to. There are so many details to observe! In preparation for Father’s Day, we read J’adore mon Papa, a book about animal dads worldwide, and we made some cards. We wrote “Bonne Fête Papa!” and “Je t’aime Papa!”.
Additional Highlights
Week Three was full of musical events! The Guides are happy to see an interest in music in the studio, and the Sparks smile during other fun activities. To start the week, we talked about all the special days that would be happening; Donuts and coffee with families, birthday celebrations, Power Smile Day, and Eat Your Vegetable Day! It’s been a successful busy week in the studio. On Monday, the Sparks worked hard making cards for their loved ones for Father’s Day. They also worked on the phonic “g” using their whiteboard to either write their words to draw a picture of their words. Power Smile Day was this Wednesday, and the Sparks learned that a smile could go a long way, and it’s free! We read the story, and then everyone wrote three things that made them smile. We have been practising our play as the Exhibition is right around the corner. The learners are doing so well remembering their lines, and we can’t wait to present the three plays to all of our Revel families.
Lastly, the Sparks enjoyed Show and Tell, Reading Buddies and popsicles for a special birthday on Friday. Friday was Eat Your Vegetable Day, and we listened to the story, In Our Garden, by Pat Miller. The Sparks shared about their home gardens and the vegetables they had in their lunch that day. We can’t wait to see everyone on Monday for Week Four; Famous Artists.
Discovery Studio
Mindfulness
Monday morning, the Rebels got to choose between a colour by numbers summer-themed puzzle or creating a unique pattern by making their own colour key! On Tuesday, we continued building on last week’s theme of mindful movement, trying some new activities from GoNoodle like Running the Red Carpet. We took time to make cards for the remarkable men in our life on Wednesday morning and Thursday in preparation for our Donuts with Dad celebration! Friday, we played more pirate-themed movement games together - the Pirate Life and Pirate Chase - before meditating on a “sea of calm.”
Launches
Battling the monsters of victimhood, distraction, and resistance is an ongoing calling for the Rebels. (Especially at this point in the Hero’s Journey, with only a few weeks to go in our school year and such a close-knit community formed, staying intentional during Core Skills time has been an essential topic of conversation.) On Monday morning, the Discovery Rebels and visiting Sparks had a phenomenal discussion about what strategies we can use when these monsters stand before us on the path. For example, if someone is distracting you, try asking them politely to stop, ignore their actions, or hold them accountable using the Rebel Bucks system. If you find yourself distracted, take a body break or change your environment. If you notice yourself in resistance, take a body break or ask for help from another Rebel. On Tuesday we played “Tu préfères ça…ou ça?” The Rebel-led launches on Wednesday and Thursday featured a fun Kahoot! about animals and a TED-Ed riddle about prime numbers. Friday’s Rebel-led Current Events report included cute animal sightings (a panda from Malaysia and a cute Bengal Tiger in Sri Lanka) and what experts say about Monkeypox.
Reader/Writer
Warrior Writers: It has been so much fun to read the work of the Warrior Writers each week! Armed with their ARMS and CUPS revising and editing checklists, everyone wrote (or polished) for a full 20 minutes on Monday. We now have interesting diary/journal entries, movie reviews, and creative characters’ ongoing sagas within their growing portfolios. Some writers who chose to stick with a piece and develop it weekly have gotten into genre-specific thinking such as, “what makes a fairy tale?” or how to structure a news report. Is there a difference between persuasive writing and a rant? Next week, we will use the Six Traits model to give specific feedback to each other and push our ideas and writing even further!
Rebel Readers: With our Treasure Island Show Night fast approaching, the Rebels were tasked with a Play Media Blitz this week. They had to choose between a large-scale poster or a six-panel brochure which would incorporate important show night information such as the title, date and location of the performance, as well as additional details like the cast and/or a synopsis of the story. Depending on their chosen format, their focus will be to balance visual conventions with short teasers or to include other cool information about pirate history, sea shanties, flags, or treasure maps for the audience to enjoy.
French
This week, French was all about building props for the Quest play! Rebels gathered in the Makerspace to make un bateau, un drapeau, une cage à perroquet, un gouvernail and des bijoux. We challenged ourselves to use the vocabulary of arts and crafts only in French with the help of words written on the board. Bon travail les Rebelles!
Math Lab
This week was all about probability! The Rebels explored many ways mathematicians use to describe mathematical chance, such as technical vocabularies like outcomes and descriptive words such as impossible, unlikely, likely or certain. While playing another KnowledgeHook Gameshow, they could visualize how these words connect to a number line representation of the chance between 0 and 1 of an event happening. They also discussed the difference between theoretical and experimental probability, using fractions to describe both what they could expect and actual results. Next week the Rebels will conduct their own simple experiment using a spinner, making predictions based on their design and tallying the trials. They will also select activities for their booth and otherwise prepare for the upcoming Math Carnival for the Sparks.
