The future does not have a textbook; the problems our graduates will tackle are complex and nuanced. 5th Day is our answer to what students like YOU need and want most.
What Is 5th Day?
5th Day at Crossroads College Prep is an essential addition to what it means to be seen and supported, known and needed as a student, a thinker, and a person. 5th Day is a unique day every Wednesday that goes beyond the traditional curriculum. Students and educators need more time to deep dive into interdisciplinary topics, so we created a dedicated day to do so! 5th Day is our answer to the question: how do you prepare students for an ever-changing world? 5th Day is:
- An educational laboratory for innovation for students and teachers
- Focused on active engagement, problem-solving, advocacy, and leadership
- Co-designed with students to spark and develop their passions
- Fueled by partnerships with experts, organizations, and businesses in St. Louis
5th Day Challenges the Factory Education Model
The “factory model” of education operates on the metaphor of students-as-buckets, passive vessels that receive knowledge and skills to be used in largely predetermined ways. 5th Day upends that. It centers students as agents of their own education by immersing them in experiential learning and encouraging them to design their own projects in alignment with their interests and passions. The program exposes students to real-world, nebulous problems that require creativity, autonomy, and collaboration – competencies that 5th Day aims to cultivate.
Every Wednesday is 5th Day!
Current 5th Day Courses
Arts and Crafts (7th-12th)
Crafts bring in lots of different visual and physical elements, as well as being an integral part of human art history. Crafts have always been an important part of human society: we're witnessing a re-emergence of crafts as our technological age makes it more and more necessary to take time to be intentional and create with our own two hands. In this 5th Day, you will explore how crafting can help you happy, comfortable, and calm, as you connect your mind, body, and creative spirit.
The Beat (7th-12th)
Students will compare genres of music, what makes a song "good", specific aspects of songs like lyricism, beat/rhythm, mood, emphasis on 1,3 and 2,4, lyric patterns, and apply learnings to final project. We will learn how to sample sounds from our environment and collaborate on music production.
Builders, Inc. (7th-12th)
Builders, Inc is a community-driven initiative where Crossroads students work together to solve a local problem using design thinking initiatives. Students will find businesses and community initiatives in our local area which have needs that we will try to tackle by using our makerspace and partnership with MADE. This course is student-driven and is a great way to learn project completion from beginning to end. There are a lot of problems to solve and we can tackle them together. Students may repeat this 5th Day course for more advanced skill development.
Car Maintenance (9th-12th)
The Car Maintenance and Repair course will provide students the opportunity to explore the inner workings of an automobile and learn how many of the various systems function. Students will learn to locate and identify many of the components of a vehicle and how to maintain or repair them. Besides routine maintenance such as checking fluids, jumpstarting a car, and changing a tire, we will explore repairs of minor to moderate difficulty as time and ability allow. Students should plan to take part in mechanical work and expect to get their hands dirty every week!
Civitas: Election 2024 (7th-12th)
In this 5th day course, students will partner with Civitas, an organization that works to help young people become informed about what is happening in the world and to create actual change in their community. They will learn from experts, including co-founder of both Civitas and Crossroads, Arthur Lieber, about pertinent global and national policy issues, best polling practices, and the 2024 election. Students will even have an opportunity to poll the St. Louis community, like Crossroads students did with Arthur in the 1980s.
Ceramics (7th-12th)
Students will be introduced to the medium of ceramics through fundamental hand-building techniques using slabs, coils, and pinch pots. Students will also be introduced to basic wheel-throwing skills such as centering, opening, and pulling up a cylinder. Along the way, they will gain an understanding of the properties of clay and its history throughout the world as a vehicle for communication and a culturally integral source of functional vessels and decorative objects. Students may repeat this 5th Day course for more advanced skill development.
Cosmetology (7th-12th)
Cosmetology is being offered in response to high student interest and demand! This course provides students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in various aspects of cosmetology, including natural hair care, skincare, nail care, product making, and an introduction to the business side of the beauty industry. The course will consider intellectual and theoretical questions around beauty standards, cultural representation, ethical production, aesthetics and historical styles, and other important interdisciplinary questions. The course is co-taught with the owner of a local salon (and Crossroads parent!).
