Menu of Choices

Imagine this…it’s the morning of Creativity Camp and you spot 3 learners huddled together. They are focused, eyes with a glimmer, and you wonder what they could be so excited about? One learner says to the other “That’s awesome, we have to do that!” The other learner says “Yeah, that’s good, but maybe we could try this one, it looks hard but I think we can do it.” You wander over and ask what they are so interested in and they reply “We are looking at the menu, we want to get started right away!” It’s not a menu for lunch, it’s a menu of choice activities for Acton campers. The menu has visual art options, theatre options, and the favorite of this trio: culinary delights!

Two minutes later another learner arrives at school and without even noticing the trio she repeats their action of excitedly checking the menu. Before you know it the trio is in the kitchen discussing the recipe they chose and how they can doctor it up while the other learner grabs her script to refine her play. This is all happening during morning free time and I think it’s important to note that learners have the choice of this menu, plus the choice to play games, create with building blocks, or frolic outside in the snow. Learners have the freedom to choose, not choose anything but choose from a carefully curated menu of creativity.

Choice is at the heart of Acton. Sometimes the choices seem simple. Would you rather work alone or with others, would you rather push forward in your work or take a break, would you rather cook enchiladas or have a smoothie, would you rather practice the play or paint your canvas?

Too much choice and an open ended experience can overwhelm and that’s why at Acton our learning design carefully crafts options within a framework, a menu if you will.

So, what was on the menu this week? Based on the demonstrated level of each learner (apprentice, journeyer, master) they could choose activities in visual art, theatre, and the culinary arts.

For the chef trio they were excited to choose from caramel apple pancakes, chorizo breakfast enchiladas, and even create their own recipe.

Visual art options were to create an impressionist landscape, superhero self portrait, or sculpt aliens, fairies, animals, or build lego designs.

Theatre options offered improvisational games for novice actors, playwright prompts, and classic play interpretations.

Whether it is Core Skills or whether it is this week’s creativity camp, choice is one of the main Acton ingredients. Why? Choice invites learners to gain confidence, autonomy, and choice is a real world decision making skill that learners use to practice critical thinking. Daily during Launches, learners are placed in the shoes of a story book protagonist and share the path they would choose. They debate, hear reasoning, and then cement their choice. A scenario could be: If you were the coast guard on duty, would you save the whales or save the people on the ship? During flow times learners apply these honed critical thinking skills to real actions. Is it better to help your friend who is crying from a fall or take your cookies out of the oven?

What choices do you revel in having each day? What choices do you offer your child? During our school’s final week off I encourage you to consider two options. 1. Create a menu with your child. Perhaps a menu of fun, a menu of chores, or even a culinary menu. 2. Play a game of would you rather with your child. Start off simple and then raise the stakes. Are you and your child’s choices different? Will you choose to try these options?

Thank you for choosing to be part of our Acton Creativity Camp! Your choice led to learner magic!