Learners kicked off the Photography Studio by balancing inspiration, resources, and hands-on practice while developing personal projects. A neighborhood walk helped refresh technical skills through street photography, and a guest photographer shared an inspiring project, showing how photography can be a creative outlet. Later, learners explored how different artistic perspectives shape photography by analyzing two contrasting bird-focused projects before heading out on a photo walk to capture birds, architecture, and anything else that sparked their creativity.

Learners in Get it Done: Design Your Own Learning are taking charge of their own projects, setting SMART goals, and refining ideas using AI and other resources. They have explored personal interests, engaged in peer feedback, and identified useful benchmarks to push their projects forward. By practicing time management, research, and collaboration, they are developing key skills to bring their ideas to life while building confidence in self-directed learning.

In this Building Block, learners are exploring how music serves as a tool for personal expression and social movements. They started by sharing songs that hold deep meaning for them, fostering connection and thoughtful discussions. Using a jigsaw activity, they uncovered how music has fueled movements for civil rights, feminism, anti-war activism, hip-hop, environmental advocacy, and mental health awareness. Currently, they are analyzing protest songs from the Civil Rights Movement, comparing A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke and This Is America by Childish Gambino, drawing connections between past and present struggles for justice.

This cycle marks the most ambitious Adelantes program yet, with a record-breaking eight learner-led Building Blocks running simultaneously. Learners are stepping up as facilitators, leading experiences in 3D & Magazine Design, Model UN, Rethinking Your Clothes, Videogame Design, Dance, Ceramics, Marketing 101, and Real Estate. By designing and guiding these sessions, they are developing leadership, adaptability, and resilience while contributing meaningfully to the learning community. Through this experience, they are not only sharing knowledge but also growing into confident and capable leaders.

Learners are sharpening their ability to articulate their ideas with facts and empathy—an essential skill in today’s world. Their discussions have explored topics such as the cost of culture, immigration’s economic impact, social values, and how to evaluate bias. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home, reinforcing critical thinking and open dialogue beyond the classroom.

Learners in the Design History Building Block are exploring how design has shaped culture, technology, and society over time. They will examine key movements, from Bauhaus and Art Deco to Postmodernism and contemporary trends, analyzing how design reflects and influences the world around us. Through case studies, discussions, and hands-on exercises, they are developing a deeper understanding of design principles and their evolution. As the cycle progresses, learners will apply these insights to their own creative projects.

This cycle, learners have engaged in a variety of real-world experiences, including visiting La Liga TV production studios, collaborating on a street art project, and learning from magician Sasha Crespi. Upcoming sessions include social media marketing, crypto with a conscience, zine-making, and graphic design consultation. If you have a skill or talent to share, we’d love to hear from you—community contributions make these opportunities even richer!

This cycle, learners have chosen to focus on psychological thrillers, reading and discussing books in multiple languages. After learning annotation techniques and discussion strategies, they are now fully immersed in their books, analyzing plot twists, red herrings, and psychological conflicts. If your learner is in Literature Circles, please ensure they have their book and encourage them to read outside of Learnlife to fully enjoy the experience.

Learners are making strong progress on their capstone projects, focusing on research, thesis development, and structured writing. Each project is taking shape in a unique way, but all learners are working toward clear documentation and well-supported arguments. They are refining their methodologies and crafting structured paragraphs, ensuring their final work is both impactful and academically rigorous.