Revel Recap: Nov. 11 - 15, 2024
Spark Studio
Mindfulness and Launch
We began the week by immersing the Sparks in the power of poetry. Our Spark learners listened intently as a peer read aloud the touching poem "Little Poppy." This experience sparked meaningful discussions about Remembrance Day, prompting the Sparks to share stories passed down through their families. On Tuesday, the Sparks participated in a directed drawing in which they brought images of a saw and hammer to life! On Wednesday, the Sparks went to the library to browse through shelves upon shelves of books, carefully selecting one to enjoy during DEAR. The Sparks then warmed up their bodies for a fun-filled day with a great yoga routine. On Thursday, we reflected on the importance of affirmations. We repeated the affirmation, "I am confident," three times and then went around the circle to share one clear affirmation the learner wanted to share with others and themselves. To end the week, we had a Launch about field trip safety to prepare for our adventure to the museum.
Quest
In this week's Quest, the Sparks participated in an exciting safety workshop to prepare for their hands-on toolbox-building activity with Mme. Marianne. The lesson was focused on the rules for using tools like hammers and nails. Safety was the priority, and the Sparks were reminded of the importance of wearing hard hats and safety goggles when working with tools to protect themselves. The learners then got the chance to practice using a child-friendly hammer and golf tees as nails, hammering them into pieces of cardboard. Each learner had two turns to practice their hammering skills in a fun, safe way!
Once they had some hands-on experience, the Sparks were taught about the importance of planning before taking on a more significant task. They created blueprints for their very own toolboxes, giving them a visual guide for their upcoming project. During their workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, they built their toolboxes with the help of some patient and supportive Exploration Rebels! In the end, half of the group painted their toolboxes, and the rest will continue on Monday. Lastly, aside from toolbox making, the Sparks explored what it may be like to work as a construction worker. What tools, uniforms, and job sites would they want to take on if this career choice was theirs? They went to work and designed a job they wanted, such as building a road, park, homes, and much more, then printed and drew photos of the tools, heavy machinery and skills they may need to complete it. We are excited to share all our hard work at Exhibition next week!
French
This week, the Sparks have been learning fruit and vegetable vocabulary by playing "Petit Linkto," a Guess Who? game and continuing to learn how to ask questions in French. We also used two periods of French to build our toolboxes with Madame Marianne.
Art
For Remembrance Day, the Sparks made poppies using tissue or construction paper. The poppies turned out lovely, and we had them posted around the studio for the week as a reminder of those who have supported our country and families. Lastly, everyone used playdough to make various tools and buildings. The Rebels created many screws, hammers, saws, apartments, and dump trucks!
Geography
As the learners are on their way to and from school or driving/walking places during the weekends, they have observed many construction sites around the city. Ontario is investing over $191 billion in infrastructure projects to support schools, hospitals, public transit, roads, bridges, and access to high-speed internet. The Sparks explored priority investments focused on nine key areas: health care, child care, community, and education and discovered how many projects are currently being worked on. To build on this, the learners used Duplo, wooden blocks, and KEVA planks to develop their projects based on the ones being worked on. For example, groups worked on Highway 427 in Toronto's expansion, Ottawa's Light Rail Transit - Confederation Line, Highway 417 Widening Project, and a Public Secondary School in Riverside South. Using our map of Canada, the Guides showed the Sparks province of Ontario so they could have a better understanding of what area we were discussing. Some learners came to realize they don't live in Ontario, but they live in Quebec. Following this, five groups in the studio were each given one infrastructure project. Some learners built hospitals, homes, railroads, bridges and schools.
Math Lab
Group One continued their exploration of addition this week. First, we practiced adding within 20 using our hands-on magnetic ten frames to complete a series of addition questions as a group. Each learner then completed a worksheet independently, using ten frames to help them find the sum. Group Two continued their investigation of number patterns, focusing on skip counting. We practiced counting by 5s to help the Sparks recognize and clarify the patterns within the counting chain. The learners quickly noticed a key feature: every number in the sequence contained a 0 or a 5 and alternated between them as they counted. Once the group showed confidence with counting by 5s, we moved on to the 8-counting chain. With their developing skills, the Sparks were ready to tackle skip counting by 8s, covering the numbers from 8 all the way up to 160! Following this, they listened to a fun song that counted by 8s, and together, they wrote down each number as it appeared. As we reviewed the list, the Sparks made an interesting observation: in every number, we could spot a 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 in the ones place! Lastly, the learners took turns reading their numbers aloud from 8 to 160, reinforcing their understanding of the pattern. This hands-on approach helped solidify their grasp of skip counting and number patterns while boosting their confidence with larger numbers! Way to go, Sparks.
