Upper Loop Updates - Welcome back from October break and welcome to Quarter 2

By Jarret Voytilla / October 26, 2022 / Upper Loop Updates, Learning Designers

Welcome back from October break and welcome to Quarter 2!! Here are a few final thoughts that the UL Team wants to share with you about Quarter 1.

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Welcome back from October break and welcome to Quarter 2!!

Here are a few final thoughts that the UL Team want to share with you about Quarter 1.

Biomimicry with Michael, Chrissy, & Joseph

We are celebrating the completion of our learners’ submissions for the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge.
Learners all constructed prototypes to test their biology inspired designs, wrote concise project overviews, made two-minute video pitches, and compiled a 10-page project portfolio showcasing their process.
Our 10 learners formed 3 groups in the second half of our lab building on the knowledge, motivation, and investigations they built, explored, and carried out individually in the first half of the lab.
The due date for the actual competition is still several months away so interested learners could make improvements in future Explore sessions to make polished final submissions next semester.

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Learners have been creating various final outputs to answer the driving question:

“How can we engage the masses on the ways genetic engineering has enhanced and disrupted humanity?”
From academic essays, video animations, and podcasts, learners explored the different ways to showcase their understandings of genetic engineering.
Since UL parents and guardians were the chosen audience for two of our learners’ outputs, here is the link to view Prim and Selina’s writing on genetic engineering about GM crops and humans as

The Upper Loop learners have finished their 3 weeks of Basketball with a typical 5 on 5 game.
Following, a classic PE (Physical Education) game returns - DODGEBALL!
Last year, Upper Loop learners explored various iterations of dodgeball, from individual play, team competitions, and modification to rules that involved movement limitations, revivals, and more.
This year learners created a Dodgeball + Capture The Flag game that pinned 4 teams against one another. It was fast paced and exciting!
After 3 weeks of Dodgeball variations, learners finished the quarter with badminton.
With most learners having some experience with the sport, we have jumped right into round-robin games.
In Quarter 2, learners will continue exploring other sports but begin learning more fitness-oriented skills including swimming.

VERSO+ is a learner-led activism group that hosted an LGBTQIA+ awareness workshop this Wednesday.
Learners and LDs started off with a Kahoot quiz competition to learn and understand concepts about genders, sexualities, and gender expressions.
Cookies were awarded!
In light of World Mental Health Day earlier on in the month, the workshop also shared statistics on how people in the LGBTQIA+ community experience higher rates of mental health challenges.
We discussed in smaller groups the different scenarios experienced by people in the LGBTQIA+ community, and how we can demonstrate allyship by the actions we take.

By Jarret Voytilla