The Marble Run

(Year 5, Week 21)

The heroes started off their week eager to dive into their next Olympic challenge.

This week’s challenge required the heroes to work together in their teams/countries to create a marble run that demonstrated the laws of physics by successfully guiding a marble through a series of obstacles. Each country was given a box of supplies that included a myriad of materials to explore and use in unique and innovative ways. After viewing several videos of world-class examples the heroes could hardly wait to start building.

To start, each country joined together to create a blueprint of what they wanted their marble run to look like and how it would operate. These blueprints allowed the heroes to work together and follow through on their vision. As the building began some heroes excelled at crafting obstacles while others were able to come up with unique and creative ideas for the team to consider. The heroes were able to draw on their individual strengths as they worked toward a common goal. As they continued to work off of their blueprints often new and innovative ideas were added as the heroes took risks and expanded their marble runs.

Each project, however, was not without obstacles. Tensions grew high as marble runs from each team experienced malfunctions and damage throughout the construction process. Some teams learned that tape was simply not strong enough to support certain elements of their creation. Others had to overcome the often fickle nature of hot glue. Teams inevitably faced difficulty agreeing on exactly how to construct their marble run. The heroes were challenged to navigate these situations with kindness and perseverance as they learned how to compromise with others. The final products were symbolic of all their hard work and the strengths and efforts of each team member.

Letters to a Hero

This week, the heroes continued to work on writing letters to their personal heroes. They focused on crafting meaningful questions and improving excellence. As the Writers Workshop continues, the heroes are growing more excited at the thought of receiving a letter back from their hero. Some even decided to create paintings to be sent alongside their letters. These paintings are a special opportunity for heroes to share a personal gift of appreciation with someone they admire the most.

Tough Minded vs. Warm Hearted

On Wednesday Gabi successfully lead the group through a Socratic discussion. The group discussed what it meant to be tough-minded and warm-hearted while holding their friends accountable to do their best work.

“What if by being tough-minded and not approving their work they tell you that they will no longer be your best friend, do you still be tough-minded?”

Some heroes felt that holding their friend accountable to excellence was the most important while others felt that they would rather preserve their friendship.

“By being warm-hearted, are you hurting them or helping them on their hero's journey and why?”

One hero felt that by being too warm-hearted and not holding his friend accountable they were harming their friend by not encouraging them to live up to their full potential.

Lessons from Olympians

Throughout the week heroes learned about some of the most memorable moments in Olympic history. A few they discussed included the Dutch runner Sifan Hassan and how she was able to pick herself up and win the gold after tripping in the 1500m race. She could’ve easily given up but instead went from last place to first in a matter of 62 seconds; and Bobby Pearce, an Olympic rower who decided to slow down in order to allow a family of ducks to cross the water safely in front of him. After this enormous act of courtesy, Pearce still won the gold.

These stories begged the question- what does it mean to win? Are there other ways to be a winner even if you don’t get first place? Are there things in life that are more valuable than winning?

As the discussions continued one hero added, “When you have great friends you’re already winning.”

This has become abundantly clear in the studio as heroes experience victory each day. Every hero has the opportunity to win by joining in the community with their friends and learning how to navigate and strengthen each relationship. Sometimes winning means standing up for someone in need and sometimes winning is simply crossing the finish line. The studio is full of heroes who rejoice in victories big and small as they navigate friendships, act in kindness, and learn to support and nurture their friendships and community.

Presentation Day

On Friday teams stood in front of the studio and presented their hard work to the other heroes. They shared how they were able to overcome challenges, how they each were able to contribute, and how they used the laws of physics to help them succeed. They demonstrated their marble runs as their peers watched in awe. Their hard work was evident as they gleefully watched their marble travel throughout the run.

Wrap Up

A marble run can look a lot like life, full of ups and downs and obstacles seen and unforeseen. At times it feels as though you are careening down the side of a steep slope, out of control and filled with fear. At other times it feels as though you are navigating obstacles with ample grace and precision- and sometimes you see the mountain ahead of you and it seems impossible, daunting, and cruel.

Then all at once you find yourself at the top, overwhelmed with pride.

There are mountains and valleys ahead for each hero but as they lean into their community and believe in their abilities the joy of the journey becomes abundantly clear. At the end of the run, the obstacles become commemorative moments that allowed for a real and raw experience of life, one full of meaning and adventure.