Reader/Writer
Our letter of the week in Group One was D/d. We practiced tracing the uppercase and lowercase sandpaper letters, repeated the sound D/d makes, and thought of words that start with this letter. The learners then broke into groups to work on spelling CVC words with the moveable alphabet. We spelled words that have a D/d at the beginning or end of the word. Together, the learners sounded out and spelled dad, mad, den, sad, dip, and did.
Group Two officially finished their book study! They completed a true or false activity based on the tale and then practiced writing stories in their journals!
Additional Highlights
We had an exciting trip to the Canada Science and Technology Museum on Friday! The learners did a great job following the bus and museum instructions and enjoyed the various interactive exhibits! The learners agreed that their favourite parts of the day were the playful experience of the Crazy Kitchen and experimenting and exploring in the Zooom Children's Innovation Zone!
Discovery Studio
Mindfulness and Launch
To commemorate Remembrance Day, we made poppies on Monday morning, and the Rebels shared stories about family members who served or supported war efforts. We set the relaxing stage with jazz music and a fall scene and then worked on mindful colouring on Tuesday. For Launch, we considered all the ideas the Rebels brainstormed for the Fantastic Flow of Fun Friday Rewards Challenge that they are designing for Session 3. Wednesday's round of NYT puzzles was super fun but very challenging! We solved the Wordle on our last chance and got two out of four Connections categories. We then had an awesome Rebel-led Launch before diving into our Core Skills period. After our mindful walk on Thursday, we listened to two Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone excerpts. We asked ourselves the following questions: Imagine you were Neville, and you heard your friends breaking the rules again. Would you try to stand up to them? Is it more challenging to stand up to a friend? Would you rather be a friend who lets things go and overlooks mistakes or a friend who will stand up to you even when it's hard? Are true friends more tough-minded or more warm-hearted? Friday morning, we met to discuss our Field Trip to the Science and Tech Museum! Rebels looked at the museum map, reviewed their mission, and discussed the day's schedule and how to stay safe and have fun during the trip.
Reader/Writer
On Monday, the Draw and Anchor Rebels finished their script and invitation and practiced their role-play to prepare for their Journey Meeting. The Aim and Release Rebels practiced role-playing their Journey Meeting, and some who had already completed their Journey Meeting submitted their badges.
Math Lab
This week, Aim and Release Rebels completed a 3D drawing challenge, the Elevation Challenge, using link cubes and isometric dot paper. First, they worked to sketch front, side, and top views of simple 3D objects constructed out of link cubes. After this, they unlocked the next level of building their own 3D object from link cubes. Lastly, they had to sketch its various views and make a dynamic sketch on the dot paper showing their object's edges and faces.
On Wednesday, the Draw and Anchor Rebels worked on a series of challenges relating to the area of polygons like squares and rectangles and later in the lab to compound shapes. Rebels used a variety of strategies, from counting or skip-counting squares, using repeated addition or multiplication and making models using manipulatives such as square tiles or link cubes.
Civilizations
This week's read-aloud was a dense chapter about the changes in power in the Middle East from the time of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires to the Persian and Islamic empires to the time of the Safavids. We coloured-coded a map to show twelve different empires in power in the same area over time and had a very robust discussion about two infamous rulers: Shah Abbas and Sultan Murad. Rebels made arguments about what they would have done to encourage trade as Abbas (the creator of the Bandar Abbas port still in Iran today) and debated whether or not anyone can actually make anyone else act a certain way. Was Murad forced to act the way he did or was he 100% responsible for his violent actions?
French
This week, Group 1 finished writing a description of their monster. We then reworked the masculine and feminine forms of qualifying adjectives with an activity sheet. Meanwhile, Group 2 continued to write their legend about their monster. This week, we finished the initial situation and the event that triggered the story.
Physical Development
On Tuesday, our dedicated badminton players returned to the court to practice their skills. The Rebels know the game's rules very well and mastered the badminton serve. The other learners headed outside for some new cooperative games. First, we played Kangaroos and Crocodiles. We split into two teams and created two end zones using cones. The teams lined up against each other at the halfway line, and if their team was called, they had to turn and run to their end zone without getting tagged by the other team. Each round, we changed how they waited at the halfway line. For example, balancing on one leg, doing jumping jacks, etc. The next game was Volcanoes and Ice Cream Cones. We spread cones all around the playing field. The Rebels turned over the cones depending on their assigned team cone type. After 2-3 minutes, the team with the most cones turned their way would win! To finish up, we played a few rounds of a drama game called Grandma. One person faced away from the group, and the rest of the learners tried to creep up on the grandma and tap their shoulders. Grandma can turn suddenly at any moment, and you need to freeze. No one can move while she is watching them!