Civilizations
With the POWER Project well underway, the Rebels had time to consult book format sources this week and gather information about their chosen civilization’s power sources. They also need to make a timeline of key events and a map. By the end of the work period, the Rebels had also locked in the format for their presentation. We look forward to everything from a chess piece battle reenactment, to Flidgrid videos, to classic Slideshows!
Physical Development
Monday’s basketball group worked on shooting before a scrimmage, while the other group went for a hike in the woods. On Wednesday, the Rebels chose between soccer or kickball outside with Ms. Kaitlin and Ms. Mel!
Quest
This week’s focus for our Treasure Island performance was all about sound cues and set design! On Monday, we explored a career in sound technology through the lens of a foley artist and practised how we can add sounds to certain scenes in our play using found objects or our bodies. Tuesday afternoon, we listened to some traditional choir versions of our sea shanties and described the qualities that make them sound good. The Rebels said they felt the singers created an echo effect or resonance and that their voices were deep and clear. They even noticed some staggered verses and some singers singing the lyrics while others were chanting sounds. By Wednesday, some of our set designs had arrived, and we started to practise re-staging the gym for different scenes using tables, nets, flags and maps. We were also ready to open up ticket sales after budgeting and estimating our production costs, and deciding on a plan for the profits. Each day’s rehearsal improved, with the Rebels smoothing transitions and gaining a rhythm of where to enter and exit the playing area.
Additional Highlights
Friday morning’s Donuts with Dad celebration was a lot of fun! The sun was bright (and hot), so some braved the heat while others came into the school for a Rebel-led tour of their favourite studio. Thanks for everything you do, Dads!
Exploration Studio
Mindfulness and Launches
This week, Rebels coloured mandalas while listening to excerpts about belonging vs. fitting in from Brene Brown’s book Atlas of the Heart. Utilizing Brene’s quote, “True belonging is the spiritual practise of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” Using this as a jumping-off point, each group discussed why belonging is so important and how difficult it can be to be our authentic selves around others.
How do you want to be remembered? Rebels reflected on how they would like their family, friends, and community to think of them after they are gone. Many identified accomplishments they’d like to achieve, while others focused on the feelings their memory would conjure. On Tuesday, we debated the quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” We discussed the bystander effect, the importance of standing up for others, and why people often choose to remain silent. On Wednesday, we worked on cards for the awesome Dad figures in our lives and on Thursday, the learners led a teambuilding launch. In preparation for our Documentary Showing on Friday, we set up the schedule and chose our award categories for the ballots.
DOCUMENTARY
On Friday, we also had Part 1 of our Documentary Viewing Party! It was so fun getting to watch what the Exploration Rebels worked on over the past year!
Music
On Tuesday, we learned how to play the song “Dance Monkey” as a full studio on our Boomwhackers. By the second time through, the Rebels were sounding pretty great! We then used the rest of the period in our smaller groups to work on our Exhibition performances.
Quest
This week, the goal was to complete our artifact creation and label preparation for our presentations. Rebels worked hard to finish their timelines, maps, artifacts, and bonus sections. Throughout the week, you could see Rebels designing artifacts on Tinkercad and then printing them on the MakerBot, putting together architectural kits, creating clay models, and building ancient instruments. We also used an Occulus to explore the Anne Frank House, Antarctica, and Machu Picchu. Some Rebels were already brainstorming other locations that would be incredible to explore through VR and how it could open up the world when we aren’t able to travel in person.
This next week we will work on creating neat and informational displays to attract an audience. Some Rebels are on track, while others realized that they need to spend more time researching, writing, and editing their labels this next week.
Etiquette
This week we went over email etiquette and how to write a proper thank-you note. After reviewing the differences between to, cc, and bcc, we discussed that a formal email should have a capitalized and direct subject line, salutation, block format, closing, and signature. We also discussed the use of emojis, slang, and sarcasm when sending an email to someone with who you aren’t on familiar terms. We then crafted a well-written thank-you note with a helpful formula that enabled us to show thought and appreciation.
French
This week, Rebels finished making camping-themed props and started working on mini-theatre plays for them to perform. We also took time to work on our replies to our French pen pals and played “Nord-Sud” in the gym!
Physical Development
Monday’s basketball group worked on shooting before a scrimmage, while the other group went for a hike in the woods. On Wednesday, the Rebels chose between soccer or kickball outside with Ms. Kaitlin and Ms. Mel!
Additional Highlights
The Occulus ended up getting lots of use throughout the week as Rebels took turns playing and cheering each other on as they explored different games like Beat Saber and Climb 2!
Launchpad
Launchpad Rebels are working hard to complete their last Deep Books, reviews, math courses, and independent projects, with only a few weeks left in the year’s final session.
