Revel Recap: June 3 - 7, 2024
Spark Studio
MINDFULNESS
On Monday morning, we practiced our storytelling skills! In small groups, the Sparks were given characters such as a squirrel, chipmunk and pig. They also received cards with objects such as a slide, wagon, and trees and did their best to develop a storyline using these prompts. Each group then shared their story with the studio. On Tuesday, the Sparks worked on a colour-by-sight word and completed the Little Red Riding Hood yoga on Wednesday. With the sound of music playing in the background, the Sparks enjoyed watercolour painting on Thursday. To end the week, we read the story Gratitude is my Superpower by Alicia Ortego and wrote two things for which we are grateful in our journals.
QUEST
In week two, the Sparks were introduced to two stories, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Little Red Hen. These tales will be the centrepiece of their Exhibition. They were split into two groups to help the Sparks explore the narratives and better understand the characters in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. One group used building blocks to retell the story, while the other used loose parts. Each group then performed the story in front of the studio.
On Tuesday, the Sparks played a game of Charades. They had to explain and provide clues about which word was on their guides' foreheads. The studio had one minute to get as many words as possible. Ask your learner how the Guides did! You can download the Charades app on your phone if you think this game would be fun for your family! Following this, the Sparks became engineers to take on an exciting STEM challenge: designing "just the right bed" for Goldilocks. Before their construction site began, the Sparks had to carefully plan their designs. They created a detailed blueprint with a drawing and a list of required materials. Learners listed items like paper towel rolls, popsicle sticks, paper, paper plates, glue, and tape. Within 30 minutes, they used their creativity and engineering skills to build a sturdy and comfortable bed for Goldilocks. After the construction phase, the Sparks presented their bed designs to the rest of the studio. Each bed was unique in its own way. Lastly, the Sparks measured the length of their beds using three different loose parts.
On Wednesday, the Sparks moved their focus to the second play that will be performed at Exhibition, The Little Red Hen. Again, using blocks, two groups took the time to retell the story using their props. After working in their groups, they presented the results to the studio.
On Thursday, we started by once again playing Charades. This game requires creative thinking, boosts confidence and allows the learners to work together and collaborate. It will also help the Sparks improve their drama skills in preparation for performing their plays in a few weeks! To end the week, the Sparks played a game of Telephone.
MATH LAB
This week's Math Lab focused on measurement, but we connected it to the story of Rapunzel. Using loose parts, lego, gems, and more, the Sparks got into groups and rotated through the stations. At each station, they brought a piece of long string we used to mimic Rapunzel's hair. They had to calculate the length of their string. At the end of the lesson, we compared our answers!
During our work periods, the Sparks also dedicated much of their time to their Singapore math books, manipulatives from the shelves, Montessori works, and using chalkboards to improve their mathematical fluency and accuracy.
FRENCH
This week, we continued our exploration of the postal service. We finished designing our stamps on Monday, and on Tuesday, we drew postcards to send to our families. Thursday, we read the book "La tournée du facteur souris" by Marianne Leduc, which follows a mouse while he meets his neighbours.
READERS WORKSHOP
We launched our Reader Workshop this week with the classic tale of Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Afterward, the Sparks worked on colouring their title page and creating the next story map. As a group, they discussed and wrote down the characters, setting, problem, and solutions. On Wednesday, the Sparks completed an activity called Let's Compare. They compared what they ate for breakfast vs what the bears ate. To end this week's book study, they explored Goldilock's character traits.
ART
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" the prince once said. But in the Sparks studio, it was more like, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let's get tangled in braids instead!" The Sparks used their creative skills to practice braiding. As a group, they followed their Guides step-by-step on how to braid. Many learners came across the challenge of not being able to have a "tight" braid and realized with more practice, they would get better!
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
This week was full of fun highlights, which included extra time outside, Sight Word BINGO, Just Dance, Show and Tell, and the Cardboard Challenge!