Quest
Rebels were taking care of business this week, working up (literally) from their meticulous floor plans to 3D models of their dream schools! On Monday, we learned how to use chipboard and tack glue to create walls. On Tuesday, we watched part of a Sims 4 Build Mode tutorial to visualize the impact of elevation renderings and landscaping on the architecture presentation. On Wednesday we watched a short video about how architects design landscaping for buildings and the critical questions they consider as they design. For example, how will we use the outdoor space? On Thursday, we took a few minutes to make an outline for Exhibition, like where each team will present, who will greet guests and who will speak and present details about the competition. Every other moment was spent hard at work on 3D model construction!
Additional Highlights
We had the best time at the Science and Technology Museum. Ms. Mel had prepared a Museum Scavenger Hunt for us, and we had fun searching for answers and exploring. We explored the Travelling through Time exhibit, the trains, the sound area, the Crazy Kitchen, the human body and the poop exhibit (yes, that's not a typo), and we ended with the Zooom Room.
Exploration Studio
Mindfulness and Launch
On Monday, we took time to honour those who have made significant sacrifices for our country's freedom. Exploration Rebels coloured poppy bookmarks to help us remember, not just on November 11th. We then participated in a Kahoot to learn more about Remembrance Day. Tuesday morning's mindful walk around the neighbourhood was the chilliest yet. We discussed the different sensations of sunlight and wind at this time of year and agreed that the windchill factor can make or break a lovely fall day! On Wednesday morning, Rebels used their time to learn, practice, and perform a TikTok-style dance to fulfill their Wheel of Doom consequence. They worked together to get it done and are sure to be excited about the next session's Wheel of Fortune competition! Thursday's yoga flow introduced a new move for Rebels to try called "thread the needle." From a tabletop position on all fours, Rebels took turns stretching one arm to the sky and then "threading" this hand down through the hole between the opposite arm and leg. We followed this with an extended child's pose to care for our upper back bodies! A human can only survive for about 100 hours without water, but there's a creature so resilient that it can go without it for decades. This 1-millimetre animal can survive both the hottest and coldest environments on Earth and even withstand high radiation levels. Rebels learned about the tardigrade, one of the toughestcreatures on Earth and how scientists are looking to this animal for innovation strategies! Friday morning, we tackled our usual NYT puzzles before our Current Events team told us about how TikTok offices were being banned in Canada and all about the Lunchly (created by MrBeast, KSI, and Logan Paul) drama.
Reader/Writer
In Reader Writer this week, we learned how visual data representations, such as graphs and charts, can be deceiving. After the initial lesson, Rebels were given several charts and graphs to determine how each was potentially biased or skewed to make them believe something that may not be factual.
Math Lab
This week's lab time was spent completing more note-making, with Rebels trying a couple of percentage problems in their teams and then writing to themselves in full sentences about how this works. Then, we took time to save evidence from the session and have a peer approve our work before submitting our badges in Journey Tracker. Once this business was done, Rebels could try two challenging problems: developing a formula for the cost of a window washing company to wash a skyscraper or deconstructing a Chucky Cheese menu with multiple combos to find the unit rates of various menu items. Great effort this session, Rebels!
French
This week in French, the Rebels continued writing their legend about their monster. We learned about the different components of a story, and then the learners completed the initial stage of their legend.
Quest
On Monday, we learned about ecology and the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors. We discussed the Ecological Hierarchy from population, community, ecosystem, biome, to biosphere. We then reviewed biomes, and learners took a quiz to demonstrate their understanding. In their teams, each member chose one biogeochemical cycle (water, nitrogen, carbon, or phosphorus) and either wrote a short paragraph or drew and labelled an illustration of their cycle. On Tuesday and Wednesday, teams came together to create a game about a Quest topic to play at Exhibition. There is a Jeopardy game, a Kahoot, a flashcard option, as well as a board game for families to enjoy next Wednesday! It was an excellent opportunity for the Rebels to review and recognize how much they've covered this session! In preparation for Thursday's mammalian eye dissection lab, we learned about the various parts of the eye and how an eye works. Learners then took the last few minutes of class on Wednesday to play a game and label the parts of the eye as quickly as possible. On Thursday, we reviewed a mammalian eye's external and internal anatomy before discussing dissection safety. We watched a video about what we would be doing and then got to work! Using the procedure provided, learners completed the dissection lab sheet and an anatomy identification handout. (For those not interested in the dissection, a tree biodiversity lab was available). It was a fun afternoon, and the Rebels impressed one another with their bravery, positive attitudes and surgeon skills! Up next week, frogs!