Canadian History
After reading about more recent Canadian history in class, we boarded a double-decker bus on Elgin Street and played tourists in our city. The hour and a half loop took us through several of Ottawa’s neighbourhoods and past many of our museums, historical sites, and city gems. After taking in the sights, including the Arboretum, Rideau Hall, Notre Dame Basilica, and Parliament, we disembarked and walked down to check out the canal and lock system before grabbing lunch in the Byward Market. We live in such an incredible city! With a potential storm warning in effect, we decided to head back to Revel with plans to explore some of the sites another day!
Photography and Blogging
“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” - Ansel Adams
To begin our week, we watched “I Paint” and discussed what we felt was original about the work and what we liked and disliked about the art form. We also contemplated if the artist did not make any money from this collaboration and the only return was to inspire the world, was his effort worth it or a waste of time?
After reviewing the numerous elements of composition in art, learners focused on two main categories; objects and their relationships. After researching points, lines, shapes, textures, colours, and tones, learners also studied distance, balance, space (positive and negative), and patterns in photography. They then had to take a picture to represent each element, recognizing how to analyze their photography visually. Launchpad learners also took part in several “Click Challenges,” one of which required them to take ten pictures of food items while another asked them to take five photos that show texture.
One way to exploit your creativity is finding your purpose, whether to tell a story, stir emotions, change a mind, or provide a glimpse into something that hasn’t been photographed in the same way. To help our Launchpad learners think about their purpose, they had to choose their favourite photo that they’ve taken so far and answer questions about why the image was created, what they are trying to show and the composition techniques employed.
Artists from different fields use colour to create an array of emotions, believing that colour can dramatically affect moods, feelings and even physical reactions. After reading an article and watching a video, Rebels took photographs using monochromatic, analogous, complementary, only warm, only cool, high saturation and low saturation colour schemes. They then had the freedom to pick their favourite while communicating why they chose the scheme they did and the psychology behind their colour choice. We also dove into angles and perspective and their impact on the message that a photographer wants to send. Learners then chose an object or person to shoot and took at least ten shots from different angles and perspectives. Lastly, Rebels learned and utilized a prevalent technique to make photographs more dynamic and balanced called the Rule the Thirds.
After viewing the 20 most famous photographs in history, Launchpad learners chose one to use the following interpreting process to write a 300-word entry that included the main subject, minor subjects, image composition, the purpose, the motive, relevance and accuracy of the photographer.
It was then time to explore the different fields of photography and how one could have a successful career. After reading through the 50 different fields of photography, learners wrote about those that interested them the most. They then researched a renowned Canadian photographer, posting their favourite picture from their portfolio and describing the photographer’s style.
Throughout the week, Rebels discussed what aspects they felt influence an image more, the differences between lighting, how to troubleshoot if an image is blurry or grainy and personal preferences. They also took part in Creative Squad meetings, discussing their favourite photographs and giving one another feedback.
Potential Discussion Ideas or Questions to Ask your Rebel:
Spark:
Is there an instrument you would like to learn to play?
French: Which room in la maison is your favourite?
Discovery:
Quest - How are rehearsals going? Do they feel in your comfort zone, challenge zone or panic zone?
Reader/Writer - which type of media did you choose to make, a poster or a brochure? What information or features should you include?
Math Lab - what is the difference between theoretical and experimental probability? What is an example of this?
French: Which prop(s) did you work on? Using your French vocabulary, can you describe the materials and tools you used?
Exploration:
How is your museum exhibit going? Are your artifacts completed? How are your labels progressing?
How did this week’s Wheel of Fortune/Wheel of Doom challenge go?
French: What prop(s) did you work on? Using your French vocabulary, can you describe the materials and tools you used?
Launchpad:
What was your favourite part of our Ottawa Bus Tour? Where would you most like to go back and explore further?
Which is the greater danger in the world of deepfakes: the ability to later deny something that was in fact said, or the ability to create something not in fact said?
You are a world-renowned gallery owner and want your next exhibit to be photography-specific and display important works. Which theme would you choose;
Empathy, helping people understand what others may be enduring,
Art, celebrating the distinctly human ability to create,
Education, granting humans more knowledge,
Documentation, informing us of our timeline and those who came before us, or
Something else?
DATES OF INTEREST
Parent Book Club: Wednesday, June 22nd on Zoom (link to be sent)
Session 7 Exhibitions:
Exploration Studio: Tuesday, June 28 at 4:30 pm
Spark Studio: Wednesday, June 29 at 4:15 pm
Discovery Studio: Thursday, June 30 at 4:30 pm
Launchpad Studio: Wednesday, July 6 - 4:15 pm
Field Trips
Exploration - War Museum - Wednesday, June 22nd 10:30 am - 2:00 pm
Launchpad
Upper Canada Village: Thursday, June, 23
Tour of Gatineau and Chelsea, including Pink Lake and Mackenzie King Estate
Session 7 Traditions
Rebel Olympics - Tuesday, July 5
Exploration Studio Graduation - Wednesday, July 6
Ice Cream Truck!!! - Wednesday, July 6
Summer Birthday Party - Thursday, July 7