YouthQuest Highlights: November 2019

Around the World

To extend learning beyond day school and provide an enriching experience, YouthQuest’s site at Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary recently focused on the theme, “Around the World.” Students in grades K-2 learned about the cultures of India, France and Mexico, while students in grades 3-6 focused on Africa. They played traditional games such as “Elephant Stampede,” a children’s game from Kenya, and learned about the significance of African masks in a make-and-take project.

Live by a Code

As a form of academic support, students at Brownell STEM Academy worked on their vocabulary and practiced mathematics and technology skills. During intersession, students learned about the concept of coding by using circle and star beads. The beads represented binary code, or the ones and zeros that coders use to develop to communicate with computers. Students used the beads to spell out the word “star,” which they made into bracelets to take home.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

 To promote nutrition education, YouthQuest helped Eisenhower Elementary students become more hands on about their health. On Mondays, Farmer Erin assisted the students in planting and harvesting an on-site garden. This helped students better understand where their food comes from and gave them a stronger appreciation for their food. The students then created dishes using Indian and Thai recipes with help from Farmer Erin.

Getting the Family Involved

Students at all YouthQuest sites participated in the YQ Biz Shark Tank-style competitions in late October and early November. At Doyle Ryder Elementary, staff used the competition to encourage family engagement. Parents and school faculty were invited to sit in on their students’ pitch presentations in front of the judges. Attendees were impressed by how the students took the initiative to create their products and how well they prepared their presentations.

YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

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