Curiosity's Peak

"Knowing the answers will help you in school. Knowing how to question will help you in life."

-Warren Berger

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Program Overview

Curiosity's Peak provides a 15-minute/day alternative to closing circle. It was designed to deepen learner curiosity about themselves, their peers, and the world. Quarterly SEL themes and the weekly structure build to provide the greatest impact the time provides.

Quarterly Themes

Our characteristics of an effective global citizen:

Authentic understanding of self, including personal strengths and opportunities for growth.
Feeling a responsibility to use your unique strengths to impact the world in a positive way.
A willingness to be impacted by others, allowing growth opportunities.

The strategic progression for our quarterly themes reflect the steps we believe are necessary to develop the most effective global citizens.

Identity
Quarter 1

Who am I?

The content provided during this quarter will provoke thought and discussion around students' individual identities.

Check out this article to learn more about our approach.

Empathy
Quarter 2

Students cannot safely share their authentic self with others if empathy is not present.

The more your students choose authenticity and practice responding to authenticity with empathy
the more they will feel they truly belong.

Sense of Belonging
Quarter 3

We define belonging as a student's ability to know AND safely share their authentic self with others. Belonging will improve academic, social, and emotional success.

Check out this article to learn more about the benefits of belonging.

Global Citizenship
Quarter 4

Effective global citizenship relies on the healthy development of:

student identity
empathy
sense of belonging

We came to this definition of effective global citizenship through our leaders own experiences starting Cultured Kids.

Weekly Structure

Club Greeting

Team-building Activities

A color icon of a teacher and a book that represents reading aloud, one of the six components of our Art & Storytelling Book Club Program.

Teacher Read Aloud

A color icon of people and a chat bubble that represents book discussions, one of the six components of our Art & Storytelling Book Club Program.

Group Discussion

Individual Activities

Sixteen-75 minute, weekly lessons, span one semester. The program curriculum focuses on three overarching themes (identity, empathy, and belonging) and provides six types of engagement.

CASE STUDY

Imani's Moon by JaNay Brown-Wood

A color image of the children's book: Katie's Sunday Afternoon by James Mathew

Katie's Sunday Afternoon by James Mayhew

Manjhi Moves a Mountain by Nancy Churnin

Same, Same, but Different by Jennysue Kostecki-Shaw

Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

Diverse Content

Cultured Kids believes that it is important to be culturally sensitive and consider inclusiveness when choosing literature to support students. The following are a sample of more than thirty books that have been carefully selected to support this program.

Activity Books

An Atlas Activity Book and Adventure Book accompany the program curriculum to enhance student learning and engagement during the program.

Family Exploration activities were also designed to support parent-child exploration and discussion at home.

A color image of the certificate we give children at the end of the Hot Air Balloon Festival Program.

certificate of completion for the program

A color image of one of the Atlas Activity Book pages for France that children work on during the Hot Air Balloon Program.

Page 2 of 4 in our Atlas Activity Book for France

A color image of one of the Atlas Activity Book pages for India that children work on during the Hot Air Balloon Program.

page 2 of 4 in our Atlas Activity Book for India

A color image of one of the Atlas Activity Book pages for Japan that children work on during the Hot Air Balloon Program.

Page 2 of 4 in our Atlas Activity Book for Japan

A color image of one of the Atlas Activity Book pages for Kenya that children bring home to do with their family during the Hot Air Balloon Program.

page 4 of 4 in our Atlas Activity Book for Kenya

A color image of one of the Atlas Activity Book pages for India that children bring home to do with their family during the Hot Air Balloon Program.

page 4 or 4 in our Atlas Activity Book for India.

A color image of a child painting their paper maché hot air balloon that was made during the Hot Air Balloon Program.

Long-term Projects

The program curriculum provides daily activities as well as long-term projects that culminate with the completion of the program.

Detailed instructions are provided for two long-term art projects, each with varying levels of difficulty. This will provide versatility to educators as they select the best implementation with their class, considering time and resources.

Let's get started!