Fifth Day
We believe that a holistic education involves leaving the confines of the classroom and making the larger world our learning environment.
On most Fridays, we have a special, all-day program we call Fifth Day. These activities fall into four categories: physical activity, STEM, arts & humanities, and service. Faculty members lead the activities, sharing their passion with the students and modeling the traits of lifelong learning. Fifth Day follows the Experiential Learning model which has been shown to make learning more relatable and lasting. While Fifth Day activities are fun, learning will be assessed in a variety of ways, from quizzes to reflective writing. Fifth Day Fridays begin at 9:00am and end at 1:00pm.
Some examples of past Fifth Days include:
STEM
- NKU Planetarium: Students visited the Haile Planetarium on NKU's Campus to view its celestial presentation and explore the wonders of the universe.
- CPR Training: Students were given CPR & First Aid Training including video-based instruction, group discussion, and hands-on practice.
- Thrive Cincinnati: Students worked with Thrive Cincinnati to create a Climate Action Plan for the region, determining issues & hazards for our community and then discussed solutions and possible barriers.
- Newport Aquarium: Students visited the Newport Aquarium to study the differences between freshwater and marine environments. The primary focus was on understanding the adaptations of aquatic organisms in relation to their environment.
Arts and Humanities
- Harriet Beecher Stowe House: Students visited this historic home in Cincinnati, which was once the residence of influential antislavery author Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Cincinnati Museums: Students visit area museums & special exhibits regularly. Most recently, they've toured collections in the Cincinnati Art Museum, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the American Sign Museum, the Cincinnati Fire Museum, Behringer-Crawford Museum, and the Cincinnati Museum Center.
- Cincinnati Shakespeare Theater: CCA students get to experience two live performances each year at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
- Multicultural Day: CCA gathers speakers from the Tri-State area to present our annual Multicultural Day. The speakers have represented Haiti, Ghana, Greece, Ukraine, Spain, rural Appalachia, and the Deaf community. Each presenter shared their knowledge about their culture through dancing, games, presentations, and clothing. The students were then treated to a feast featuring food from those countries/communities as well as India, France, and Mexico.
Physical Activity
- Cincinnati Jr. Rowing Club: CCA students met with this competive rowing team to see the facility, try out the training equipment, and learn more about this "ultimate team sport".
- Cincinnati Nature Center: Students enjoyed a day of hiking while observing and interacting with the flora and fauna of the Cincinnati area.
- Perfect North Ski Trip: Students took a trip to Perfect North Slopes to ski. Some students took lessons to refresh their skills while others learned how to ski for the first time.
Service
- People Working Cooperatively: Students volunteered with People Working Coorperatively, a non-profit that helps greater Cincinnatians remain independent in their homes.
- Be Concerned: Students organized the Christmas donations and worked directly with clients, helping them shop in the free store. Be Concerned is the largest choice pantry; their mission is to assist the people of Northern Kentucky in obtaining the basic necessities for life.
- Good Samaritan Car Care: The Samaritan Car Care Clinic offers a lifeline to working poor families. Their services enable families to maintain their cars, allowing them to access jobs and transport family members to school and health care appointments. CCA students helped clean, vacuum, and prepare the cars that were brought in for repairs.