Discovery Studio
MINDFULNESS and LAUNCHES
For Mantra Monday, we focused on the mantra, "I belong." With so many new Discovery Rebels, we decided to ensure everyone knew each other well before we started auditioning our talents! Rebels played "Get to Know You" Bingo and could only call Bingo by filling in the prompts with different names from our community. Monday's Launch was all about Caitlin Clark's recent treatment in the WNBA. Are you Team A) coaches and teammates need to defend her, Team B) Caitlin needs to fight back and stand up for herself or Team C) rough play shouldn't be tolerated? Tuesday morning was a Choose Your Own Adventure Choice Board: some coloured and some tried bell ringer puzzles. Tuesday's Launch was a follow-up discussion about the new school boards and two private schools that have joined the original four boards filing lawsuits against a few major social media companies. Rebels listened to an article from CBC with statements from both sides and worked together to narrow down the key details: who, what, where, when, why and how? Wednesday'sConnections puzzle was challenging, with the fried appetizers category stumping almost everyone! The Wednesday Wordle puzzle was a close call, with the Rebels getting it on their fifth attempt. At Wednesday's Triad Check-in, Rebels worked to track their offline goals and devised ways to hold each other accountable. Thursday morning, the Rebels shared what they would do if a friend told them a secret that upset them and what they want to do when they grow up. During Launch, we found ourselves in the middle of a moral dilemma: you're in Bali in 2017 living in the red zone of an erupting volcano. Do you stay or leave? Does your answer change if you have to leave all personal items behind? Does it change if your friend on bedrest lives there with you? Rebels did a great job taking a firm stand in a challenging situation! Friday's Boomwhackers is always a great way to end the week, followed by Current Events featuring stories on Pride Month and the history of Pride, baby manatees, pink grasshoppers and an all-new Live From Snack Time!
MATH LAB
Do we have enough… ticket sales? Last week, we practiced working with Canadian currency, and this week, Rebels practiced budgeting a set amount. In their random groups, they had to plan how to spend $70 for a studio party with pizza, chips and soda. Some Rebels drew pictures to map out the correct number of pizza slices, some tried to account for sales tax, and others thought about dietary restrictions and set aside money for specialty items. Then, we had to budget the cost of ticket sales for the upcoming Talent Show. Using the numbers we have for the cost of bus transportation to the theatre and the theatre rental, combined with the theatre capacity, Rebels worked through different scenarios and ticket prices to explore how we might break even and avoid losses.
READER/WRITER
This week in Reader Writer, Rebels examined a "Speech Recipe" in depth to equip and inspire them when writing their own. Looking at different elements of a speech and pulling from our "What makes a speech great?" brainstorm in Week 1, Rebels felt ready to begin their rough drafts. Rebels' speeches focus on how they have grown this year - this could be growth in any area of their life at Revel that they think has contributed to who they are today and how far they have come this year. We started with a series of questions that each learner answered independently or with a partner, such as "What does growth mean to you?" and "What growth are you most proud of and why?" It was a very intentional and thought-provoking workshop as Rebels began their drafts, with some even sharing preliminary ideas and personal stories that they hoped to include in their speeches.
QUEST
We kicked off Week 2 with a quote: "All you have to remember is that "audition" is synonymous with "opportunity"! Rebels dove head first into Audition Week as they prepped, planned and performed a snapshot of what they hope to showcase at the Show Your Growth Talent Show! Monday's Quest block focused on the nitty-gritty of auditions as Rebels talked through their expectations and brought their visions together to create clear criteria. Working through a series of questions and planning templates in their Triads, Rebels agreed that they wanted to take the audition process very seriously - they voted for a Judges Panel, they wanted to have two full Quest Blocks dedicated to auditions with one "rain check" audition day for any teammate who was away or unable to attend due to reasons beyond their control. The most important question of the week came with great discussion: "How do we ensure that the audition space is safe for all?" Safe for failure, safe for personal safety, and safe for growth? Rebels reflected on the bravery and courage it takes to perform at an audition and put themselves on display in front of a group of judges. They made beautiful promises to each other that their warm and cool feedback would only contribute to helping each other grow, and there was no room for any negativity, "making fun," or doing anything that could possibly hurt another Rebel's feelings. Once our audition covenants and ROEs were agreed upon, it was time to take the gym stage! On Tuesday and Wednesday, Rebels split into two groups, a set of judges and performers that would swap the following day so everyone could experience both sides of the table. We launched off on Tuesday with a special audition tape from American Idol, Abi Carter, and her "What Was I Made For" audition from the Barbie movie. Rebels were stunned at the professionalism, audition quality and feedback from the judges and her family. Inspired by this real-world example, Rebels jumped into their roles to begin building our show. Tuesday's auditions saw many Taylor Swift songs backing a variety of singing and dancing routines, a jazz/Irish dancing routine, ukelele performances, an archery display, ribbon dance, gymnastics and tumbling. Wednesday offered various auditions, from 4 different TEDTalk proposals, two passionate Deep Book Reviews and speeches, piano/keyboard songs, and a stand-up comedy performance. With glowing reviews and feedback from judges on both days, we solidified 18 different acts and spent Thursday's Quest forming programs, posters and ticket committees for the show. Rebels began the early stages of the design process, including what to call the show, what we wanted our tickets and posters to look like, and what information should be included in the programs. Next week, Rebels will see more opportunities to rehearse and finesse their performances. Stay tuned for ticket sale information!
