Week 4 was a week of intense preparation, intense feelings, intense discovery and intense exploration. This is what ActonKL is all about. Children working with purpose, understanding what they are doing and why they are doing it. Being fully involved in the process and not being led by anyone but themselves. Being fully engaged and free to explore to the very limits of their curiosity. Being, too, able to express their opinions about something they feel strongly about.

Weekly Updates

Preschool / Spark Studio (PS) Update

After nearly a week off due to the haze, it took the PS Eagles some time to get back into the swing of things in the Studio. The energy flow improved over the week and things were back to normal come Friday.

Revisiting Studio Systems and Promises

This week, the PS Eagles revisited the systems that they had set up for themselves and the promises that they declared at the beginning of the Sprint as a mid-Sprint checkpoint. They examined whether they were on point or needed to refocus on their declarations. It was good to realign everyone and there was a sense of purpose moving forward.

Still Life Drawing

This week’s challenge was still life drawing. There was an extra level to it, though, and the Eagles had to reach into the Mystery Bag to feel the texture of a fruit before pulling it out. Some overcame their trepidation of reaching into the unknown and were happy when they guessed the fruit correctly.

There was a lot of trial and error in the drawing process, but the Eagles persisted and remembered that they are in a non-judgmental space where they can explore however they like. The results are fascinating!

I want my fruit to look exactly the same as the real thing.

The intense concentration that you see when Eagles are focussed on something they find meaningful.

Art Appreciation

The Eagles looked at famous modern paintings like van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’, Gauguin’s ‘When Will You Marry?’ and Keiser’s ‘Lemon with Silver Kettle’. An Eagle said that ‘Starry Night’ looked like the ocean because of the blue and yellow. Another compared it to the sun setting at sea.

‘When Will You Marry?’ was chosen as one Eagle’s favourite because, “I want to get married too.”

Another Eagle said ‘Starry Night’ and Monet’s ‘Water Lilies Series’ looked nice because they were ‘light’.

Garden Exploration

The Eagles were overjoyed to be able to go into the garden again. They set to work playing, splashing around and looking for things to play with. Anything goes and, at Acton, anything does go, as long as they realise the consequences of their actions.

PS Eagles let loose to play and explore.

Elementary Studio (ES) Update

The ES Eagles are all systems go for an awesome video presentation of their collaborative efforts. In their pursuit to create something meaningful, they are bonding closer together than ever. It’s not all smooth sailing – to get to the island there are many rough seas ahead – but if the crew stick together and work as a team, they’ll get to their destination.

Growth Mindset – Rubber Band

What does a rubber band and positive affirmation have in common? They bind things together to make them stronger! This week the Eagles used a rubber band to practise grown mindset. They each wore a rubber band around their wrists and, when the going got tough, they twanged the rubber band to remind them to focus on the task at hand and to reassure them that they could get through it.

Positive affirmation was also to be had through cute little pencil decorations that, when used, will constantly remind the Eagles that they are awesome.

Affirmations work wonders, even if you don’t realise it.

Lip Dub in Action

After a whole week of inactivity, the ES Eagles were desperate to get going on their lip dub choreography. This mum can attest to the fact that it was ‘Firework’ and dance moves non-stop in and out of school. Come video day, the studio was abuzz with excitement. The first round didn’t go as planned and the Eagles were reminded that things take time to perfect and practice is the key to success. Throughout the week the timing and coordination got tighter and the mood swung back up to positive excitement that it was all coming together.

Rehearsing the crucial ‘everyone’ part of the lip dub out in Mother Nature.

Writer’s Workshop

The Eagles also worked hard sprinting towards the finish line in the Chosen Hero’s Biography Race. There was intense writing, editing and revision and the Eagles enjoyed the benefit of each other’s feedback to tighten up their writing. Next week the Eagles will embark on a journey to explore their own Hero’s Journey. What treasure will they find?

I want to read more and more about this Hero.

How far have I come in the writing process? How much further do I need to go? It’s a race to the end … with myself!

Team building – Building the tribe together through fun times!!

