TED Talk Writing, Hooke’s Law Experiments & Civ Discussions (Session 4, Week 3)

Greetings parents,

Welcome to Week 3 of the Journey Newsletter! My name is Ozrik, and I’m the Journey Studio newsletter writer. I’m excited to share the key highlights and learning experiences from this past week.

Genre (TED Talk Writing)

This week in Genre, learners worked on writing scripts for their TED Talks.

On Monday, they focused on building the body of their speeches and crafting engaging introductions based on topics they are passionate about. For example, one topic explored was “freedom for the next generation.”

By Wednesday, learners completed their conclusions, bringing their ideas together with strong closing messages. On Friday, they paired up to give and receive feedback, helping each other improve clarity, structure, and impact. Learners also had the option to create visuals to enhance their presentations, recognizing how visuals can strengthen audience engagement.

Quest (Science: Hooke’s Law & Bungee Challenge)

In Quest, learners explored Hooke’s Law (f = kx) through hands-on research and experimentation.

At the heart of their learning was the relationship between force and spring extension.

On Monday and Thursday, learners focused on springs, while during the rest of the week they applied their understanding to bungee systems. This exploration led up to an exciting bungee competition on Friday, where learners tested their designs and applied their knowledge in a real-world challenge.

Civ (The Second Great Awakening)

This week in Civ, learners studied the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival movement that took place in the early 19th century.

Learners then participated in two learner-led discussions. One took place in the Square Room, led by me, while another was held in the Circle Room by a fellow learner. A central question explored was:

Does evil exist in the world? If yes, what is its source?

Learners considered multiple perspectives, including:

• Evil as the result of bad choices

• Something people are born with

• Something learned from others

• Other interpretations

These discussions encouraged deep thinking, respectful dialogue, and the exploration of complex ideas.

Welcoming a New Learner

This week, we were also excited to welcome a new learner, Sam, to the Journey Studio!

Before his arrival, Michal led a thoughtful discussion about what it feels like to join a new school and how we can support new community members. When Sam joined, learners warmly welcomed him and helped him adjust to the studio environment, demonstrating empathy and leadership.

We hope you enjoyed this week’s Journey Newsletter and gained insight into the meaningful learning happening in the studio.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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