FALL SEMESTER:
DATES: September 13th (No class Thanksgiving week) - December 6th (12 weeks)
WINTER/SPRING SEMESTER:
DATES: January 10th (No classes for the weeks of winter or spring break) - May 9th (16 weeks)
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Primeros Pasos (full year) (Waitlist!)
TIME: Friday 9:00-9:30
AGES: Intended for Grades K-3
This is an interactive class, for young students, to get in introduction to world language. Language acquisition is strongest in the early years, so it is an ideal time for students to naturally learn Spanish. The total physical response method teaches vocabulary and grammar through physical activity. Students learn meaning, while responding to requests. The students will learn how to follow simple commands in Spanish, introduce themselves and ask others how they are. Along with TPR the students will use a number or props, finger-plays and songs to learn Spanish. Through the year they will demonstrate knowledge of colors and numbers as well as how to express likes and dislikes.
*Materials fee $10
Taught by Mikaela Shorey
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Apologia Science: Land Animals (Full Year) (Waitlist!)
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day
TIME: Fridays 9:00-10:00
AGES: intended for grades 4-6
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day makes science an adventure as we take a safari through jungles, deserts, forests, and farms—without ever leaving our backyards! During this course, your child will examine and enjoy the incredible variety of enchanting creatures God made to inhabit the earth.
Each lesson includes activities and/or experiments to reinforce the concepts studied, which we will complete together in class. At home, students will be required to read half a lesson (chapter) per week and complete the homework “note booking” pages that will be given weekly. This will prepare them for classroom “sharing time”, fun projects, activities, and experiments.
Required Materials
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day ( ISBN:# 978-1932012859)
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 Notebooking Journal (ISBN# 978-1935495130)
- A sturdy 1.5 inch binder with clear plastic pocket on front
- DK Sticker book; Reptile (ISBN# 978-0756609771)
- Eyelike Stickers: Wild Animals (ISBN #978-0761179641)
*Materials fee: $45 (covers labs and photocopies of supplemental material)
Taught by Erin Hazen
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Curious Critters (Full Year) (Waitlist!)
TIME: Friday 9:45-11:15
AGES: Intended for Grades PreK-1
Passport Pals
It has been said that curiosity is the fuel for learning, and young children are certainly curious! This year we will be taking a “trip around the world.” The purpose of this class is to help our children discover the exciting things about the world around them, while developing academic readiness skills. Students will gain knowledge of the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes while using a multi-sensory approach to investigating countries and cultures. The goal is to inspire children in a fun and engaging way. They will learn songs and poems, to help them remember the themes studied, as well as do crafts and participate in various learning centers with a global focus. We will also use Wee Sing Around the World, to hear music from different areas of the globe. Each child will get a passport, and collect stamps as we globe trot together.
A few of the countries covered are, Canada, Peru and Italy, looking at themes like deserts, jungles, and forests. Our passport pals will also visit Spain, England, Africa and Antarctica. We will explore the tundra, grasslands, mountains and coral reefs in a fun and engaging way. The students will learn about the plants and animals unique to each area. Using these topics, the students will be exposed to a number of popular authors and illustrators in classic children’s books, for example; The Sugaring Off Party, How to Eat Apple Pie and See the World, Little Niños Pizzeria, The Giraffe That Walked to Paris, Ferdinand, The Umbrella, and more.
*Materials fee $75
Taught by Mikaela Shorey
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Love to Learn Explorers (Full Year) (Waitlist!)
TIME: Friday 9:45-11:15
AGES: Intended for Grades 2-3
This is a unit study class. We will be using hands-on teaching and discovery to foster critical thinking. This class will immerse the students in units that integrate subjects and develop a true love of learning in each student.
Fall Semester (Passport to the World); This is a geography class with a glimpse of History. The plan is to stamp our passports contained in the text, Passports To The World by Craig Froman, as we survey the cultural geography of our world. In an age appropriate way we will learn about the bigger world around us and become aware of other locations, cultures, languages, people groups and traditions. As time permits, we will take a historical look at these people and places.
