Revel Recap: April 22 - 26, 2024

Spark Studio 

MINDFULNESS 

Monday morning, the Sparks played Race to the Galaxy. This cooperative game requires teamwork and communication skills. Each group must travel around the gym collecting resources and returning them to their ship while travelling in their safety pods. Starting the week with an active game helped set the tone for another fun-filled week ahead of us. On Tuesday, we followed a directed drawing clip of a space shuttle and two space shuttles will be making an appearance on our tri-boards for Exhibition! On Wednesday, we joined Samantha, an astronaut on the International Space Station, to complete a yoga sequence. While completing space-themed stretches, the Sparks were amazed to see Samantha use tools to complete the same poses as us while floating around the station! This Thursday was no ordinary day for the Sparks; they gathered in the cozy studio and listened to one of the Guides presenting them with a follow-along meditation. The Guide had three space adventures for the Sparks to dream about. To end the week, the Sparks got in their boxing stance and boxed their way into the day. Using their muscles, they practiced their jabs, uppercuts and quick feet. 

QUEST

Did your learner tell you about their blast off into space? After watching the iconic Magic School Bus episode "Lost in Space," they used their imaginations as vast as the universe and set out on a cosmic expedition. To float into learning, the young astronomers crafted their very own planet. Using their unique skills and creativity, they carefully named their planets, pondered their distance from the sun, and developed fascinating facts about their planet. The young astronomers shared their creations with others as their planets took shape. Not only did they design their own planets, but they also explored the eight planets as well as Pluto. To end the Monday afternoon Quest, Ms. Kaitlin shared a piece of the Příbram meteorite that touched down in the Czech Republic in 1959. 

On Tuesday, we started with a simple question: “What words come to mind when you think of space?” The Sparks shared words like meteorite, Venus, Neptune, stars, and moon. To continue our study, we listened to a catchy song by Hopscotch called "Planets." The melody had the Sparks singing loud and proud, and they were able to comprehend much of the information. For a hands-on exploration, the Sparks were paired up and handed blocks of clay, and they began sculpting the wonders of the solar system. 

We read the story Our Stars on Wednesday and watched a Scishow Kids video to learn more about constellations. These two resources gave us a lot of information. First, we defined constellations as groups of stars that look like shapes or pictures in the night sky. We looked at examples such as the Big Dipper, Orion, Sagittarius, Pegasus, and Cassiopeia. We learned that because Earth is moving, we get a different night sky view depending on the time of year. We also learned that some stars and constellations are essential for helping people find their way. For example, Polaris, the North Star, is always north of us. So if you can locate the North Star, you know how to go north! The Sparks then got into pairs and worked on recreating the Big and Little Dipper, Orion the Hunter, Taurus the Bull, and Gemini the Twins using marshmallows and toothpicks. Next, the Sparks used their imaginations to create their constellations using gold star stickers and made a creative name for them. They completed two of three sheets to continue using their imaginations: If I saw an alien, I would...? If I went to the moon, I would...? and If I went to space, I would...?

After reading the story, I am Neil Armstrong and watching a clip of commander Suni Williams showcasing the sleeping accommodations, how to use the bathroom, brushing teeth in microgravity and the common room with food; it was time to complete an astronaut application to work at the International Space Station (I.S.S.). The Sparks were asked what three things would make you a good astronaut and what three things you would want to learn when working at the I.S.S. With many dreaming of becoming an astronaut, courage and curiosity were essential for our space explorers. Lastly, we listened to The Dwarf Planet Song by Hopscotch. 

MATH 

As we continued our workshop on positional language, the Sparks ventured off to complete the sentences with pictures of objects demonstrating a specific positional spot. Next week, we will sort two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects one attribute at a time. Using these shapes, we will still focus on location and movement by moving a shape on a grid. 

READERS’ WORKSHOP

As we continue to dive deeper into the enchanting world of Diary of a Worm in our Writer Workshop, the Sparks embraced character analysis. We explored many in-depth details about the worm by unravelling layers of what the character sees, feels, does and wants. We then extended our workshop by uncovering fun facts about worms. What can they do, what body parts do they have, and what are worms? On Friday, the Sparks wrote in their journals at the end of the day. This week’s prompt: One thing I loved about today. Next week, we will continue our book study and journal writing! 