Craft Alliance: Professional Artistry (7th-12th)
In this 5th day course, students will partner with various professional artists from Craft Alliance to work on student-centered projects and experiences. Located in the Delmar Maker District, Craft Alliance is one of our City as Campus partners. With their expansive metal, fiber, glass, ceramics, and blacksmithing facilities, our students will get to access studio space that even professional artists dream of using.
Drone Crew (7th-12th)
Using cutting edge technology, Drone Crew will produce short videos for nonprofits for their websites and social media pages. The crew will interview their clients, plan the shots, coordinate with neighbors to ensure safety, film the location, and produce a final piece meeting client expectations. Drones are exciting, and who doesn’t want to learn to fly? Well, those who are afraid of heights or the risk involved in flying. Drones mitigate both worries and keep all the thrill. The day-to-day realities of running a tech service/company like aerial photography will present design challenges with real-world constraints and consequences. Drone Crew will not only serve the nonprofit sector of St. Louis, it will open up another path into STEM careers. Note that drone operation is limited to students age 16 and older, but younger students will be able to participate in many other ways. Students may repeat this 5th Day for more advanced skill development.
The Food of STL Neighborhoods (7th-12th)
The United States is a country built upon immigration. Every major city has cultural hubs of various immigrant groups that brought their shared traditions, values, and foods across borders. St. Louis is no exception. Through STL Neighborhoods: Food & Culture, students will spend seven weeks exploring and conceptualizing the various immigrant neighborhoods that helped form the city to what it is today. Through several walking tours, exploratory lessons, and of course, food, students will be able to develop new perspectives and understanding of the founding cultures of their own city.
Food Science (7th-12th)
You are what you eat! Or are you? Have you ever wondered what it means to eat a “balanced diet?” How does the FDA determine the safe way to store foods? How seriously do you need to take those expiration dates on packages? These are all common questions people have about the food they eat. The Food Science class will help you answer all of these and, of course, learn how to make some new and exciting dishes. We will take regular trips to Field Foods to gather the ingredients necessary to create our dishes each week.
FTC Robotics (7th-12th)
Students learn the engineering design process, computational thinking, and workforce skills to build a robot to compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics competition. Students are introduced to the robot's systems and the essential math and science needed to build the robot. At a minimum, students will have a driving robot, with a basic autonomous and a driver-controlled program, using a basic arm for manipulating game objects. Students will also assemble an FTC regulation playing field, develop game strategy, and conduct practice matches. Students will gain valuable engineering experience as they continually iterate their design and programming, while documenting the process. Students who take this course are expected to be a part of our FTC team through the end of the season (end of 3rd quarter). Students may enroll in this 5th Day course more than once.
Good Work: Community Service (11th-12th)
Juniors and seniors interested in volunteering at a local community organization may apply to work with one of Crossroads’ Good Work partners. Students will travel to their organization during the 5th Day block, devoting 3 hours of work time while there every Wednesday of that quarter. Details about Good Work partners, eligibility, expectations, and successful completion will be provided to students who express interest in this option. Students are encouraged to volunteer in areas of their potential career interests. Students may enroll in this 5th Day course more than once, pending approval.
Hiking (7th-12th)
Learn about places reserved for hiking and outdoor activities in the region. Enjoy the outdoors and increase your appreciation for it while learning about the history of preservation in the region.
Introduction to Robotics (7th-12th)
This class is for anyone interested in exploring the world of robotics without a commitment to the robotics team. Students will learn how to design, build, and program a robot, and will gain understanding of how the engineering process applies to each of those aspects. Students will have opportunities to learn coding, use CAD software, and do hands-on work building the robot. The class will work together to produce a working robot to accomplish a specific task.
Mastery Learning Project (7th-12th)
The Mastery Learning Project (MLP) is an opportunity for students to complete a project that falls outside the boundaries of typical school courses. Past students have studied hydroponic gardening and beekeeping, written and illustrated a book in French, taught themselves and other students ASL, and designed and built a strategy board game. Students may also choose to complete an independent research project. An MLP is approximately 40 hours of independent work per quarter, 24 of which occur during the 5th Day block. Each MLP spans one quarter, with the possibility of expanding the project, with approval, in a subsequent quarter. Most MLPs culminate in a presentation/demonstration to the Crossroads community of the learning achieved during the project. Students interested in completing an MLP for one or more quarters of 5th Day should read the complete expectations for an MLP here and complete the application found here by May 11. Students may enroll in this 5th Day course more than once, pending approval.
