Vote by Your Actions

(Year 5, Week 22)

This week the heroes took on their final Olympic challenge, building a small-scale trebuchet capable of launching a miniature marshmallow. This challenge was long-anticipated and heroes were eager to jump in.

Some heroes had ample experience building trebuchets and were generous enough to share their knowledge with their peers. Through creating their trebuchets the heroes explore the ideas of counterweight and potential and kinetic energy. As the challenge began the heroes watched videos and tutorials on how they could build a simple trebuchet from household materials. While some heroes chose to carefully follow along with the video others decided to stray from the examples to create something new. Heroes had access to all the same materials but as each trebuchet came together they were all unique in their own way. Some trebuchets were low to the ground while others towered above. On Wednesday heroes were tasked with testing and refining their trebuchets.

Heroes were each given two mini marshmallows and tasked with keeping these marshmallows safely in their possession for the next two days. Some chose to name their marshmallows and give them tiny faces and names. Others made tiny containers out of popsicle sticks to keep them safe. This challenge gave heroes the opportunity to exercise self-control as well as practice being good stewards of their possessions.

On Fridays, heroes were given the opportunity to test their trebuchet against their peers. The trebuchet that launched a marshmallow the farthest was designed and created by Tyson!

Exploring Passions

This week the heroes were asked what they would do if they were able to allocate time throughout the day to focus on things they were passionate about. The heroes wrote on the whiteboard what they had an interest in and what they would explore further given the time. The heroes were interested in interior design, herpetology, blacksmithing, and more. The heroes were eager to share their passions with other members of the studio. Several of the heroes were thrilled to hear that others in the studio had the same interests as they did.

The heroes also watched an interview with James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits. The heroes were asked which they felt was more important, developing strong and healthy habits or the results that followed. Some felt that having strong habits would allow them to have greater results while others felt that the end result was the most important thing to focus on. The heroes will ponder these questions further as they develop and create habits throughout the studio that will guide them through their hero’s journey.

Learner Led Discussion

On Thursday a hero successfully led a Socratic discussion about the benefits of service dogs. The heroes were asked to think about the different services a dog could offer to someone with autism or a medical condition. The heroes agreed that a service dog would be incredibly helpful for a number of reasons. One hero noted that having a service dog may help someone stay relaxed in stressful times, another noted that a service dog could help by being a comforting presence to someone in need. They were also asked to think about how they would feel if a new hero joined the studio who had a service dog. Many heroes agreed that a service dog would be a welcome addition. They were also posed with the question of how they would react if they noticed someone who had autism acting out in a grocery store. Would it be easy to judge that person?

These conversations encourage the heroes to place themselves in someone else shoes as they further understand feelings of empathy and understanding. His discussion inspired the heroes to think about how dogs can be more than just an animal or a pet but can be helpers and heroes to those in need.

Inspiring Tales of Finding a Way

On Tuesday the heroes heard the incredible tale of Diana Nyad who at 64 became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. She completed this record-breaking swim over the course of 53 hours. She endured extreme conditions in order to fulfill her dream. Her motto is “Find a Way”. With this inspiring tale in mind, heroes were challenged to find a way to overcome their own personal challenge of writer’s block as they further revised their letters to a hero.

The heroes also heard the inspiring story of Billy Mills an Olympic runner who believed he could win gold despite his lack of notoriety and resources. Billy Mills was able to harness his strength and willpower to take the lead in the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

“People make a big mistake when they say, ‘I need to be motivated’. You motivate yourself. I might inspire somebody, but that person has to be motivated within themselves first. Look inside yourself, believe in yourself, put in the hard work, and your dreams will unfold.” — Billy Mills

These stories inspire the heroes to have faith in themselves and their ability to find a way as they overcome hardships and strive to achieve greatness.

Wrap Up

The studio is filled with vibrant life, young people who are kind, compassionate, articulate, and creative, each on a unique hero’s journey.

“Every action you take is a vote for the kind of person you wish to become.”

— James Clear

Each day the heroes are given the great gift of freedom and choice, and each day they vote for the type of person they wish to become, a person capable of changing the world.