Sparks (ages 4-8)

NOW enrolling for August!

Like Maria Montessori, we believe even the youngest child has important work to do, even if the work is imaginary play or working with wood scraps, ladders, and old tires to build a castle.

Spark (SP) is best imagined as a garden where learners embrace Montessori work and Spark Play to learn real-life skills and develop the independence, focus, and kindness needed to enter an Acton Elementary Studio — each prepared to discover a calling that will change the world.

Difference Between Play and Challenging Games:

What is the difference between “play” and a “challenging game”? In a challenging game the:

• Rules, stakes, and consequences are clearer
• Energy of a learner is more focused for a longer time
• Time spent in collaboration is higher
• Number one goal is to be asked to play again

Sample Schedule:

• 9am Drop off
• 9:30 Morning Group
• 10:00-11:30 Montessori Work
• 11:30 Lunch
• 12-2pm Spark Projects
• 2:00 Closing Group
• 2:30 Studio Maintenance
• 3:00 Pick up

Explorer (8-12)

Now enrolling for August!

If an Acton Spark studio feels like a garden where young heroes accomplish important work through play, an ideal Acton Elementary Studio (ES) feels more like a neighborhood, where learners choose important work in core academic skills (reading, communication, and math) so they are equipped to solve problems, collaborate with peers, and engage in increasingly challenging games.

A Quest is a four- to seven-week series of learning challenges and role plays. It is bound by individual and team-based gamification, a compelling narrative, and ends with a high-stakes Exhibition. Quests are designed to deliver 21st-century “learn to learn” (processes, frameworks, and algorithms), “learn to do,” and “learn to be” skills.

Acton’s Exhibitions of Learning take place at the end four- to seven-week sprints that make up a session. Much like an agile software sprint, sessions have a real-world deliverable at the end and are often presented to a live studio audience made up of more than parents.

Mission (11-14)

Future plans

The goal of a Middle School studio is to offer learners exciting Quests and increasingly challenging Writing and Communication work that culminates in public Exhibitions and Apprenticeships, all of which prepares learners for a Next Great Adventure in Launchpad.

Launchpad (14-18)

Future Plans

The goal of Launchpad (LP) is for each graduate to discover a Next Great Adventure — a superpower skill, industry, and place to live and work — where he or she will find a calling that will change the world.

By Launchpad, the right heroes have developed the skills, drive, and character needed to change the world. If learners and owners hold the line on standards in an Acton Middle School studio, and only the most dedicated heroes from outside of Acton are admitted, Launchpad can be a dream come true.