2026–2027 Academic Year — Acton Academy, Ann Arbor

The Field Guide · Elementary Year 1

Your child's year, page by page.

A guided tour for parents of what the year holds — eight learner-led quests, real writing every day, and what your child will be capable of by June.

Academic Year 2026–2027 · Acton Academy, Ann Arbor

Chapter One

How Acton Academy works

Acton is not a school in the way you remember school. There are no teachers handing down answers and no grades chasing your child through the year. Instead, the studio runs on seven simple systems — questions instead of lectures, self-paced mastery, hands-on quests, real writing, publicly defended badges, an internal economy, and software that makes the whole journey visible. Here is each one.

1

Socratic Discussions

"Questions spark thinking — not answers."
  • Story-Based: an open question from a book or fable; learners respond to each other.
  • Ethical Dilemma: a real scenario — learners choose a position and defend it.
  • Socratic Seminar: a Quest-linked big question, explored as evidence-based group inquiry.
2

Core Skills

"Self-paced mastery in math and reading, and writing every day."
  • Math via Khan Academy — learner sets weekly goals and asks 2 peers before the Guide.
  • Daily independent reading at their own level, plus read-aloud by the Guide.
  • Grammar & literacy via Lexia during Core Skills time.
3

Quests

"Project-based adventures, 4–6 weeks each."
  • Three phases: Launch → Journey (hands-on work) → Exhibition (public defense).
  • History, STEM, art & entrepreneurship woven into one challenge — no subject silos.
  • Learner choice is built in; adults do not grade the work.
4

ES Communications & Writer's Workshop

"Real communication skills — spoken and written."
  • Two strands: interpersonal skills (conflict, apologies, advocacy, family meetings) and writing.
  • Every challenge produces a published piece: Prewriting → Draft → Peer Critique → Publish.
  • No badges — excellence and publication are the reward.
5

Badges & Exhibitions

"Mastery is earned and defended publicly."
  • Badges replace grades — earned by demonstrating a skill to a defined standard.
  • Types: Core Skills · Quest · Community · Apprentice (verified by an outside expert).
  • Exhibition = public defense: explain, answer real questions, reflect on what you'd change.
6

Eagle Bucks

"The studio's internal economy and self-governance."
  • Earned: arriving on time, meeting goals, helping peers, contributing to meetings.
  • Spent: the Eagle Store, privileges, Quest investments, community causes.
  • Lost: lateness, unmet goals, breaking community agreements voted on by learners. Studio Meetings are run by learners — adults observe but do not vote.
7

Journey Tracker (JT)

"Studio software — journey.actonacademy.org"
  • Tracks goal setting & points.
  • Quest progress, individual & studio.
  • Badge Plan progress.
  • Hero Bucks balance.
  • 360 Peer Reviews.
  • Learners own their data. Parents gain a window for informed conversations — not monitoring.
Chapter Two

The Quest Arc

Eight official Acton HQ Quests (ES.Quest.Y1.S0–S7) — the spine of the year, from community-building to a self-directed passion. The trail fills in as your child travels it.

Onboarding· Community· Entrepreneurship· Ancient History· STEM & Coding· Plant Science· Forensics· Self-Directed Passion
  1. S0
    You are here · Pre-year ES.Quest.Y1.S0

    Onboarding Quest

    Pre-year

    Introduced to the three pillars: Learning to Learn · Learning to Do · Learning to Be. Challenges are done independently and with parent support. Studio identity begins.

  2. S1
    ES.Quest.Y1.S1

    Build the Tribe

    5–6 weeks

    Team-building, a Hero's Journey intro, and signing of the Studio Contract. Goals: Inspire, Connect, and Equip.

    Exhibition Contract signing + a guided parent tour of how Acton works.

  3. S2
    ES.Quest.Y1.S2

    E-Ship (Entrepreneurship)

    4–6 weeks

    Students become entrepreneurs — traveling a quest-map to explore: What do I love? What problem can I solve? What does it take to build a business?

    Exhibition Mini-Market: real products, real prices, real money exchanged with families.

  4. S3
    ES.Quest.Y1.S3

    Experiencing History: Acton Athens

    3 days/wk · 2 hrs/day

    Students inhabit Ancient Greece as mythological avatars. The studio becomes Acton Athens: Oikos · Academia · Agora · Stoa. They earn coins and self-organize debate groups.

    Exhibition Parents tour Acton Athens and join challenges alongside their child.

  5. S4
    ES.Quest.Y1.S4

    Coding and Robotics

    6 wks · 3 days/wk · 2 hrs

    Self-paced coding via Code.org (Express Course, 19 lessons; Pre-Reader, 9 lessons). Culminates in a team robotics challenge, and explores how tech shaped history.

    Exhibition Robotics competition + a Socratic panel on technology's impact.

  6. S5
    ES.Quest.Y1.S5

    Community Garden

    6 wks · 3 days/wk

    Plant science (biology, photosynthesis, decomposition, germination, pollination) plus real responsibility: plan, build, and grow a garden in groups of 4–6.

    Exhibition A child-led garden tour for families + a butterfly release.

  7. S6
    ES.Quest.Y1.S6

    Detective

    6 wks · 3 days/wk

    Train as detectives in pairs. Forensic challenges and crime simulations across multiple forensic-science concentrations. Day 1: the initial crime scene. Final week: the closing simulation.

