Students were introduced to the “Amazing Race” concept via YouTube videos and were instructed on how the Traver version would be played. Students were then put into mixed-grade level teams of three and handed their first of many envelopes they would receive during the race.
The teams ripped open their first clue and were off! Students had to answer questions about European countries, then use the clue to arrive at the correct classroom. If they found the correct classroom, the staff member in the room would give them an envelope to their next clue.
Some envelopes led to challenges of physical and mental ability, such as a game called Kub (from Sweden) or a game on the Internet that challenged knowledge about identifying European countries.
After answering all the questions and completing all the challenges, students completed the final challenge by alphabetizing all fifty European country names. And, by the way, they had to figure out that alphabetizing was what they were supposed to do with fifty slips of paper!
The winning team was Zander, Rigo, and William F. They finished in one hour, three minutes. The other teams averaged about one hour, forty minutes to complete the race. Unfortunately, three teams got stuck in challenges and didn’t finish in the time allotted.
Wondering what “Day 6” is? Day 6 is Traver’s modified six-day schedule that allows the fifth through eighth graders to meet in the morning all together. About once a month, students meet all day for more activities. Themes of Day 6 curriculum are based on global awareness and issues. The middle school team strives to bring in speakers to help students learn different perspectives as well.
Students choose sessions hosted by the middle school team on various topics on a given theme. This year’s theme is “Our World: Part II-Europe and South America”.
This is the fourth year of Day 6 activities. Past themes were: “The Earth Will Be Yours--What Will You Do With It?”, “Living in the 21st Century and Beyond”, and “Our World: Part I-Africa and Asia”.