FRENCH

This week, we have been revisiting nature words! On Monday, we watched a video about insects and listened to a song about the weather and rain. Tuesday, we read Il ne faut pas habiller les animaux in French, and on Wednesday, we played the fruit and vegetable edition of Spot-It. On Thursday, you could find us playing the colour and left-right game in the gym. Great work, Sparks!

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Show and Tell was filled with many wonderful space books. The Sparks each shared a couple of pages from their books and learned many new facts from one another. 

This week, we continued our exploration of digraphs. On Monday, we revisited the ch sound from last week. Before we started the activity, the Sparks listened to Scratch Garden’s video called The CH Sound. Following this, we read the story, The Big Cheese, by Jory John. The Sparks were challenged to use their whiteboards to tally how often they would hear a word with CH. (Let’s just say it was over forty times!) Later in the week, we introduced a new digraph. First, we isolated the letters S and H and said what they made independently. Then, we put them together and learned what sound they made. Next, we read the book Sheep on a Ship. Every time the Sparks heard the sound of SH, they raised their hands. In this rhyming book, we noticed various SH words, such as sheep, ship, shakes, slosh, and short. Challenge your learner to find more SH words in books or their environment! Then we went through the Waseca SH booklet, using the pictures as prompts to discover the SH word, and we each wrote them down in our journals. 

Discovery Studio 

MINDFULNESS

This week, the Rebels participated in Move-it Monday, working through a full-body, wall-supported Pilates routine! We stretched, flexed, squatted, rotated, and, above all, focused on breathing through the movements. On Tuesday morning, the Rebels continued to work on their Zen Doodle mural, and on Wednesday, they attempted the Connections puzzle. During Thank You for Sharing Thursday, Rebels discussed the qualities of a good parent/guardian and created a beautiful collective "portrait" of this role. According to the Discovery Studio, a good parent is loving, supportive, cares about what is going on in your life, lets you be yourself, respects your privacy and boundaries, enables you to take risks, nourishes you with good food, knows what you need, makes good use of precious time together - a tall order, but clearly a testament to our amazing guardian community! For Feel Good Friday, we played "All-Star" by Smashmouth and "We Will Rock You" by Queen on the Boomwhackers!

LAUNCHES

Monday's Launch inspired the Rebels to think about confidence, resilience, and overcoming obstacles. They considered an Adam Grant quote, "Past progress is proof of future potential," and watched this awesome TedED Talk by Steven Claunch. Tuesday morning, the Rebels learned about the emerging evidence for a new geologic epoch, the Anthropocene, and considered what is needed to ratify this officially into the geologic time scale. What is found in the strata or layers of the earth, where is it found, and what does this indicate? Wednesday morning's Triad check-in focused on Journey Tracker points. How do you set a SMART goal in JT, and why is it helpful? Thursday's Inspire Launch reflected ideas of neurodiversity and opened up a conversation focused around the Temple Grandin quote, "different, not less." Some Rebels shared what makes them neurodivergent, and many shared what they need to thrive. One Rebel offered an excellent gaming metaphor: If life is a game, some players are born with dyslexia, ADHD, etc., and their "stat points" may be low in reading, attention, or the ability to follow social "norms," but this just means they have extra points to redistribute and buff up other stats. Friday's Rebel-led Current Events report had a special feature on Earth Day, where Rebels learned about the history of this day, namely who started it and why, as well as a nod to fearless female spies in World War II.

MATH LAB

This week's lab was all about mass and capacity! Specifically, what is the difference between mass and weight and volume and capacity? Rebels grabbed any item from their lunch box to kick things off, and we surveyed the packaging, looking for measurements in grams or millilitres. We then compared the mass indicated in grams, g, to the measure of weight in Newtons, N, when the item was held on a spring scale. Up next, the Rebels had three stations to move between: working on telling time and elapsed time problems in KnowledgeHook, completing last week's atlas investigation, and experimenting with the volume of water in three containers with different capacities. For the water lab, Rebels had to estimate which of the three containers had the most water, and it was then revealed that each held precisely one hundred millilitres. We then tested the capacity of each, adding additional quantities of water until no more could fit. 