Outdoor Education (7th-12th)
In this course, students will learn, practice, and master basic skills that they can apply in both recreation and survival settings. The topics will include some or all of the following: basic first aid; orienteering; Missouri Stream Team water quality monitoring; fire, water, and shelter; fishing; watercraft; plant and animal identification. We will be outside as much as possible, barring severe weather. The course will utilize Crossroads College Prep, Forest Park, and local state parks as our learning locations.
Performance Immersion (7th-12th)
This 5th Day is in concert with our annual play, musical, and independent performances. The first part of this Quarter 2 course will be dedicated to Ride the Cyclone rehearsals with Joe Schoen, musical director. The second part of will be a play-finding process and historical exploration, which is part of how director Lizi Watt determined the 2024-2025 shows.
Rock Climbing (7th-12th)
In this course, students will use the medium of rock climbing to explore personal growth and teamwork, with the ultimate goal of proficiency. Each student will consistently set goals and create a plan to achieve those goals each time we are at the climbing gym. We'll start the class learning safety basics like knot tying, then spend our days on the (plastic) rock!
St. Louis Architecture (7th-12th)
St. Louis Architecture will introduce students to the basic concepts, practices, and mindsets of architecture. Students will be challenged with an entry-level architectural design challenge that requires them to consider a site's historical, cultural, communal, and natural contexts. Students will meet and work with professional architects at a local firm who will orient students to their field, provide mid-quarter feedback on their projects, and receive their final presentations. The course will also include a bus tour with the Missouri History Museum that surveys the architecture of St. Louis as a whole.
Theatre Tech/Design Immersion (7th-12th)
TECH/DESIGN IMMERSION (with lighting, sound and scenic guests artists leading students through the design process for RIDE THE CYCLONE, (a musical chosen during 2023's play-finding 5th day!)).
Upcycle Fashion (7th-12th)
In this class, we will be learning about the fast fashion industry and its impact on the environment. We will talk about clothing recycling and we will visit places like Goodwill and Found by the Pound to both, learn about how recycling and upcycling can be part of a solution, and to gather resources for our projects. We will be designing new clothing pieces from donated and discarded clothing pieces. Students will learn about problem-solving, designing, sewing, and some marketing. Students will create their own unique “brand” that will hopefully draw attention to the fast fashion dilemma. There will be prompts and themes that students will need to interpret. The exhibition will be either a fashion show, a sale, or both.
Video Production and Animation (7th-12th)
Students will learn basic of video production, video editing, graphic editing, and animation using free software (i.e. DaVinci Resolve, Blender 3D, GiMP, Inkscape). They will record, edit and deliver video content that includes, titles, background music, animations and transitions.
5th Day Exhibition
What Is Exhibition?
Imagine the hybrid of a science fair and Double Rainbow, where students are independently presenting their growth and projects to their peers, faculty, parents, trustees, community partners, and press. The building is bustling with excitement, color, and buzz. There’s music, food, and special scheduled events like MLP presentations and demonstrations. That’s 5th Day Exhibition.
Why Exhibition?
Exhibitions are an important event for celebrating learning, sharing 5th Day experiences with the wider school community, and encouraging student ownership over, accountability for, and pride in their work and growth.
When is Exhibition?
Exhibitions take place in the final week of each 5th Day quarter. Often they are aligned with other seasonal full-school events, like Double Rainbow and All-School Skating; on these days a special schedule will be used.
Special Thanks!
Crossroads would like to thank the following organizations and schools for their inspiration and support of 5th Day.
NAIS Strategy Lab | The Mastery School of Hawken | Delmar DivINe | Startland Education | Transcend Education | Korda Institute | Millennium School’s Quest Curriculum | Summit Learning | Innovative Technology Education Fund | Civitas | Craft Alliance | Missouri History Museum | Delmar DinINe
