7-8 GRADE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE:
(12-14 YO) - Read seasonal reflections here
Pre-adolescence, puberty and the beginning of adolescence: Nature as a vehicle for personal development. This is a period of rapid physical, social and psychological change. Pre-adolescent introspection, the search for personal identity, the quest for the meaning of life may find expression through interaction with nature in poetry and drama. Through active involvement with the natural world, young people learn deep concentration and experience the joy of accomplishment.
During pre-adolescence our "adventures" follow a theme titled "Hero's Journey - Navigation and Nourishment". The adventure cycles emphasize taking healthy risks that might promote respect for differences, problem solving, self esteem and compassion. Students know this healthy risk taking as "Be Here; Be Safe; Set Goals; Be Honest; Let Go and Move On".
They will continue to explore further away from campus to study riparian ecology and the short grass prarie. Each grade level focuses on a different guiding questions ending in deeper and long term service to the community. 6th Grade: Who Am I?; 7th Grade: Who am I in a Community? 8th Grade: How do I lead in my community?
LATE SUMMER: Way Finding and Map Making - I CAN PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITY BY DESCRIBING AND APPLYING SYSTEMIC DECISION MAKING TO THE 6TH -8TH GRADE ADVENTURE NORMS OF “BE HERE”, “BE SAFE”, “BE HONEST”, “SET GOALS” AND “LET GO AND MOVE ON”
FALL: Geo-cache & Treasure map - I CAN PRACTICE CRAFTSMANSHIP BY CREATING MY OWN SCALE-ABLE MAP AND REVISE DRAFTS TO CREATE A FINAL PRODUCT.
WINTER: Ethnobotany & Kapa Haka - I CAN PRACTICE PERSEVERANCE BY CONTINUALLY TAKING RISKS OF FAILURE AT AN UNFAMILIAR OR CHALLENGING TASK.
SPRING: Malama Honua: Permaculture and School Garden - I CAN PRACTICE PERSEVERANCE BY STEPPING TO THE EDGE OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND GIVING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY.
Overview of seasonal topics and activities can be READ HERE. Please remember I am being vulnerable opening up my teacher planning book and it is MESSY!!!! As we are learning from the Coronavirus of 2020, Nature, seasons and Mother Earth are dynamic, constantly changing, just like our classrooms and things do not always go as planned.
K-8 Science connections can be READ HERE.