READER/WRITER

This week in Reader/Writer, Rebels took a deep dive into the Voice trait. What is "Voice," and how is it connected to our writing? Voice is the writer's passion for the topic coming through loud and clear. It keeps us turning the pages of a story long after bedtime. Voice allows us to see different perspectives, capture a range of emotions and personalities, and reflect an author's original thinking. Do you think voice can still shine through even without dialogue? Rebels warmed up with a writing exercise using two inspirational characters from Pixar Shorts: Geri's Game and LOU (Lost and Found). Analyzing the two main characters in each short film, Rebels created character profiles for Geri and J.J. Geri and J.J. are two completely different people, from physical to personality traits; they couldn't be more different. However, neither skit has any dialogue. We must use context clues and our imaginations to develop the voice the writers were trying to portray. Rebels were prompted with specific questions to help them think more critically about each one: What do you think their personalities are like? What are their values? What are their flaws? What are they passionate about? What would be their catchphrase in life? Rebels had a lot of fun creating a voice for each character and then took to their own imaginations to create two more. Up next week, we'll explore the Trait of Word Choice! 

QUEST

Welcome Rebels to the current era, the Cenozoic! We thought about some epic questions on Monday, including: Where does life come from? Starting with a video about the Tree of Life, we considered prehistoric lineages connecting single-celled organisms to the life we recognize today, like whales, insects and us. But how do scientists name and classify all of these living things? Starting with similar but random collections of items, Rebels split into their triads and tried sorting whatever they had into five categories of their choosing. Whether it was by colour, shape, size, material or unique feature, Rebels could soon identify subcategories in their system. Is it a two-hole button or a four-hole button? Is it a matte plastic bead or a shiny plastic bead? Next, we transferred this developing skill of sorting and classifying items to living organisms of our current epoch. First, Rebels read a backgrounder article on taxonomy to see how thinking about this changed from Carl Linnaeus' plant vs. animal system from the mid-1700s to the more recent three domain-six kingdom system. Then, they travelled to the Taxonomy Library to gather examples of different kingdoms of life and their characteristics. Tuesday got quite musical. Rebels had to write their own poem or song to help remember important parts of the geologic time scale - they could create an original tune or rewrite the lyrics of an existing song. Wednesday, we discussed significant ages of time like the Stone Age and the Ice Age and compared what marks these times versus the geologic ages on the time scale (our current geologic age being the Meghalayan). Thursday, we revisited conversations from earlier in the week about examples of evidence that some scientists consider to be proof of a new geologic epoch called the Anthropocene. Is it the radioactive remnants found in soils around the globe from the atomic bombs or human activities since the Industrial Revolution and the resulting carbon and methane in the atmosphere? The final big question for the week: why is biodiversity important for the planet, and how does this connect to our Quest theme?

CIVILIZATIONS

We entered into the Renaissance this week, reflecting on some significant patterns of the Middle Ages in Europe. Empire grows. Empire splits. Empire weakens. A new young leader emerges. The new empire grows. Repeat. Eventually, countries like England and Spain could defend relatively smaller territories, and people could relax enough to read, study and think instead of worrying about invasion. Greek and Roman culture was "reborn" through the spread of information and culture, in an even more significant part due to the invention of the printing press. 

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

On Tuesday, many of the learners headed outside for frisbee! First up was a learner-led demonstration on how to throw and catch the frisbee. Then, the Rebels broke off into partners and practiced passing to each other. Next, we learned some of the rules for Ultimate Frisbee and played a game! A big thank you to one of the Rebels for bringing in a bag of frisbees to share with us and for taking the lead in helping the studio learn more about this sport! Bravo to the learners for persevering through the windy conditions and trying their best! Those who did not head outside participated in Twister and Freeze Dance in the gym! On Thursday, the Rebels played a fun-filled game of soccer with many of the Exploration Rebels. The game had two captains to help create two even teams. Both teams worked well together, passing the ball, complimenting, and cheering on each other. Way to go, teams!

