A launch introduces a challenge by placing learners in the shoes of a protagonist who faces a difficult decision, whether it’s a current dilemma for the group or a challenge that will occur in real life.
A launch does three things:
Inspires by connecting to a challenge, hero, or world-class example that lifts a learner’s eyes to the horizon;
Equips by offering a process, recipe, algorithm, or framework that leads to better decisions and habits.
Connects by bringing the group closer together with each other, fellow travelers, or loved ones.
Here is an example of a launch from our Lower Elementary Studio:
Introduction:
Imagine this…
You are Elon Musk, a bold and courageous entrepreneur or businessman. You have risked your own money and the money of others, hoping to allow human life to live on other planets. In order to achieve this goal, it’s important that you can send rockets into space, and have them return safely – something experts have said is impossible. No one has ever had a rocket return to earth in one piece. Up to this point investors have given you millions of dollars so you could make this happen.
You build a brand new rocket, and, along some of the best people in the world, believe you have everything right so that it will return back to earth safely. You are both nervous and confident as the rocket makes its way back down to earth. You hold your breath as it approaches the ground…
A wave of emotions comes over you and you realize the amount of work and money that has been put into this. If this fails, you’ll have to spend another 62 million dollars to create another rocket and try again.
As it gets closer to the ground you realize it’s going way too fast. The rocket explodes and your stomach sinks.
You spend the rest of your investment on 3 more launches, all of which fail.
Socratic Discussion Question(s)
Do you raise more money for more launches (possibly losing more people’s money if you fail), or do you give up now so no one else loses money?
You decide raise more money and are successful. You have enough money for 3 more launches. Unfortunately all of those launches go bad too. Should you try to raise even more money, or do you quit?
Do you raise money forever, or is there a point when quitting is good? (If the latter) How will you know?
Is failure a requirement for success? In other words, could there have been someone better who would have succeeded the first time, or would anyone who tried have to fail first?
Wrap-up
[Show: How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster. ‒ SpaceX (0:00 – 2:08)]
Elon was the first man to successfully land a rocket back to earth as you just saw. My question for you is, was he a brilliant hero, or a lucky fool?