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Rebels who selected the indoor option, started with a drama movement warm-up on Tuesday. We moved around the gym pretending to be in various scenarios, such as a snowstorm, going to space, hiking in the jungle and seeing a snake, swimming in the ocean, and more! Next, the Rebels worked hard to complete a fitness bingo card comprising 15 moves. This high-endurance workout challenged the learners to various exercises, such as 20 jump lunges, 20 seconds of mountain climbers, 10-star jumps and 5 burpees, among many more. They brought their cards home to challenge their family to complete it with them! Group 2 headed out to enjoy the sunny day on a hike through the forest. Due to the rain, we played Free the Prince and Freeze Dance in the gym on Thursday!
CIVILIZATIONS
This week, we learned about "England's greatest queen," Elizabeth I. During the reign of Henry VIII, multiple offspring thought they were heir to the throne. Young Elizabeth was to be queen until Mary was born. Mary was to be queen until Edward was born. With all of the illnesses back then, as fate would have it, Elizabeth did hold the throne after Edward and Mary's early deaths. During the Elizabethan Age, despite Parliament's pressure, Elizabeth refused to marry and wanted to devote her life to being a good queen. She didn't force religion on her subjects like many rulers of the era; she focused on exploration and alliances with other countries. One Rebel said that anyone would have looked good after the way that Queen Mary ruled (imprisoning her sister at one point for treason without evidence). Still, many others agreed that Elizabeth I had good leadership qualities and earned the nickname Good Queen Bess.
FRENCH
This week, we learned two new songs in French: "C'est le temps des vacances" (It's Vacation Time) by Pierre Lalonde and one of the songs from Lion King in French!
Additional Highlights
We're back in the studios! Discovery Studio spaces reopened on Thursday, and the Rebels were VERY excited to return to their home base! We thank you all for your patience and support over the past few weeks and as ongoing construction and repairs in the school continue. We know this took a significant toll on our Rebels over the past few weeks, and we commend them for their resilience, patience, and ability to be flexible in our alternate spaces!
Exploration Studio
MINDFULNESS AND LAUNCH
We began our week with a Rebel-led Free Mindfulness and Sports News Updates Launch. Tuesday's Pilates class was a full body conditioning routine, complete with dynamic stretches like thoracic rotations, exercises to target specific muscle groups like squats for our quadriceps, and a mini-cool down focusing on the breath. At Tuesday's Launch, the studio discussed what went well while the Guide was out of the studio on Friday and Monday and the areas they felt there was room for improvement. They were proud of their completed work, punctuality, and civility toward one another. Rebels felt that their ROEs during their French workshop should have been better and that they still needed to focus on intentionality. On Wednesday, learners used their time to begin creating pinatas that will be used for our Summer Birthday Party in Week 6! Some were forming donuts, others basketballs, and even a flower was taking shape! Thursday's yoga pretzel challenge saw four teams creating four sequences and then leading each other through the different yoga flows. Friday's Mindful Connections, Mini-Crossword and Wordle saw the Rebels achieve their fastest record to date - solving all three puzzles in under 10 minutes! A Rebel introduced another puzzle from the New York Times library, "Letterboxed," which was a huge hit! Moving forward, we'll add it to our mindful puzzle selection for Fridays!
QUEST
The Rebel Artisans and Makers were challenged this week with an acrylic paint diptych project showcasing two distinct painting styles. On Monday, we looked at six paintings, two representing realism, impressionism, and expressionism each. Rebels noticed that although all of the works were painted within 50 years of each other, the way that subjects were rendered was very different. Realists painted the grind or boredom of everyday life in relative detail, while impressionists worked quickly to capture soft, natural scenes. The expressionists, however, rejected both, instead showing raw emotion and more distorted subjects. To begin their projects, Rebels could choose any subject and reference images they wanted but then had to narrow down to two painting styles or movements they would try to embody. On Tuesday, we unveiled a gorgeous art history timeline, annotated with the artists and movements we've highlighted in Quest and Reader/Writer so far. This was a great way to connect to how movements can inspire, inform or reject other movements. Rebels could also take a crash course in basic acrylic painting techniques like glazing, scumbling, impasto, and flat colour or hard edge/zip style. Wednesday, we highlighted three more painting styles and briefly touched on how each connects to colour theory. Specifically, we looked at Seurat's neo-impressionist pointillism technique and how he used complementary colours to achieve optical blending. We also noted how Klimt used sinuous lines and gold to make art more decorative as a part of Art Nouveau and how Matisse used unnatural colour schemes as a part of the Fauvism (wild beast) movement. Thursday was our final painting day and our second studio critique. Rebels shared their painting progress and used the elements to describe the movements and techniques that inspired their work. Next week, collograph print-making and mask-making!