FRENCH

On Tuesday, the Rebels made a tiny weather memory book before playing a Kahoot to review our new vocabulary words. On Thursday, we listened to part of the documentary "C'est pas sorcier! - La météo" which explained how meteorologists forecast the weather.

Additional Highlights

We had an excellent Rebel-led closing on Wednesday to bring attention to the studio's Rules of Engagement (ROEs). This Rebel presented their observations that we need help with not interrupting and whole body listening and wanted the Rebels to develop ideas to strengthen our ROEs contract. They decided to use an inflatable globe like a talking stick, where you can only speak if you hold the globe. You must call the name of the person you are passing it to, and if you have already shared, you must wait until there are no other volunteers before getting the globe back. For this to work, everyone must have room in our circle, with no one left out. With this experiment, the Rebels hope to highlight and improve whole-body listening, reduce interrupting, and better share the air time. Well done, Rebels!

Exploration Studio

MINDFULNESS AND LAUNCH

For the third week of our Google Sheets tutorial, Rebels learned how to format cells. We learned different ways to customize the look and feel of our spreadsheets, making them easier to view and understand. We modified the size, style, and colour of the text in our cells and learned how to set text alignment and add borders and background colours to the cells. After completing the formatting challenge, Rebels explored working with multiple sheets. When working with a large amount of information, you can create multiple sheets to help organize a spreadsheet and make it easier to find information. Rebels had time to practice creating, renaming, moving, deleting, and duplicating sheets. 

Tuesday's Pilates was a full-body conditioning workout, with moves like standing thoracic rotations, pendulum hamstring stretch, lateral squats, reach-through crunches and shoulder taps on the wall for support! After Pilates, we learned why motivation is so complicated. Psychologists define motivation as the desire or impetus to initiate and maintain a particular behaviour. But sometimes, no matter how passionate you are about a goal or hobby, finding the motivation to actually do it can be difficult. After brainstorming our strategies for when we aren't feeling motivated, we learned more about the psychology of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and dug into how these forces contribute to our drive in our academics and extracurriculars.

Wednesday's Mindful Connections saw Rebels create word groups for things you put on a taco or burrito, types of skirts, units of measurement, and words with the word "hill" in them! Wordle almost stumped us this week, but we were victorious with a helpful hint from a Rebel who had attempted a guess earlier that morning! Our Rebel-led presentation this week was on the sport Regball, a Russian sport that is a cross between Greco-Roman wrestling, rugby & basketball.

Thursday's yoga began with a brief back opening sequence. Rebels split into pairs and completed a series of yoga sequences with added challenges each time through. In connection with a Quest challenge Exploration Rebels took on this week, how does closing your eyes affect your stability? Rebels took turns guiding one partner through the sequence and eventually had to try to complete all of the poses with their eyes closed the entire time. 

After yoga, Rebels were introduced to the Social Change Ecosystem Framework. After taking time to think about our core values, we learned about the ten different roles outlined by Deepa Iyer. Rebels then identified their own or the role that they feel others in our studio play: Weavers, Experimenters, Frontline Responders, Visionaries, Builders, Caregivers, Disrupters, Healers, Storytellers, and Guides. It was interesting how many of the learners felt it was easier to identify the roles of others than for themselves. Working together, our Rebels are definitely capable of creating change.

We used our Mindfulness and Launch time on Friday to make nut-free energy balls and paint with watercolour. It was a lovely, productive, peaceful way to start the day!

QUEST - SCIENCE OF SPORTS

On Monday, Rebels checked their bacterial culture plates for changes before we learned about structures, which are objects made up of smaller parts arranged together in a specific way, making them capable of supporting a load. Rebels learned about the differences between solid, frame, and shell structures and how each type serves a specific purpose. We then identified and classified structures within the human body and structures used in various sports. After a demo on the strength of eggs (shell structure), Rebels had the option to build either the best tennis racket (frame structure) or the best baseball bat (solid structure). 

