Inspire Creativity
and Courage to Change

An iteration is like a do-over — a chance to make improvements based on what we learned from the first try. Testing an iteration is like trying out a new version of something we’ve made, to see if it works better than before.

First, we carefully test our new design or idea. This could mean asking friends to try it out, observing how it works in real life, or using special tools to measure its performance.

Once we’ve gathered feedback, it’s time to listen and learn! Feedback is not a critique or something to be embarrassed by — it is a super valuable tool that shows us where we need to go next. We pay attention to what people liked, what they didn’t, and any ideas they have for making it even better.

Then comes the fun part: Making changes based on the feedback! We tweak our design, fix any problems, and add new features to make it even cooler.

Social and cultural awareness are important. Here’s why:

1. Making Friends And Feeling Happy: When we learn about and respect how others live, it's like friendship magic! Kindness and respect help us make more friends and have fun together.
2. Peace And Teamwork: If everyone understood and respected each other's ways, there would be less fighting and more teamwork. This teamwork helps us solve big problems like protecting the planet, and that's super important for the future.
3. Learning And Adventure: Learning about different cultures is like going on an exciting adventure. It makes us smarter and more creative while making the world more interesting.
4. Future Jobs: Many future jobs will involve working with people from all over the world. Understanding their cultures and ways of doing things can help you succeed. Always remember to be curious and respectful about the amazing uniqueness in our world!

Fight, Flight, and Freeze are the three basic ways that our bodies respond to threats.

Your brain might decide that fighting the danger is best. For example, if you are faced with an unfriendly animal, you might yell or throw things at it to try to get it to go away. You might have learned to wave your arms and stomp your feet. You’re trying to prove that you are the bigger threat so the animal will leave you alone!

Sometimes, flight is the best option. Your brain wants to get you out of a dangerous situation quickly. This could mean physically running away from something scary, but it could also mean avoiding something that you find intimidating. For example, maybe it means not raising your hand in class because you’re scared you’ll get the answer wrong in front of others.

The last “F” stands for freeze. Sometimes, your brain can’t make a decision. Instead of fighting or running from the danger, you freeze up. You might have a hard time speaking or yelling, your mouth might go dry, or you might feel faint or lightheaded.

As we have learned, it’s impossible to not make mistakes every once in a while. It’s okay; things happen. However, we now know how our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves affect our actions. Negative thoughts or beliefs can easily turn into negative actions with a fixed mindset.

Let’s pretend your parents ask you to help cook dinner in the kitchen. You are asked to keep an eye on the food, but you accidentally burn it. Thankfully, you are given another chance.

What are three things you could do differently to prevent the food from burning again? Keep the growth mindset in mind. We suggest that you open up a digital or physical journal. Keep this journal throughout the duration of this course, as we will suggest you respond to questions and make reflections.