From Gutenberg to Growth: Civ Studies, Studio Contracts, and Lip Dub Fun at Journey Studio (Session 1, Week 3)

Civ! -

This week, we began our Civ studies for this session, covering the period from Gutenberg and the Printing Press through King Henry the 8th. For those unfamiliar with how Civ works, here’s a quick overview.

Civ (short for Civilization) takes place every other day in place of Genre. Learners receive a Google Doc with guiding questions and links for research; however, they are also welcome to use their own sources. They then write a minimum of 250 words in response to the questions, which are mostly opinion-based and designed to spark thoughtful discussion.

After writing, we gather for Civ Circle. During this time, the discussion leader poses the questions, and learners share their answers and ideas. For a Civ challenge to count, each learner must both complete the 250-word written component and participate at least twice in the circle discussion. If a learner chooses not to share at least twice, they can still earn credit by writing an additional 250 words (a total of 500 words).

Contracts! -

This week, a group of learners who volunteered to draft the studio contract completed their work. Afterwards, every learner signed both the Contract of Promises and the FB Contract. The FB Contract turned out to be refreshingly simple, with just three parts:

1. Be kind and respectful

2. Respect studio property

3. Don’t distract yourself or others

With these signatures, the learners officially put the studio rules for the year into place. At the same time, the contracts are not set in stone; learners can suggest changes or additions during Town Halls throughout the year.

Lip Dub! -

With the lip dub now filmed, edited, and submitted, learners from Actons across the country are voting on their favorites. During our closing group, we watch lip dubs created by other Actons in our zone, then rate and rank them together, deciding which ones stand out the most and which ones need improvement.

Ready to learn more? Apply to join our learner-driven community.

Located in Closter, NJ, Acton Academy Bergen County offers an immersive, studio-based learning experience.

Learn about our learner-driven approach and how we guide real-world growth through mastery-based education.