Once we had a chance to learn about the physics of skateboarding with the help of Nyjah Huston, Rebels noted their bacterial culture changes in their lab notebooks on Tuesday. Athletes are constantly looking to keep their bodies stable and balanced to give more force to their movement or to be more efficient in their technique. To do this, athletes must have a good sense of where their centre of gravity is. Rebels began by defining and learning how to find the centre of gravity through various activities. We also learned the importance of sight as well as a few strategies to help improve our balance. 

On Wednesday, we utilized our PocketLab notebook to complete a PhET: Projectile Motion in Sports lab! In groups, Rebels investigated the variables that affect the path of a projectile, designed an experiment to show how a variable affects the projectile's path, and identified control variables when designing an experiment. 

We began our Quest on Thursday, learning about the physics behind curling and friction's role in the sport. Rebels then learned about the forces of compression, tension, and torsion, how they affect their bodies, and how special equipment can protect the body from these forces. Using a backpack full of weights, a tug-of-war rope, and a medicine ball, we demonstrated each of the three forces to "feel" each force. We then turned our attention to friction. Friction will always act in the opposite direction of the movement and can act on matter in all three states: solid, liquid, and gas. We learned that friction can work to the advantage or disadvantage of an athlete. For example, it is important that a running shoe creates enough friction against the track to keep the runner from slipping, and it is equally important that the runner not wear excessively loose clothing, which can increase the friction between clothing and the surrounding air (air resistance). Rebels then completed a friction lab where they tested the weight required to move a hockey puck, running shoe, and an eraser down an unfinished wooden plank and a smooth surface like a tray.

For our Bonus Quest Problem of the Week, learners took on an engineering design task to design the perfect hockey stick, given a player's preferences. Learners applied this knowledge to a player's design criteria by exploring the variables of stick design (flex, lie, and curve).

PERSONAL FITNESS / Physical Fitness

Rebels hiked and played kickball, football, volleyball, and soccer this week. We even had a group who used their PE time on Monday to clean up the garbage in the park in honour of Earth Day! Learners took advantage of their activity breaks to complete their daily fitness goals, including wall sits, planks, push-ups and more! Great work, Rebels!

CIVILIZATION

This week, we learned about the Civil Rights movement and how, while many view the 1950s as an idyllic period of economic expansion and a growing middle class, a lot of people were excluded from the prosperity of the time. Segregation in housing and education made for some profound inequality for African Americans. As a result, the Civil Rights movement was born. Rebels learned about the early careers of Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, and Earl Warren. We also heard about Brown v Board of Education, the lesser-known Mendez vs Westminster, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Lastly, we watched a portion of a National History Day documentary on Bull Connor, Birmingham's Commissioner of Public Safety, whose use of police dogs and fire hoses on civil rights demonstrators dramatically backfired and called national attention to the Civil Rights Movement. Rebels then discussed moral rights, upholding unjust laws, breaking the law or using violence for your cause, and the use of children in activism. It was an eye-opening class for many of our learners.

MATH LAB

Over the next few weeks in Math Lab, Rebels will analyze sports statistics to gain insights into athletic performance and strategy. We began the project by creating our excellence criteria and clarifying expectations. It was then time to choose a question or survey before accessing a sports statistics database. Hearing the project ideas the learners were choosing was so much fun! Rebels decided to compare two GOAT athletes, analyze team rivalries, assess the financials of different leagues, design the ideal fantasy team, and create surveys. Once they complete their research and have their data, they will analyze and create visually appealing graphs, including box and whisker plots, pie charts, bell curves, scatterplots, bar graphs and more, for their final infographic.

For our Problem of the Week, Rebels learned how to utilize angles to pass the puck around their opponents. They had to find and measure the correct angle for their bank pass, which caused the puck to bounce off the boards to complete the play successfully. To earn the trophy, Rebels had to use a protractor, identify individual angles, including adjacent angles, within a diagram, identify and describe that non-overlapping angles that lie on a straight line have a measurement of 180 degrees, analyze data in tables to reveal patterns that indicate relationships (e.g. additive angles and the Law of Reflection) and to predict future results, and lastly, describe the Law of Reflection and list real-life examples where it occurs.

