Weekly Progress
WEEK 1: What is project based learning? What is a symbol? What does it mean to inspire?
In Week One, Explorers investigated previous projects discovering the ways that project-based learning creates a unique school culture. Explorers unpacked the vocabulary words “symbol” and “unity” to begin forming a foundation for future learning to come. They listened to excerpts from 99 Invisible’s podcast “Ubiquitous Icons” and thought about symbols that are universally accepted, including the peace sign, the heart, and the smiley face! Finally, we worked to answer the question, “What is inspiration?” by listening to Simon Sinek, a motivational speaker, and then by writing friendly letters to individuals who inspire us. What a week of learning!
WEEK 2: Where are symbols found? How do authors use symbolism in literature?
In Week Two, Explorers looked into how language symbolizes meaning. They investigated the ways that words can have multiple meanings and focused on the idea that context matters. Explorers stepped back to notice how we communicate our feelings through our actions and our body language using Move This World emogers. This inspiration led to the creation of their own emogers to express how they were feeling!
WEEK 3: How can stories symbolize our core values?
Continuing our Exploration, Explorers used literature to understand that authors write to convey a message, working to show their values through their stories. Explorers used the Project Zero Thinking Routines “Step Inside” and “Circle of Viewpoints” to understand characters who held different perspectives in various culturally relevant texts. Explorers read My Hair is a Garden, Mr. Peabody’s Apples, The Lotus Seed, The Empty Pot, and The Sound of Colors: A Journey Through the Imagination. Explorers worked to use perspective-taking skills to help them build connections and understanding.
WEEK 4: How can we use symbolism to help take visual notes both through language but also through illustration?
In Week Four, Explorers expanded on literature as a way to understand our values. We added to our definition of craftsmanship, refining that this value also incorporates a way to revise and grow in our thinking. Through this, we find another way that we can also show pride in our work! In addition, Explorers began their exploration of sketchnoting, or the process by which artists use icons and images to help represent ideas and words. Explorers learned about local organizations including The Martha O’Bryan Center, Compost Nashville, The Nashville Food Project, Walk Bike Nashville, Slim and Husky, and Kernel’s Popcorn. They studied the logos of these local businesses, and applied the lessons they learned in the creation of their own unique and individual logos!
WEEK 5: How can we find ways to take notes that are best suited to individual learning styles and personalities?
Armed with their learning in Week Five, Explorers used the Engineering Design Process of Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Revise and Improve to construct logos which represented their own unique identities. They worked hard to revise and improve, bringing their unique symbols to life.
WEEK 6: How can symbols unite a community? How can we communicate the values of a community through symbols?
In Week Six, Explorers received feedback on their logos in the form of a creative critique, experiencing for the first time the process of artistic feedback and review. This was an important turning point in the project because it represented the shift from understanding what symbolism is to learning about how symbols, through careful marketing, can unite and inspire our community. Explorers set to work learning about the people that influence the development of symbols!
WEEK 7: What are the individual marketing components that help drive creative product design?
Week Seven exposed Explorers to the deep investigation of the individual marketing components that help drive the creative process. Explorers learned about finding the essence of an idea, a place, or a person;they explored technical constraints of creating a product; and they investigated the emotional attachment individuals can feel toward symbols and ideas. They created their first and second drafts of the school-wide product they would work on over the course of the next several weeks.
WEEK 8-9: How can identifying our why help create a product which unites and inspires our community? How can positively forecasting what success looks like help to create stronger products?
Continuing the exploration process, Explorers in Week Eight began creating a North Star! A North Star is a statement of purpose that leads the design process. They worked to answer the following sentences: "We promise to _________ . We are designing for ________. We are designing ____________. " Explorers worked to discover their individual “why” behind their creation by going through a WHY - HOW - WHAT thinking process. They thought carefully about what they believe and what is important about Explore.This focused thinking helped our Explorers continue to create a product that represents the essence of Explore!
In Week Nine, Explorers thought more deeply about what would be true if their product (flag, mascot, core value logo) was selected for the school. They wrote hero stories about how their product would help unite our community, and their products were finalized during a second critique. It was so exciting to see all their work come to life!
In Week Nine, Explorers thought more deeply about what would be true if their product (flag, mascot, core value logo) was selected for the school. They wrote hero stories about how their product would help unite our community, and their products were finalized during a second critique. It was so exciting to see all their work come to life!
WEEK 10: What is a marketing pitch? What feedback can be gained from a critique? Why is this a valuable process?
Explorers worked very hard in Week Ten to create marketing pitches for their products. They shared who they were, what is special about Explore, why they designed their product and how it will unite and connect our community!
WEEK 11-12: What does it mean to vote? Why Is voting important? Why is it important that people have access to vote?
Weeks Eleven and Twelve marked another turning point in our project. With products complete, Explorers shifted their learning to investigating the history and important of voting in our country . Explorers voted on products to represent the class and then followed that vote with the first-ever virtual Exhibition of Learning. In this Exhibition of Learning, Explorers exercised their right to vote by selecting grade-level finalists for our final school-wide Exhibition of Learning! We are so excited for this final round of voting!
Thank you to our entire community of staff, Explorers, and families for helping bring this learning to life in classrooms and dining room tables across the city!
Thank you to our entire community of staff, Explorers, and families for helping bring this learning to life in classrooms and dining room tables across the city!