MATH LAB
During Round 2 of our problem strings and deep-thinking problem-solving, Rebels revisited our Session 5 theme of algebraic reasoning. First, with the problem strings, we looked at two series of equations involving one or more terms and consolidated the skills we needed to solve for unknown amounts. Rebels practiced applying opposite operations step-by-step to isolate variables and still maintain equality. When we moved on to more challenging problem-solving with multiple variables, some Rebels made diagrams of the situations, and many used a form of guess and check to test and narrow down possible solutions. A few were able to represent situations using a system of equations to arrive at the solution more efficiently. At the end of our lab, the Rebels had one final challenge: they were given twelve complex equations to sort into three categories. For each equation, they had to determine whether it was always true, sometimes true or never true. Great job this week, Rebels!
FRENCH
We've started our competition! On Monday, we took a quiz on pronouns and first-group verbs in French. Wednesday, in teams accompanied by their coach, the Rebels prepared for the next quiz on reverse questions and sports vocabulary.
READER/WRITER
Our Week 2 Workshop focused on the famous artist Jackson Pollock. With a brief review of Basquiat's biography from the previous week, Rebels listened to and read Jackson Pollock's biography to learn about his unconventional techniques regarding movement, rhythm and creating art. Rebels were fascinated by the controversy surrounding Jackson's work - was his "controlled drip technique" really that impressive? Would they pay thousands of dollars for that type of art? Rebels worked through another series of questions on Jackson's life and his work, and they compared and contrasted his most famous abstract expressionism work with his action painting and modern art. What elements of Jackson's life contributed to his success as an artist? Rebels drew excellent connections between his action painting style and constant movement in his techniques, as well as the number of times he and his family moved around growing up. The continuous shuffle and back and forth of his earlier life may have inspired the way he felt most comfortable creating art. Up next week, Rebels will explore the unique style and life of Salvador Dali.
Civilizations
It's a standard assumption in the West: As a society progresses, it eventually becomes a capitalist, multi-party democracy. Right? Rebels watched a TedTalk by Eric X. Li, a Chinese investor and political scientist, who begs to differ. In his boundary-pushing talk, he asks his audience to consider that there's more than one way to run a successful modern nation. Rebels then learned the five facts about the Tiananmen Square Protests before participating in a Socratic discussion with questions such as; When ordered to leave, should the demonstration leaders have vacated Tiananmen Square to ensure the safety of their fellow demonstrators or risked their lives to press their demands for political freedom publicly?, and Some protesters were arrested and sentenced for throwing paint at a portrait of Mao Zedong, the father of the Chinese Communist Revolution. If you were the judge, would you give a 17-year sentence to create an example, require a $2,000 fine, knowing this would probably not deter others, or allow the incident to pass, risking a full-scale insurrection?
BOOK CLUB - THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
Rebels who finished reading Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book this week and were able to answer a question regarding the last chapter were invited to a snack-filled Book Club on Friday. We discussed the novel's conclusion, our feelings about the character reactions, and our ideas for a sequel or potential spin-off stories. What should we read next?!
Additional Highlights
On Thursday afternoon, interested Rebels participated in a Printmaking workshop and learned about linocut prints! All the learners also had the opportunity to use their creativity and building skills during our Cardboard Challenge on Friday. While some assisted the younger Rebels, others used their time to work together to create models, cardboard cutouts, and vehicles!
