For ORA students at Yarnton Manor, the weekend has been full of interactive Masterclasses and artistic activities.
CSI Masterclass
Led by a real detective with over 30 years of experience in crime scene investigation, the CSI Masterclass gave a fascinating insight into the techniques used to solve murder cases.
The murder scene was set and fake blood was splattered besides overturned mugs and chairs. Curious pieces of evidence were left behind, including bags, leading ORA’s budding detectives to a series of suspicions about the murderer. With authorisation to cross the blaring yellow tape, informing the public of the gruesome scenes therein, pupils entered the crime scene in their hazmat suits to investigate and collect evidence.
Beginning by bagging evidence, the teams were quick to start formulating hypotheses about the crime. As they dusted for prints and began compiling pathology reports, it was clear to see that many pupils had already started weighing up the evidence in their minds and were starting to decipher the crime. The students even analysed blood splatter patterns to discover where the victim was wounded based on the bloody remains.
Aided by high-tech laptops and witness statements to produce facial composites, as well as equipment for fingerprint analysis, the teams had everything they needed to discover who had committed the crime.
Stock Market Challenge
The Stock Market Challenge, on the other hand, provided students with an interactive understanding of the world of trade. Set over a sped-up 5 day period, students formed teams to trade their selection of shares as they experienced the shifting trade market.
Throughout the 5-day simulation, newspaper reports were circulated around the group, indicating worldwide events that impacted the price of shares. Careful analysis of the media headlines enabled students to predict drops in the market, using their knowledge to quickly shift stocks that had fallen out of favour.
Alongside detailed newspaper reports, insightful radio bulletins blared current events and informed the teams about more subtle changes in the market, encouraging students to carefully explore every avenue of the media before trading their assets. One of the key elements of the Masterclass is to trade stocks and shares with other teams, aiming to make a profit and not a loss. Most teams were quick to get the hang of the activity and began making money on their shares, but also discovered that fortunes can change in an instant in this fluctuating industry.
Some members of the groups kept a keen eye on the sneaky media reports that influenced the market, whilst others kept a close watch on the fluctuating board at the front of the class detailing the stock prices. The exceptional teamwork provided a solid foundation for success, as the teams battled it out to be named the winners.
Sketching and Henna
Amidst the exciting selection of Masterclasses, students had the opportunity to participate in some relaxing and artistic pastimes. Some chose to try their hand at sketching, with exceptional drawings of an elephant and a skull portraying the impressive talent of the pupils.
Saturday night saw the arrival of Henna and it didn’t take long for the group to begin drawing all over each other. Flowery patterns and intricate designs came to life and gave students the chance to test their friendships as their peers became canvases. The results were beautiful and the designs inspired, providing everyone with a relaxing and creative activity.
Stay tuned to find out what else ORA students at Yarnton get up to over their final week, with an exciting debate and trip to London coming up.
