Day 4 · Thursday — Exhibition Dry Run

Minute by minute

8:00 – 8:25 · 25 minarrival

Arrival & Free Time

Thinking Puzzle: "Tomorrow your family walks into this room. What's the one thing in this studio you want them to notice first?"

8:30 – 8:50 · 20 minlaunch

Morning Launch — The dress rehearsal

The opener (3 min):

"Today we run Exhibition end-to-end. Everything that's broken surfaces today, not tomorrow. We want to find problems today. Every problem today is a saved disaster tomorrow."

The framing (10 min):

"Treat this like the real thing. The Lip Dub plays. The Contract gets read. The Launch Circles run. If something feels off — pause, name it, we fix it together. No 'we'll figure it out tomorrow.' Today is the figure-it-out day."

Roles for the dry run:

Lip Dub plays at the start of Quest block — projection tested
Contract reading happens during 11:20 block — every learner reads their assigned line
Launch Circles run during Quest block second half — peers play guest roles

8:50 – 9:00 · 10 mindaily rhythm

Habit & Character Goals

Prompt: "What's the trait you want to bring to the dry run today?"

9:00 – 9:40 · 40 minmath

Math Time

Standard rhythm. Keep the rhythm. The schedule holds even today.

9:40 – 9:50 · 10 minexit ticket

Rocket Math

Standard rhythm.

9:50 – 10:15 · 25 minsnack

Snack

Standard rhythm.

10:15 – 11:20 · 65 minela block

ELA Block — Launch refinement

Last chance for learners to refine their Launch Plans before the dry run.

(20 min) Standard ELA: light, focused work.
(45 min) Launch Plan final refinement: learners revise based on yesterday's coaching. Pair-rehearse one more time. Print or finalize whatever they're holding tomorrow.

11:20 – 12:00 · 40 mincontract reading dry run

Studio Contract — Reading Dry Run

Practice the Friday signing ceremony today. Same structure tomorrow but with families watching.

(5 min) Setup: stand in a circle. Each learner is assigned a line to read.
(20 min) Full read-through: guide opens with the framing ("Six weeks ago we didn't know what this would say. Today this is who we are."). Each learner reads their line in turn. After all lines: collective "Yes" or signing motion.
(10 min) Debrief: what felt right? What needs to change? Pacing okay? Line assignments okay?
(5 min) Logistics confirm: where do the signed copies go? Who hands them out tomorrow?

12:00 – 1:00 · 60 minlunch

Lunch

Standard.

1:00 – 1:50 · 50 minlogistics & setup

Friday Logistics & Setup

The studio physically sets up for Friday.

Chairs/seating arrangement for families
Projector for Lip Dub tested, audio levels right
Launch Circle locations marked (each circle has its small space)
Pickup table for signed Contracts
Any printed materials laid out
Photos posted on the wall (from Standard of Excellence final, Lip Dub filming, etc.)

1:50 – 2:50 · 60 minquest · FULL EXHIBITION DRY RUN

Quest — Full Exhibition Dry Run

Run the full Exhibition flow end-to-end with stand-in "guests."

(5 min) "Families" arrive. Spark learners or other guides play the part. Greeted by Welcoming Committee.
(25 min) Movement 1 + 2: Lip Dub premiere → Studio Contract reading → quick studio acknowledgment. See Exhibition page for the exact format.
(25 min) Movement 3 — Launch Circles: each circle runs with its stand-in guests. Real timer, real space, real protocol.
(5 min) Debrief: what worked? What needs to change for tomorrow?

// what we expect to find

Three things usually surface in dry run: (1) someone forgets their line/role — practice the recovery move; (2) a logistic doesn't work (audio low, projector misaligned, materials missing) — fix immediately; (3) the timing's off — adjust who has the watch tomorrow. Don't let any of these slide.

2:50 – 3:30 · 40 minclosing

Studio Maintenance · Character Callouts · Reflection

Standard rhythm but with a slightly different reflection prompt: "What's one thing you're nervous about for tomorrow? What's one thing you're excited about?" Capture so families can hear the texture in the morning.

Go deeper · stretch · empower

For learners struggling in dry run

If a learner falls apart during dry run, hold them gently. Privately: "Today's where we find what's hard. Let's break it down — what's the one piece you need to nail by tomorrow? Just one." Confidence is more important than polish here.

For families nervous about Friday

Send the final email today. "Exhibition is at [TIME] tomorrow. We've practiced. The learners are ready. Come witness. Don't bring expectations — bring presence."

For the Welcoming Committee

The greeters tomorrow set the tone. Practice with them today: "Hi! I'm [name]. You're [parent's name]? Welcome to D2. Let me show you where to sit."

For the guide

Tonight: prepare your 60-second opening for tomorrow. Just enough framing for families. Don't over-script. Tomorrow is the learners' day.

Exhibition dry run.

The day's purpose

Supplies & setup