The Fred Tjardes School of Innovation

🚨 Learning Loop Reveal #2: RUN! 🏃⚙️❤️

At Fred Tjardes School of Innovation, learning starts with a big idea.

Each year, our collaborators intentionally choose broad learning loop themes that spark curiosity, connect learning across subjects, and inspire deep thinking. Rather than studying topics in isolation, students explore concepts through many different lenses, discovering how ideas connect to the world around them.

Our second learning loop theme of the year is... RUN!

What does it mean for something to run? More than you might think!

This theme will take students on investigations into:
🏃 Human movement and the systems that keep our bodies running
⚡ Circuits and electricity
⚙️ Engines, motors, and machines
📦 How large-scale operations run—like the behind-the-scenes systems at an Amazon Fulfillment Center, where our collaborators recently visited to kick off their planning
🌎 And countless other connections our students will uncover along the way!

We can't wait to see where this learning loop takes us and all the questions our students will ask as they discover what it really means to make the world run.

📦 What do Amazon packages have to do with school learning? 🤔

Our collaborators recently took a behind-the-scenes tour of an Amazon Fulfillment Center to see the incredible journey of a package—from the moment an order is placed to the moment it arrives at your doorstep.

Why? Because the best teachers are learners first!

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, our collaborators spend three weeks before students arrive designing hands-on learning experiences that bring our learning loops to life. Visiting Amazon was part of the planning for Loop #2, helping our team experience the concepts before bringing them to our students in meaningful, engaging ways.

We’ll kick off the year with our Preserve Loop this fall, but we couldn’t resist giving you a sneak peek at what’s coming next...

👀 So, what’s your guess? What do you think the theme of Loop #2 will be? Drop your predictions in the comments! ⬇️

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At TSOI, we believe kids CAN do amazing things—and if we expect kids to be learners, creators, risk-takers, and problem-solvers, the adults in our building should be too!

This summer, we're highlighting collaborators who are trying something new. Not because they're experts. Not because they'll be perfect. But because growth happens when we're willing to start.

🀄 This summer, Courtney learned to play Mah Jong! As she's played more, she's been building new strategies, sharpening her skills, and discovering just how much there is to learn.

The best part of learning isn't mastering something overnight—it's enjoying the challenge (and competition!) along the way.

✨ ✨

At TSOI, we believe kids CAN do amazing things—and if we expect kids to be learners, creators, risk-takers, and problem-solvers, the adults in our building should be too!

This summer, we're highlighting collaborators who are trying something new. Not because they're experts. Not because they'll be perfect. But because growth happens when we're willing to start.

🖼️ This summer, our volunteer extraordinaire, Ellen, took on a new challenge: learning how to hang her own artwork while beautifying her home! With a little measuring and problem-solving, she discovered that tackling home projects can be both rewarding and empowering.

Sometimes, learning a new skill is as simple as picking up the tools and giving it a try.

✨ ✨

At TSOI, we believe kids CAN do amazing things—and if we expect kids to be learners, creators, risk-takers, and problem-solvers, the adults in our building should be too!

This summer, we're highlighting collaborators who are trying something new. Not because they're experts. Not because they'll be perfect. But because growth happens when we're willing to start.

🧘 This summer, Tasja is practicing yoga! She's discovering that every pose doesn't always come easily—and that's exactly what she loves about it.

Sometimes the best learning happens when we keep challenging ourselves!

✨ ✨

At TSOI, we believe kids CAN do amazing things—and if we expect kids to be learners, creators, risk-takers, and problem-solvers, the adults in our building should be too!

This summer, we're highlighting collaborators who are trying something new. Not because they're experts. Not because they'll be perfect. But because growth happens when we're willing to start.

🌿 This summer, Mandy is learning about native medicinal plants on her family's property in New Mexico. Curiosity in action!