"How do people come together to do great things?" Over the past few months, Sycamore students have explored this guiding question from many perspectives. Their collaboration has taught them to think more deeply about how they learn best as individuals and how everyone contributes in unique ways to a group. They have taken on many challenges along the way. This week, they were finally ready to present their experiences to the community at our exhibition this week! Brie's gr

Sycamore students traveled to A Little Rescue ranch! While visiting with the animals, they learned about how Brandi's team collaborates to do important work. At the ranch, Brandi taught our students how her team rescues animals from auctions and how they work together to become the animals' trusted friends. While building these relationships, they provide medical care and learn as much as possible about their animals. When animals are healthy and secure, they are ready to

For the last few weeks, Paige's and Emmarose's groups have been exploring the human body through the Systems Thinking Toolkit. Students brainstormed the many systems of the body, such as the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, and the respiratory system. One student even observed that the different systems are all part of an even bigger system, the human body! Before tracing their friends, students thought about how much poster paper they would need and designed a w

The 22nd Mission Project ask students to imagine themselves as designers of a brand new California mission (the original Spanish settlers stopped at 21). Paige, Kylie, and Jim helped student understand and empathize with different points of view during this process. Before they could fully embark upon the #DesignThinking process, students were asked to create a new mission statement for their mission - How can this building complex serve all stakeholders? The past few weeks t

How do you make an idea great? An idea grew during journaling when B.D. and E.B. began writing and designing characters called the Mustard and Ketchup Warriors. In their imagination, these tiny warriors defend the pantry from bad guys by shooting mustard and ketchup. With encouragement from their peers, they offered to share their idea and turn it into a collaborative game! At home students made observations of their pantries to share with the group. They used this resea

Educator Emmarose hosted Sycamore School's first annual Poetry Night to celebrate her students' beautiful and expressive poems! Over the course of their study, Emmarose observed her students find their voices as writers. Their process included learning to read and write different styles of poetry. These are her students' beautiful replies when asked, "how do you feel about poetry?" S.K. - "It feels real." S.R. - "It is inspiring. I think poetry is for everyone." L.T. - "I fel