Civilizations
As one of the most successful empires in the history of humanity, ancient Rome is renowned for its political, economic and military innovations. Many argue that day-to-day life in Rome explains much about the rise and fall of the Roman civilization. Welcome to the world of Lucius Popidius Secundus, a 17-year-old living in Rome in 73 AD. His life is a typical one of arranged marriages, coming-of-age festivals, and communal baths. Rebels began their look into Roman life by watching a video that detailed a typical Roman teenager two thousand years ago. We then voted and chose a couple of articles to read pertaining to the daily life of the time. We began with a piece on gladiators and discussed how, given they belonged to such a civilized and sophisticated society, the Romans' deep attraction to extreme violence remains surprising and strange. We then read about chariot racing, an extreme, dangerous sport in which drivers could die. It was then time to dive into our Socratic discussion. We debated what would matter to us most as a Roman: direct political representation, unparalleled military, economic prosperity, religious freedom, or something else. We also discussed the policy that detracted the most from civilization in the short or long run: a wide gap between rich and poor, male-only voting, arranged marriages, mandatory military service or something else.
Additional Highlights
On Friday, Rebels enjoyed learning ASL, making bracelets, practicing their instruments, and watching one of our learner's hockey games on TV during their Elective Time! They also ran the end-of-session Rebel Buck Store for all studios, ensuring everyone had time to pick out an item if they were ready to spend their hard-earned money!
With Halloween out of the way, many Exploration Rebels have entered Christmas preparation mode! They are already planning our Secret Santa, Spirit Week, decor options, and more, so stay tuned!
Launchpad Studio
Biology
For one of our Launchpad learners, it was the final week of Unit 5 in AP Biology, with a lab on meiosis and crossing over in the fungus Sordaria. There was also a culminating unit test, in which our learner spent time making study cards and practicing throughout the week.
Meanwhile, another Rebel studied biospheres and participated in the biology labs, meticulously dissecting a cow, sheep, and pig eye and comparing the similarities and differences between the three mammalian eyeballs.
Communication/Literature
As we near the end of our Frankenstein novel study, the class discussions are getting deeper and deeper. We spoke about whether any of us felt sympathy for Frankenstein's creation, connecting his feelings and actions to school shooters and why they turn to violence after often being bullied. We also made predictions for the book's final chapters, using the letters from the very beginning of the book to help form our hypotheses.
AP Language and Composition
This week, we learned about persuasive strategies often used in rhetorical essays and how to use them elsewhere. There were also two submissions for speed debating, where we chose two topics, wrote one or two paragraphs arguing our perspective, and replied to two of our classmates.
AP Literature and Composition
Our learner examined the poems "I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed" and "Girl Powdering her Neck" this week to compare the speaker's ideas on love and emotion. They also worked on crafting compelling thesis statements.
Canadian and International Law
This week, our learner edited the narrative portion of a text examining Hostage Justice in Japan and began drafting the analysis of what drives lengthy detentions, court processes, and attempted (though failed) reforms. They also separately studied the American election system and contrasted it with Canada's to discover similarities and differences.
Additional Highlights
Launchpad Rebels also used some of their time to organize our candy and food donations for Giving Gertie and Shawna's Outreach. We are hoping to drop off all of the donations this next week!
Potential Discussion Ideas or Questions to Ask Your Rebel:
Spark Studio
What was your favourite part of the field trip?
What are some safety rules you need to follow before building?
What was the most challenging part of building your toolbox?
French: How do you say potato in French? (patate)
Discovery Studio
What is your favourite game you played in P.E. this week?
Are you in your comfort zone, challenge zone or panic zone regarding Exhibition on Tuesday? How can I support you?
What was your highlight of the Science and Tech museum field trip?
French: What's your monster's name? Can you tell me its characteristics in French?
Exploration Studio
Math Lab: how do you find a discounted price or add tax to a purchase?
Civ: Which would matter most to you as a Roman?
Direct representation in politics, enabling your voice to be heard
Unparalleled military, leaving you protected from foreign invaders
Economic prosperity, meaning every year your life gets a bit better economically;
Religious freedom, the state does not force you to follow any one religion.
Why?
French: How does your legend about a monster end?
Quest: What were your initial feelings about the eye dissection? Was the experience different than you thought? Are you excited or nervous about next week's frog dissection?
Launchpad Studio
What are your predictions for the conclusion of Frankenstein?
Is there an initiative you would like to spearhead in Session 3 to improve Revel or the greater community? (Warm clothing drive, food collection, Shoebox program, etc.)
How do you feel your writing has improved this year?
Do you feel that you are making good progress in your Core Skills? How are you utilizing most of your time in the studio?
Important Upcoming Dates
Session 2 Exhibitions
Spark: Wednesday, November 20th at 4:15 pm
Discovery: Tuesday, November 19th at 4:15 pm
Exploration (DATE CHANGE): Wednesday, November 20th at 4:15 pm
Sessional Break and Camp: November 22nd & 23rd
School Pictures with Carpe Diem: Tuesday, November 26th
On this day, the Yearbook Committee will also take a whole school photo for the front cover of our 24-25 Yearbook! If you do not wish your learner to be photographed/included in the yearbook please let Meg or Mel know (spark@revelacdemy.ca or discovery@revelacademy.ca)