Game On! Education Outside the Middle School Box

GAME ON!

EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BOX

By Heather Bennett, Communications Specialist

For middle school students and teachers, the phrase “Game On!” was not just the theme of this spring’s Transformation Day. It was the mantra for the whole semester. Middle school faculty addressed academics in creative ways throughout the spring months. Middle School Assistant Principal LeAnn Murry affirms, “Even in the midst of a crazy year, our teachers still have a heart for designing experiences for our students. That’s just what our teachers do.

Transformation days build excitement for new learning experiences and provide opportunities to engage students in meaningful, memorable learning. While our goal for transformation days is student-centered,

I love what it does for teachers. Teachers experience their own 'Ah-ha' moments - those same moments that they love to see in students in the classroom. There's nothing like the anticipation of waiting for students to arrive at school on transformation days.”

The Transformation Day concept implemented by LRCA’s Middle School and Junior High even inspired a Des Moines, Iowa school to visit Warriorville to learn more about how House systems successfully work. All student led, the MS and JH House Leaders met with the Des Moines officials in the morning. Afterward, the visitors observed the Transformation Day classrooms, activities, and House System operations. The day rounded out with a Little Rock Christian teacher panel and brainstorming session.

The “Game On!” Transformation Day was influenced by the movie “The Greatest Showman”. Each teacher designed lessons around familiar games. Examples included a large scale Operation game, Plinko board, Jeopardy and TV game shows, a giant Candyland, cake walks, and more.

GLOW (God Lighting Our Way) was not held as a fall event this year, because of pandemic restrictions. It was held in the spring as a day at school during a modified Spiritual Emphasis Week. The theme was Matthew 5:16, “...let your light shine before men.” All school decorations and class activities had something to do with glowing including black lights, glow in the dark necklaces, and materials.

“In my classes, we learned about animals that glow (bioluminescence). We researched different animals that glow and created our own bioluminescent creatures on glow in the dark paper. Students put them around the room and we turned off the lights to see them glow,” describes Beth Highfill, Middle School Science Teacher.

Middle School faculty rose to the challenge of educating outside the middle school box in a host of ways. The semester rounded out with a rousing Middle School Music Luau and imaginative water games on the last day including Pool Noodle Hockey and Beach Towel Volleyball.