READER/WRITER

This week, Rebels began the rough copies of their essays. After reviewing a paragraph that used an integrated approach to compare Senator McCarthy and Reverend Parris (two of the leading figures in each historical event), Rebels were tasked with determining the paragraph's main topic. We reviewed some of our notes and brainstorming maps from weeks prior that organized some of these more significant ideas and comparable issues from the McCarthy and Salem Witch Trials. Rebels have the option of using two different Rough Draft templates to help them organize their thoughts and work. One template offers beginner writers more guidance and specific direction regarding organizing topics and supporting details. In contrast, the other template provides more of a general direction/overview of requirements for writers who prefer a little more creative freedom. Most of the team was able to come up with a good sense of direction in terms of what they wanted each of their body paragraphs to focus on. After a solid work period, Rebels returned to debrief and get feedback on the topics they chose. From the lack of evidence available in both trials against those accused to the fact that both events resulted in executions, Rebels drew a variety of strong similarities between the two historical events and will have another full workshop to develop these drafts next week. Our next workshop will review MLA citation practices for sources that can take our essays to the next level! 

FRENCH

This week, we listened to a documentary on Picasso's Guernica, and the Rebels answered questions in French on the interpretation of Picasso's symbols and the historical context surrounding this work of art. Then, on Thursday, the Rebels worked as a team to create a work of art inspired by Guernica, speaking only in French as they collaborated. During this session, we also started learning the conjugation of one French verb at the beginning of each workshop.

APPRENTICESHIP PREP

"Success is less about your individual talent and more to do with the environment that brings out the best in you." - Daniel Priestly This week, our learners completing the Apprenticeship Prep badge created a list of ten possible apprenticeship options. Rebels identified careers of interest, utilized the Spark Path cards, asked Rebels about their past apprenticeships, listed their personal gifts, and looked at businesses in their neighbourhood. Once the Rebels had a list, they were asked to decide why they wanted the apprenticeships. 

BOOK CLUB - THE GRAVEYARD BOOK

This week, we covered Chapter 3 in The Graveyard Book. The story takes a turn as Bod enters an unfamiliar world, leaving some of the Rebels confused. We reviewed the chapter synopsis to clear up any confusion before answering a series of comprehension questions and making predictions. 

Launchpad Studio

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN & PHysics

This week, learners took time to create their materials list and began typing up their experimental design, including the identification of variables and their step-by-step procedure. Once the materials have been procured, Rebels will begin their experiments!

Rebels continued their independent study of Astrophysics and Physics topics this week. While one learner completed their unit on Two-dimensional motion and began exploring uniform circular motion and gravitation, another Rebel worked on a sound unit and the third continued his study of the Violent Universe with the help of an edX course.

CIVILIZATION

The trench warfare of the WWI Western Front meant sending troops into almost certain death against concrete pillboxes, barbed wire, and machine guns simply to gain a foot or two of ground that might be lost the next day. As a soldier under the command of Sir Douglas Haig, imagine you have seen tens of thousands of your fellow soldiers slaughtered in the "No Man's Land," with nearly no chance of any success. Now, just as you have been ordered "over the top," you see a chance to slip away. Do you charge with your men, knowing there is a 40% chance of being killed within five minutes and a higher chance of being grievously wounded, or slip away, knowing a friend will take your place and you may later be caught, branded a traitor, and executed? After completing their research, two of our Launchpad Rebels came together to discuss their answers to a series of Socratic questions, backing their position with evidence from their readings. 

In a total war like World War I, civilians, economies, and even the survival of a nation are put at risk by military decisions, raising complex moral dilemmas. On Thursday, Rebels read a series of articles about WWI as an example of total war before meeting to answer a series of Socratic questions on military decision-making, propaganda, and war crimes. 

Next Great Adventure

Our three learners who gave their Declaration Talks last session made promises to themselves and those helping them to demonstrate their commitment to reaching their goals. While one of our Rebels did not ask for a Fellowship, she was offered one if she created an Action Plan complete with SMART goals that included 20 Stars and Stepping Stones interviews, a series of relevant Deep Books and coursework, as well as her plan for deliberate practice. The Rebel spent this past week creating her plan, identifying those she would like to interview, and determining courses she felt would help her gain university admission and entry into a research lab for experience. We were impressed with her deliverables list and clear deadlines for each action item. The day her plan was submitted, she conducted her second Stars and Stepping Stones interview with a wonderful woman who conducts research at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto! 