Launchpad Studio
Poetry Analysis
With several poetry analysis strategies under our belt, we began our Poet vs. Poet bracket on Monday. After reviewing how the competition worked and going over the rubric, Rebels read, analyzed and compared "The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes and "Songs for the People" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. While the majority preferred Harper's work, one Rebel disagreed and gave insightful reasoning as to why. Tuesday it was "Deep in the Quiet Wood" by James Weldon Johnson vs. "Songs of the Spavinaw" by Ruth Muskrat Bronson. All learners chose Bronson's piece, and after learning more about the poet's background and the location of the Spavinaw, they enjoyed the poem even more. Next up, "After the Winter" by Claude McKay and "Swallows" by Leonora Speyer were read and discussed, with "After the Winter" being crowned the victor on Wednesday. We finished up one side of the bracket on Thursday with readings of "A Day" by Emily Dickinson and "Alone" by Edgar Allan Poe. Once again, all of the Rebels were in agreement as they vastly preferred Poe's poem. Next week, we will read the remaining eight poems on the other side of the bracket before pinning our favourites against one another.
Self-Defense
This Wednesday, our Launchpad Rebels had the opportunity to learn from Sensei Dominic at the Westboro location of Douvris! They worked on punching, two different kicks, and a wrist block. Not only did they have a great workout, but they also learned some key moves to help them feel more confident.
World History
At the outbreak of World War II, most European Jews outside of Germany remained loyal to their national governments, believing World War II would not affect them any differently than other citizens. Many continued to cling to this belief, even as they lost rights and were subjected to more and more indignities. After completing at least thirty minutes of research, learners came together to discuss what they would do in various scenarios. For example, As a prosperous Jewish store owner in Romania in the early 1940s, you hear that Jews in Germany, Hungary, and Poland are being relocated to ghettos and shipped to labour camps—and there are rumours of even worse treatment. Do you sell everything at rock-bottom prices, desert your family home, and attempt to leave for Palestine or the United States, even if this marks you as disloyal, or remain in Romania and hope your Government protects you?
On Friday, learners focused on World War II propaganda and reparations. World War II was the costliest war in history in terms of wealth destroyed and lives lost. After pondering whether propaganda is necessary to boost morale even if it is inherently racist and learning more about the Japanese internment camps, learners discussed if there was a better alternative to reparation payments in a government's acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
BUILD A PC
This week, they connected the motherboard and case wires and started to install the GPU. Next week, they plan to finish building the PC, which will give them time to get it up and running before the end of the year.
Mastery Transcript Creation
As our older Launchpad Rebels are beginning to prepare for their next steps after Revel, they spent time helping to write and review our foundational and advanced competencies for their Mastery Transcript. We hope to have our foundational credits finalized this week so we can begin adding their evidence. Using this information, we will create and commit to 2024-25 school year plans, including coursework, NGA pursuits, and personal growth goals.
Potential Discussion Ideas or Questions to Ask Your Rebel:
Spark Studio
What character are you playing for Exhibition?
How did you design Goldilock's bed?
Can you tell me the story of Rapunzel?
What did you make during the Cardboard Challenge?
French: What are postcards?
Discovery Studio
Math Lab: Based on your calculations, how much do you think you should charge for each ticket to your Talent Show?
R/W: How is your speech going? Can you share the growth you're proud of and will write about in your speech?
Quest: What was your favourite part about auditions this week? What feedback meant the most to you?
Quest: Did you prefer being a part of the judging panel or performing?
French: Do you know any new songs in French? Can you sing them for us?
Exploration Studio
Which two art movements did you enjoy learning about this week in Quest?
For your diptych painting, did you try any new techniques? Is working with acrylics comfortable, challenging, or panic-inducing?
Math Lab: For the following twelve equations, decide if each one is always true, sometimes true or never true.
R/W: What did you learn about Jackson Pollock after reading his biography? Do you think his "controlled drip" action painting is worth thousands of dollars?
Quest: What about Barnett Newman's Voice of Fire zip-style painting that was purchased by the National Gallery of Canada in 1989 with taxpayer money? Was it worth $1.76 million?
Civilizations: If you had to choose between living in a poorer nation with political freedom and living in a wealthier nation with no political freedom, which would you choose?
French: How many verb groups are there in French?
Launchpad Studio
In 1945, Albert Einstein said, "As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable." Do you agree?
How do you feel about your math progress? Do you need any support?
How are you using your Quest time? Are you helping or participating in the Art Quest, focusing on Physics, or something else?
What courses would you like to take next year? What are your personal growth goals?
Dates of Interest
Exploration Graduation Ceremony - Monday, June 24th at 3:00 pm
Session 7 Exhibitions
Spark and Discovery off-site at uOttawa Academic Hall - Wednesday, June 26th, 2024 - Doors open at 2:45 pm, Showtime at 3 pm!
Exploration Vernissage Exhibition, on-site at Revel - Thursday, June 27th, 2024 at 4:15 pm