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Mission: Possible - Week 2

Mission of the Week: How can I best help those around me?

 

Segment 1:

  • Exploration - What is a problem?

  • Mini Mission - Choose a problem to solve

  • For ages 4-6 - Parents could help narrow down the options to one or two and help kids frame their solution.

  • For ages 7-9 - Try brainstorming three different solutions, and consider the pros/cons for each. 

 

Segment 2:

  • Exploration - How well did my solution solve the problem?

  • Mini Mission - Test and gather feedback

  • For ages 4-6 - Parents could help kids consider what questions to ask to get the most useful feedback and also offer to take notes.

  • For ages 7-9 - Gather feedback from at least three different people and see how the feedback is similar or different. What themes did you notice?

Segment 3:

  • Exploration - What information so I need to really solve my problem?

  • Mini Mission - Asking questions for background information

  • For ages 4-6 - Parents should help kids make their list of questions by asking them questions about the problem, helping them to understand what it is that they don’t know.

  • For ages 7-9 - Come up with at least 10 questions. As an added challenge, try to avoid questions that can be answered with a “yes” or “no.”

Segment 4:

  • Exploration - How can I gather information?

  • Mini Mission - Identify sources of information and start answering questions

  • For ages 4-6 - Parents should help kids navigate resources, but avoid doing all of the work for them. We’re trying to develop independent research skills. 

  • For ages 7-9 - Try to do as much of this on your own as possible, using “ask mom or dad” as a last resort. Where else could you get information? 

Segment 5:

  • Exploration - How does really understanding my problem lead to a better solution?

  • Mini Mission - Revise and launch the solution

  • For ages 4-6 - Parents should help kids choose one or two pieces of feedback to be the focus when editing the solution. 

  • For ages 7-9 - Explain how you used the feedback and additional information in making your solution even better. What changes did you make? Why did you make those changes? How did it make it even better?

Optional Family Mission: 

  • Exploration - How can I help out in my neighborhood?

  • Mini-Mission - Neighborhood project

    • As a family, choose a project to help solve a problem in your neighborhood

    • Possible problems/solutions:

      • Branches hanging over the sidewalk (offer to trim the branches)

      • People could use a pick-me-up (start a happiness campaign with sidewalk chalk messages)

      • Dogs aren’t getting out as regularly (find dogs that need walking and coordinate with their owners about how you can help)

    • Discuss as a family:

      • Why is it important that we help our neighbors?

      • How do we feel when others help us?

      • How does helping others make us feel?

Conclusion of Week 2

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Note: These are a sampling of the standards integrated into this unit. Recognizing that Mission: Possible participants span many grades and readiness-levels, this is a generic structure meant to include everyone. Additional activities integrating grade-level standards in specific disciplines (such as math, literacy, science, and social studies) tied to this material are available. This is especially true for math where levels vary drastically from student to student. Please email us, and we’d be happy to provide those resources.

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