Embedded Files
What does a day at WLC look like?
Scroll through this example schedule of a typical day to get a taste of our community in action!
10:00–10:30am Welcome!
The kiddos arrive, sign in, and put their things away in their cubbies.
Then they find friends and spend some time getting comfortable in our space.
That might entail joining a game in the playroom, getting creative in the art room, chatting in the lounge, or heading out to the playground!
10:30–10:50am Gather up!
When the teachers put out the call, everyone comes together in our large gathering space to get the day started!
We read out the day’s schedule together so everyone knows what to expect, and then we have a warm-up activity that helps us get to know one another and build connection.
We might play an icebreaker game like Rock-Paper-Scissors-Snake or The Big Wind Blows, but today we take turns sharing our answer to this interesting question: “If you could have one superpower, what would it be?”
10:50am–12:00pm Class time!
Then it’s time to break into our age groups for class!
The Lucky Kittens (ages 5–8) begin their class with snack time; then they dive into their unit or activity for that week.
The Lucky Cats (ages 9–15) head to the Lounge and get going on their lesson.
Our classes are organized around four-week units, each on a different topic. Check out our Classes page for lots more information on classes at WLC!
On this particular day, the Lucky Cats have journalism class and are practicing skills to improve their newspaper writing.
First, we discuss the difference between informal and formal writing styles and when each style is appropriate. The students draft texts to friends and e-mails to game developers to illustrate the difference between the styles—this involves a lot of laughs. 😆
Then, we review the “5Ws” and practice writing newspaper lede lines that include the who, what, where, and when of funny, fictional incidents.
Finally, the students get to work on their articles for the upcoming issue of the school newspaper!
Our Lucky Kittens are in the midst of their Japan unit; on this particular day, class is about Mount Fuji.
First, we learn some basic facts about the active volcano outside Tokyo. Then, while the kiddos color a picture of Mount Fuji, we watch a short video that features some beautiful shots of the landmark and demonstrates its importance to the Japanese people.
We then play a fun game of “spot Mount Fuji” as we look at prints of the artist Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series.
Finally, we create our own watercolor paintings of Mount Fuji and add personal touches—like cats and kites—inspired by Hokusai!
12:00–2:00pm Lunch + clubs + self-directed free time!
Lunch time begins after classes finish. Teachers are happy to help students prepare their lunches if they wish—we have a full kitchen on site.
Then, it’s self-directed play time! While teachers are always available to help facilitate student activities, we also know how to get out of the way of PLAY! 😄 But we are attentive to any conflicts that arise during play time, to help students navigate social time with their peers. Check out our Self-Directed Play page for lots more about how we play!
Today, some students invent a new balloon game and invite others to join in! Some do; others spend the afternoon noodling on the guitar or piano; still others choose to do some chalk painting outside.
This is also the block during which student clubs and meetings are held—student council meetings, newspaper staff meetings, and our student-led clubs, which in the past have included groups devoted to interests like anime, cooking, theater, and drawing. Visit our Extracurriculars page to learn more about these fun activities!
Today, the anime club is meeting in the lounge! Anyone is welcome to come and share their favorite manga and anime, and hang out while drawing their favorite characters.
Finally, just before 2:00pm, we straighten the school building as a group and gather our things to get ready for pickup!
BONUS: CHECK OUT WHAT A MONTH AT WLC MIGHT ENTAIL!
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