DRIVER'S ED - YOUNG DRIVERS OF CANADA

Welcome to week three of in-class Driver's Ed lessons with Young Drivers! As they learn more in the studio, they also practice at home and complete an online learning component to prepare for their in-car driving lessons that will begin shortly!  

BUILD A PC

In their time set aside to build a PC, our two Launchpad Rebels have almost finalized their parts list and where they will source each component. As they have a few questions they'd like to ask before spending a significant amount of money, they have arranged to ask an expert at a computer store on Monday. 

OTTAWA CHILDREN'S BUSINESS FAIR

This week, our Launchpad learner, who is in charge of running the Ottawa Children's Business Fair, continued to respond to emails from applicants and ensure that we had confirmations for all 55 booths. If any booths open up, she has created a waitlist to contact to maximize the number of young entrepreneurs the event can accommodate. Next on her action plan - marketing!

Additional Highlights

Walking through the school on Friday, you couldn't help but smell the mouth-watering chicken alfredo that three of our learners cooked up for Highjinx! Once prepared, we delivered not only the pasta but a container full of the energy balls that were prepared during mindfulness! We hope that the neighbours enjoyed them!

Potential Discussion Ideas or Questions to Ask Your Rebel: 

• Spark Studio

  • Can you think of three words that begin or end with the sound "SH"? 

  • What is a constellation? Which constellation did you make out of toothpicks and marshmallows? What is the name of the constellation you created on your own? 

  • What is the order of planets in the solar system? 

  • French : How do you say strawberries in French? (fraises)

• Discovery Studio

  • R/W: What did you think about the characters' voices in LOU and Geri's Game - even though there was no dialogue in either clip? Can you tell me about the character you created a voice for this week? 

  • M/L: what is the difference between mass and weight? What about volume and capacity? How do we measure these things? In what units?

  • Quest: What are the seven levels of taxonomy for living things? What kingdom of life are you most interested in, and what characteristics does this kingdom have (if you chose Animalia, narrow it down by phyla and class)?

  • Quest: If it were up to you, would you declare the Anthropocene be officially added to the Geologic Time Scale? Why or why not?

  • French: What tools do meteorologists use to measure atmospheric pressure?

• Exploration Studio

  • R/W: What are your main topics to compare and contrast for your comparative essay? Why did you choose those specific elements to compare? 

  • Math Lab: What data have you chosen to analyze for your Sports Stats project? Do you have an idea of the different graphs and visuals you would like to make? 

  • Civ: Do you agree with Henry David Thoreau that "government is best that governs least" and thus "government is best that governs not at all," or do you believe that the government plays an important role in protecting the majority's needs and that individuals should be willing to serve their government?

  • French: Why did Picasso use only blue paint in his blue period?

  • Quest: What is the ideal angle to throw a baseball so that it goes the farthest distance? 

  • Quest: What did you build, a baseball bat or a tennis racket? What worked well and what would you do differently next time?

• Launchpad Studio

  • As a senior WWI British military commander, how much would you worry about civilian populations when making military decisions? - Not at all, because only battlefield victories matter, only when public opinion could damage military funding, only if it threatened the national economy, or every effort should be taken to minimize the impact on civilian populations, even if it lessens the war effort. Why?

  • Which part of your physics course have you enjoyed the most so far? Do you enjoy working at your own pace in an area of interest, or would you prefer to work with others on a prescribed schedule for your next science course?

  • Have you secured an internship or job for this summer? Do you need any support in finding a valuable position?

Dates of Interest

• School Wide SunSense Challenge - April 29th to May 31st 

• Exploration and Launchpad Field Trip to 4Wheelies - Friday, May 10th

• Spark and Discovery Field Trip to the Ottawa Children's Festival - Monday, May 13th

• Session 6 Exhibitions

  • Discovery Exhibition - Tuesday, May 14th at 4:15 pm

  • Spark Exhibition - Wednesday, May 15th at 4:15 pm

  • Exploration and Launchpad Science Symposium - Thursday, May 16th at 4:15 pm