The Board Games Lab Learning Journey

Our Year Together: From Players to Creators

We’ve split our year into three fun terms. The last two weeks of each term, we take a break from playing to let the kids become game makers. They will get to design their own mini-game(s) based on what they learned.

  • Focus: Oral Fluency & Creative Storytelling

    We start our year by focusing on how we talk and share ideas. Through games that spark the imagination, your child will practice describing things in detail, telling funny stories, and learning how to sell their ideas to their teammates.

    The Games: Word on the Street Junior, Apples to Apples Junior, Dixit.

    Sep 10, 2026

  • Focus: Sequencing & Predictive Reading

    This term is all about the "lightbulb moments." We look at how games work. How a roll of the dice or a lucky card can change everything. We focus on how to plan ahead and follow step-by-step instructions.

    The Games: Yahtzee, Skyjo, Set.

    Dec 17, 2026

  • Focus: Negotiation & Rulebook Literacy

    In our final chapter, things get exciting! We dive into games that require teamwork, trading, and clever thinking. Your child will practice negotiating with their friends and summarizing big goals into simple, clear steps.

    The Games: Ticket to Ride, Monopoly Deal, Clue.

    Mar 11, 2027

  • To celebrate our year of growth, we will host a special Gamer Gala for our families.

    • The Masterpiece: Over the final weeks of the year, your child will take everything they’ve learned and create their very own board game from scratch.

    • The Premiere: You’ll be invited to pull up a chair and let your child teach you how to play their game. There is nothing like the pride in their eyes when they show you a world they built themselves.

The 2026 Roadmap: From Discussion to Debate

The Debate Club Learning Journey

  • Focus: Confidence, Communication Fundamentals, & Building Clear Arguments

    Students start with fun speech games and small-group discussions to practice projecting their voice, using body language, and expressing themselves clearly. They also learn the basics of structuring arguments: claims, reasoning, and supporting evidence.

     Starts: Sep 14, 2026

  • Focus: Opinion Pieces, Debate Scripts & Persuasive Reasoning

    Students practice writing persuasive pieces and translating them into oral presentations. They learn to revise their arguments for clarity, logic, and impact, including anticipating and responding to counterarguments.

    Starts: Dec 21, 2026

  • Focus: Team Debates, Public Speaking & Performance


    Students work in teams to research, strategize, and deliver full debates on engaging topics. The term concludes with Family Debate Night, where students showcase their skills in front of an audience, demonstrating teamwork, structured argumentation, and confidence under pressure.

     Starts: Mar 15, 2027

The Drama Club Learning Journey

The 2026 Roadmap: Our Three-Act Journey

  • Focus: Tone, inflection, and oral clarity. Students explore 3–4 different scripts, experimenting with how different characters, from a hurried shopkeeper to a calm scientist, might sound.

    Key Skill: Prosody-mastering the rhythm, tone, and musicality of reading to convey meaning and emotion.

    Sep 14, 2026

  • Focus: Empathy and character understanding. Through three new scripts, students explore different points of view and practice showing characters’ unique perspectives through voice and expression.

    Key Skill: Characterization-using voice, expression, and subtle gestures to communicate motivation and personality.

    Dec 21, 2026

  • Focus: Teamwork and performance confidence. Students work with two special scripts, analyze themes and characters, and vote on the one they will perform for families at the end-of-year Gala Performance.

    Key Skill: Ensemble Readers Theater- integrating expressive reading, pacing, and character portrayal while collaborating effectively with peers.

    Mar 15, 2027

  • To celebrate our year of growth, we will host a special Gala Performance for our families. Students will perform the theater script they voted on and “All-In” students will be recognized.

This three-part roadmap builds students reading and performance skills over the year. Students begin by developing vocal expression and clarity, then deepen their understanding of character and perspective, and finally collaborate to prepare a confident, ensemble performance for a culminating showcase.

The Creative Writing Workshops Learning Journey

Each term, students explore a new type of creative writing while practicing the full writing process: brainstorming, drafting, revising, and sharing. This ensures both skill growth and creative exploration.

The 2026 Roadmap: Exploring Genres & the Writing Process

  • Focus: Narrative Writing (Fantasy, Adventure, Realistic Stories)

    Students learn how to generate ideas, plan story arcs, create characters, and draft short stories. Revision focuses on clarity, pacing, and descriptive language, culminating in a polished story to share with peers.

    Start:  Sep 15, 2026

  • Focus: Personal Expression & Digital Writing

    Students explore journal writing, reflective pieces, and blog-style posts. They practice drafting thoughts clearly, organizing ideas, and revising for voice, audience, and readability. Each student produces polished personal writing ready to share with peers or publish online in a safe class blog.


    Start: Dec 22, 2026 (in-person) Dec 15, 2026 (online)

  •  Focus: Dialogue & Scriptwriting (Plays, Skits, Collaborative Writing)

    Students experiment with writing for performance, crafting dialogue, scenes, and collaborative scripts. Revision focuses on clarity of ideas, pacing, and how words translate to voice and action. The term concludes with a small showcase where students share their work.

     Start : Mar 16, 2027

“Jump” Book Clubs Learning Journey

Our 2026 Roadmap: From Sharing Ideas to Deeper Thinking ‍

Share → Connect → Reflect → Think Deeply

  • Wednesday 3:30pm

    Term 1: Imagination & Voice

    • The Chocolate Touch

    Start: Sep 16, 2026

    Term 2: Mysteries & Courage

    • The Wild Robot

    Start: Dec 23, 2026

    Term 3: Heroes & History

    • The Bicycle Spy

    Start: Mar 17, 2027

  • Sunday 5:30pm

    Term 1: Imagination & Voice

    • El Deafo

    Start: Sep 20, 2026

    Term 2: Mysteries & Courage

    • From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

    Start: Dec 20, 2026

    Term 3: Heroes & History

    • Number the Stars

    Start: Mar 14, 2027

  • Tuesday 3:15pm

    Term 1: Imagination & Voice

    • Fish in a Tree

    Start: Sep 20, 2026

    Term 2: Mysteries & Courage

    • Holes

    Start: Dec 20, 2026

    Term 3: Heroes & History

    • Refugee

    Start: Mar 14, 2027

  • Sunday 7:15 pm

    Term 1: Imagination & Voice

    • The House on Mango Street

    Start: Sep 10, 2026

    Term 2: Mysteries & Courage

    • The 57 Bus

    Start: Dec 17, 2026

    Term 3: Heroes & History

    • I Am Malala

    Start: Mar 11, 2027