Welcome to Session 2!
Wow, Session 1 flew by! It was awesome to see all of our Revel families at the various Studio Exhibitions of Learning; we hope you enjoyed hearing about how we Create the Culture at Revel! A highlight for our learners was watching their guardians sign the contract, thank you!
We have missed the Rebels this week, but the Guides have been hard at work preparing for an exciting Session 2! Read on to see what we will explore in each studio over the next six weeks!
Spark Studio
In Session 2, our Quest theme will revolve around the fascinating world of weather! We've got a packed itinerary which includes exploring different types of weather, learning how to track the weather, examining extreme weather events, experimenting with weather-related activities, and even creating a meteorologist forecast.
With fall in full swing when we get back from session break, the Sparks will explore the life cycle of pumpkins. We will dive into the mystery of how the orange gourds grow and develop and potentially carve a pumpkin! But that's not all; we will also join in on Halloween festivities that many Sparks eagerly look forward to.
One highlight the learners have discovered on their October calendar is our exciting field trip to Saunders Farm on Wednesday, October 18th! This adventure promises to be a day filled with fun and learning as we explore the farm.
After Session 1's Create the Culture Quest, we are ready to introduce squad leaders. The Squad leaders will be a group nominated by their peers. These individuals will hold our studio accountable, offer mentorship, and be role models for their peers. They aim to create a warm and inclusive community in which the Sparks can thrive!
Discovery Studio
Ms. Jenna and Ms. Mel have opened a sign-up on BAND for Learner-Led meetings! The Discovery Rebels have been working hard to set SMART goals each week and have also started to create SMART goals for the year. We look forward to sitting in and celebrating the Rebels' hard work so far and sharing their aspirations. Meeting times will be available before school and during the day for the first two weeks of November.
Thank you for an amazing first Exhibition! Coming up in Session 2, Rebels will take a deep dive into our first-ever Candy Quest! Rebels will explore the history of candy and the candy-making process from factory production to store shelves. How can we create more sustainable packaging? What "better-for-you" ingredients can we use? In an industry that targets its marketing to youth, how can we equip ourselves to be more media literate and think critically about advertising? Our Exhibition will be an Edible Slime Tasting competition, where Rebels will create a unique edible slime, design packaging and logos, and attempt to win "Best Slime" at Exhibition. This Quest is sure to be a "sweet treat!"
Next session's Math Lab will build upon the Rebels' understanding of quantity and focus on using the four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. We will also pay close attention to the words and structures mathematicians use. This will help us become more adept at problem-solving and practising matching words, numbers, and contexts to the operations! To link with the Candy Quest, we will also conduct a weekly special investigation to learn about nutrition and packaging conventions. This will prepare them to properly keep track of measurements and use them to create their packaging with nutritional values!
During the last week of Session 1 in Reader Writer, Rebels wrapped up their Gratitude Letters and Line in the Sand Scripts to get them on display for Exhibition. Rebels are looking forward to Session 2 and 3 workshops focusing on creating fictional/fantasy stories and fairy tales to present in a Book Launch at Session 3's Exhibition.
Exploration Studio
In Session 2, Exploration Rebels will embark on a Science of Where Quest! World leaders use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to unpack global challenges and solve problems. Rebels will learn about this technology as they engage with powerful GIS data stories about wildfires, flooding, and air quality across the globe. Then, they will use ArcGIS technology to author their own maps and better understand critical issues in Canadian geography!
In connection with Quest, this session's Math Lab is the Detour of a Lifetime! Using a credit card with a limit of $ 5,000 CND (Canadian Dollars), Rebels must return from the West Coast to the nation's capital city! This will include making cost-effective choices for travel, accommodations and meals while staying within the limits of the law (e.g. no hitch-hiking!). Rebels will "arrive home" understanding credit card debt and interest, currency exchange rates, managing travel reservations and budgeting expenses.
Up next in Reader Writer, Rebels will be creating Provincial Travel Guides and Brochures as an extension of their Geography Quest. With a focus on persuasive writing techniques, Rebels will design a "Must-Do and See" travel guide for a Canadian province that showcases geographical and environmental elements of a province or territory, such as historical landmarks, climate and weather conditions, entertainment, places to stay and other tips for tourists.
Our Civilization classes will use Jared Diamond's novel Guns, Germs, and Steel as the backbone for our discussions in this session. Exploration Rebels will meet twice weekly to research and discuss the role of geography, conquests and colonization, new technologies and innovations, and critical historical moments worldwide.
We will also be hosting Learner-Led meetings for families who would like to meet regarding their Rebel’s goals and plans for the year.
Launchpad Studio
Launchpad Rebels will begin their Physics course by tackling the Classical Physics Quest, which offers questions, examples, tools and challenges they will need to start developing an understanding of the fundamental laws our universe is governed by. We will explore and model basic physical systems to make predictions with hands-on methods, constantly examining the "why" and extrapolate our understanding to everyday real-world areas, including sports, transportation, energy (in the industrial sense), design, and engineering. The session will culminate with a Physics Olympics competition where learners will showcase their scientific discoveries!
Launchpad will also begin a session-long Creative Writing Workshop! They will start with writing basics and then explore a new genre each week, including short fiction, spoken word, writing for theatre, and creative non-fiction. We'll read and listen to several creators in each genre for inspiration and as a learning opportunity about the breadth, innovation, and exploration happening in each.
In our World History course, Launchpad Rebels will meet twice a week to complete individual research and gather for Socratic debates that dive into historical, geographical, political, economic, and religious dilemmas, enigmas, and puzzles. In almost every case, learners step into the shoes of a historical figure at a critical turning point in history to debate and make real-life decisions. This session will focus on Ancient Civilizations beginning in Sumer and ending in Rome.
Learners will continue working on the first Quest of the Next Great Adventure, aiming to complete the "Tell Your Story," "Reality Hits," and "Rounding the Homestretch" challenges.
Dates of Interest
Pumpkin Run (9 to 18-year-olds) - October 17th at Wesley Clover Park
Saunders Farm Field Trip 9:00 to 2:00pm (Sparks and Discovery) - Wednesday, October 18th
Middle School and Launchpad Soccer Tournament - Friday, October 20th
Rebel Guardian Onboarding - Self-Driven Child Book Club Thursday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. - The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives Book Club (Read the book in advance and come ready to discuss.)
Halloween Red Carpet Celebration - Tuesday, October 31st, 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
School Photos - Wednesday, November 8th and Thursday, November 9th
Session 2 Exhibitions
Spark - Wednesday, November 22nd, 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Discovery - Tuesday, November 21st, 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Exploration - Wednesday, November 22nd, 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Launchpad - Tuesday, November 21st, 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Sessional Break - Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th