Caterpillar Balloon

The whole team worked together to literally not drop the ball – or in this case, the balloon. They simply had to pass a balloon from the back of their line to the front. The catch … no hands allowed!

We passed it all the way to the front of the line and back!

Hula Hoop Fingertip

“We learned that communication and focus are very important!” shared an Eagle after completing the challenge. The objective was to keep the hula steady for as long as they could while holding it a certain way.

Squid & Frog Dissection

The upper ES Eagles joined the MS Eagles to be amazed at the wonder of Biology when the MS Eagles conducted a real-life dissection session on a squid and a frog. “It is gross but really cool at the same time,” one Eagle felt fascination despite the the ‘grossness’ of the procedure. “Look at the ink bursting out of the squid!” exclaimed another Eagle, confronted in reality with something that up until now they had only read about in books. Check out the photos in MS’ weekly updates!

There were mixed feelings and some very strong feelings about the procedure which sparked a small rift amongst the ES Eagles and it gave them a chance to figure out how to agree to disagree and how to hold on to their principals while others may not feel the same. The reverse was also true – the Eagles had an opportunity to figure out how to handle things when one of their members feels strongly opposed to the situation at hand. Team building through rocky moments.

Middle Studio (MS) Update

The MS Eagles continued to investigate the theory of Evolution and had a Biologically fascinating week reminiscent of old-school biology labs. We mean dissection and this was a point of contention amongst some of the Eagles when the question was raised, “Why do we need to kill an animal to research?” Some Eagles were opposed to the idea and felt research was sufficient to understand the topic at hand, while some felt that the path to discovery was necessarily paved with some sacrifices. This was another example of how, when left to their mental processes, the Eagles will go through situations in real-time and grow from them.

Genre Challenge: Who’s Bigger (Impact)

The game continued from week 3 in which the MS Eagles challenged each other’s Biology heroes. This session the competition was based on who’s hero made the Greatest Measurable Impact and the Eagles had to put it across in 10 words or less.

Haidan was crowned the ‘King of the Hill’, but later he admitted that he’d gotten the idea from Aqeesha the week before. Does “Morris’ hero might have saved millions through his discovery of cells and bacteria, but my Biology Hero saved billions through Zoology.” ring a bell?

Nevertheless the decision was voted on by the Eagles and final. The guide observed that Haidan rightfully won this round of “Who’s Bigger” because, despite his plagiarism, he framed his Biology Hero’s Measurable Impact very neatly and that allowed him to surpass everyone’s Biology heroes.

Evan vs Ee Rynn, Evan vs Ra’ees, Evan vs Hou Yienn, Evan vs Dhanya, Dhanya vs Morris, Morris vs Haidan.

Genre Challenge: Who’s Bigger (Challenges/Obstacles)

The challenge was the same but the focus was different. How did the Eagles’ Biology Hero’s overcome the, ‘biggest challenges or obstacles faced at that time.’

Very few Eagles were actually prepared for this challenge, so only 3 challenges took place. It was a fast and furious back-and-forth as each Eagle was only allowed to give their statements in ONE breath.

Hou Yienn toppled Haidan from the ‘King of Hill’ status with, “My hero’s specimens and research on the boat were all burned … and sank.”

Raees vs Ee rynn, Raees vs Evan, Hou Yienn vs Evan.

Dissection Day – Squid

Having spent the whole of the previous day planning and designing, the day dawned for the Eagles to carry out their dissection program. This involved actual surgical instruments and gloves. Everyone recited their promises which included seriousness during the procedure, meticulous recording in respect of the animal’s sacrifice, and proper clean-up at the end of the session.

Using the ink and ‘pen’ to sign their name.

Dissection Day – Frog

The Eagles also formulated a plan to dissect a frog to perform additional experiments. One of the aims of this plan was to practise the safe use of sharp instruments and chemicals. While respectful of the animal’s sacrifice, the Eagles were very excited about the activity: “This is my favourite dissection of this week between the 2 because of the additional experiments we did with salt and batteries.”

Preparing the specimen to be turned over and pinned.

Removing the layer of muscle to reveal the inner organs.

All in, it was an eventful week. With 2 more weeks to go until the Exhibition, what else is in store for the Eagles?