Poetry on Life & Death, Revolutionary History, and Field Trip Reflection (Session 6, Week 2)

Greetings from the Journey Studio.

This is the second newsletter of the session. In this edition, I will share what the learners explored throughout the week.

Genre:

This week, learners continued reading and analyzing poems about life and death, adding reflections to their journals. Some of the poems they explored included:

• Oh Captain! My Captain by Walt Whitman

• Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

• Death is Nothing at All by Henry Scott-Holland

Each poem sparked meaningful discussion, and learners found it difficult to choose a favorite due to their depth and emotional impact.

Quest:

In Quest this week, learners investigated topics related to death and human longevity. Their research included cryonics, medication and its relationship to end-of-life care, and near-death experiences. They also created vision boards to organize and express their thinking visually.

On Thursday, learners shifted pace and practiced juggling with a partner—an enjoyable and lighthearted activity after a week of intensive research.

Civ:

In Civ, learners studied the October Revolution and its impact on Russia, as well as the events that contributed to World War II. They also reflected on the question: Are all revolutions basically the same? Why or why not?

Many learners concluded that while revolutions often share similar motivations, their causes, outcomes, and historical contexts can differ significantly.

Field Trip:

On Thursday, learners visited Westwood Cemetery. The visit provided a meaningful opportunity for reflection on life and death.

While there, learners were challenged to find a gravestone of someone who lived beyond the age of 92, encouraging observation, curiosity, and thoughtful engagement with history.

Thank you for reading this week’s newsletter.

We look forward to sharing more learning highlights with you next week.

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