    Exhibition Parents solve a crime scene alongside their child.

  8. S7
    ES.Quest.Y1.S7

    Growing Curiosity

    3–6 wks (+ 4 wks planning)

    Two parts: (1) week-long mini-quests led by older learners across diverse topics; and (2) an Independent Project — each learner chooses their own passion, researches, creates, and presents.

    Exhibition Display + panel discussion — each learner presents their independent project.

Chapter Three

ES Communications — Writer's Workshop

All challenges, by session. Every challenge builds a real skill — spoken, written, and published.

Day single session Week one week 3-Week full writing cycle: brainstorm → draft → peer critique → edit → publish
Session 1Building Connection & Kindness5 challenges
  • Curious ConversationsDay

    A meet-a-friend recipe: Introduce → Ask → Listen (just listen!) → Dig Deeper. Practiced with BINGO cards.

  • Build a Tribe — Donut ChallengeDay

    A short communication task in the tribe-building launch. Connect with new peers through a structured shared experience.

  • Character CalloutsDay

    Write positive character traits observed in peers. Builds a culture of specific, honest recognition from day one.

  • Birthday NotesDay

    Meaningful birthday notes: greeting + specific observation + gratitude + warm closing. Used all year from the studio birthday calendar.

  • Thank You NotesDay

    Genuine thank-you notes with specific details about what mattered. Sent to real people.

Session 2Accountability & Self-Expression3 challenges
  • Conflict ResolutionWeek

    The Talking Sticks process: invite to a neutral spot → share perspective → repeat back → resolve. Practiced with a partner before it's needed in real life.

  • How to Give an ApologyDay

    A 4-step framework: (1) I am sorry for… (2) I know I hurt you by… (3) I will make it up by… (4) I promise I will… Full ownership, no excuses.

  • Six-Word Memoir3-Week

    Write your life story in exactly 6 words. Draft → Peer Critique → Revise → Illustrate → Present. Top memoirs are read at Exhibition.

Session 3Public Speaking & Persuasion1 challenge
  • Pitch a Pet3-Week

    Research a pet that would help the studio. Build and deliver a persuasive written + spoken pitch. Random finalists pitch at Exhibition.

Session 4Advocacy, Leadership & Connection3 challenges
  • Drawing a Line in the SandWeek

    Write about a personal conviction. Practice an assertive script: "Please stop ___. When you ___, I feel ___. Could you please ___ instead?"

  • Journey MeetingWeek

    A learner leads a structured meeting with family using a written script + progress template. Shares accomplishments, goals, and support needed.

  • Letter to a Hero3-Week

    A formal, heartfelt letter to a real hero in their life — specific, personal, sincere. Connects the Hero's Journey to real people.

Session 5Gratitude1 challenge
  • Just Because — Gratitude Letter3-Week

    An unexpected letter of gratitude — not for a birthday, not transactional, just because. A full writing cycle to publication.

Session 6Hard Conversations & Critical Thinking3 challenges
  • Difficult Conversations (CPR)Week

    CPR — Content (what happened) → Pattern (repeated behavior) → Relationship (what's at stake). Practiced with charged scenarios.

  • Debate a Game3-Week

    A full written argument for why a chosen game should be played in the studio. Structure: claim → evidence → counterargument → rebuttal.

  • Journey Meeting RefreshDay

    A follow-up family meeting: updated goals + reflection on growth since Session 4.

Session 7Storytelling, Creativity & Celebration3 challenges
  • Hero's Journey Show & TellWeek

    Share a personal object, story, or accomplishment connected to their Hero's Journey. Oral storytelling to a real audience.

  • Communications Game DayDay

    A celebratory day of games built around the communication skills developed all year. Joyful, low-stakes.

  • Creative Fiction Book3-Week

    Write and illustrate a complete original fiction book — the capstone. Printed, bound, celebrated at Exhibition. Some are placed in the studio library.

Chapter Four

Journey Tracker

The platform that makes learning visible — and what your child will be capable of by June.

Goal Setting & Points

Set their own goals and earn points, visible in real time.

Quest Progress — Individual

Step by step through each quest.

Quest Progress — Studio

The collective view — shared accountability.

Badge Plan Progress

What's earned, and what's next.

Hero Bucks

Balance recorded and updated.

360 Peer Reviews

Structured peer feedback — honest and kind.

By the end of Year 1, your child will have…

Learned toLearn

  • Set and tracked their own academic goals.
  • Advanced in math and reading at their own pace.
  • Used evidence to defend a position in Socratic discussion.
  • Managed their own learning data in Journey Tracker.

Learned toDo

  • Launched and pitched a real business.
  • Investigated a crime scene using forensic science.
  • Coded and competed in a team robotics challenge.
  • Grown and harvested a real garden.
  • Written and published multiple pieces of real writing.

Learned toBe

  • Signed and upheld a Studio Contract.
  • Resolved conflicts with peers without adult help.
  • Led a structured family meeting to share their progress.
  • Received honest feedback and used it to improve.
  • Presented their own passion project to a real audience.
Chapter Five

Come see the year in person.

Want to build this amazing community with us? Schedule a studio visit and walk the trail with us.

Schedule a Studio Visit

2179 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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