The Book: Geography from A to Z (A Picture Glossary) by Jack Knowlton and Harriett Barton will expose us to an alphabet of physical geographical terms. Maps, an atlas, globes and other learning aides will help us to locate them.Activities, projects and experiments will help us to understand them.
Spring Semester (Science - Land Animals);
We will approach our study of land animals with Apologia, The Young Explorers Zoology curriculum as our guide.
This biblical and scientific content will be adapted for students currently at the second and third grade skill level. For added interest we will reference the photographs, insights , clear and entertaining information presented in the book Zoology for Kids by Josh and Bethanie Hestermann . We will explore the animal kingdom, animal behaviors , glance at the history of zoos and aquariums, and “peek into the worlds of animal researchers, veterinarians, and zookeepers.”
In our interactive unit study approach to all things animal we will view lovely animal illustrations , consider devotional thoughts and Biblical insights from the book : God’s Amazing Creatures and Me by Helen and Paul Hadile.
Students will create and maintain a vocabulary journal and science notebook.
*Materials fee $75
Taught by Joyce Lima
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Geography & Art of the World (Full Year) (Waitlist!)
TIME: Fridays 10:15-11:15
AGES: intended for grades 4-6
This class will take your student on an exciting journey around the world, exploring countries on each continent, with the goal of building students’ knowledge and awareness of physical, political, and cultural world geography and challenging their artistic skills by creating art from around the world. Students will learn how to use an atlas, read and create maps, create an illustrated Geography Dictionary, research the people and cultures of countries, do cultural art projects, and build a geography notebook. We will read books, watch videos, and taste foods to further experience the world.
Required materials:
- A STURDY 1.5” binder with a plastic pocket on the front
- 1 pkg. clear page protectors
- Junior Classroom Atlas (Rand McNally, 4th edition)
- Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary (by Jack Knowlton)
- Around the World Coloring Book (by Winky Adam) Dover Publication
- A globe and large world map (to have at home for reference)
- A set of colored pencils in a plastic or fabric zipper pencil case that goes in a binder
Materials fee: $45
Taught by: Erin Hazen
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Early Art Adventures (Waitlist!)
TIME: Fridays 11:30-12:15
AGES: intended for grades K-3
Art Adventures for Lightning Learners is built to be a beginning art class. In this class, we will be exploring what it means to use an instrument, such as a pencil, clay, or brush, as a way to show the viewer a created piece of art. We will be using mostly colored and drawing pencils in class, but will also touch on a bit of sculpture, painting with watercolor and acrylic paint, and collage. We will be learning the basic elements and principles of art including; color, space, value, harmony, line, balance, and texture, and how they are seen in the illustrations of children’s books and various artists in the fall, and then we will create art from many different countries and cultures (spring). Our projects will include a Story Pole from the Native American culture of North America, a Fiesta Dancing Hat and Mask from South America, origami from Asia, Divali Alpanas from India, jeweled eggs from Russia, and clay penguins for the Antarctic. Many of the projects will be from the book Teaching Art with Books Kids Love and Global Art.
*Materials fee: $25. There will also be a short supply list.
Taught by Erin Hazen
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Novel Study (Full Year)
TIME: Friday 11:30-12:15
AGES: Intended for Grades 2-3
This course is designed to be taught over two semesters. Students will be immersed in reading, discussing, and experiencing exciting chapter books. They will learn new vocabulary along with reading comprehension skills. We will explore genres such as historical fiction, animal stories, and biographies. The reading levels will be geared to Second and Third graders with the difficulty level increasing as we move into the 2nd semester.
One of the books we will explore is called “Tornado”. It tells of a family’s experience sheltering during a tornado while they hear stories about a special dog named Tornado. In another book entitled “Joshua’s Diary” we are led on an exciting adventure with 8 year old Joshua traveling on the Oregon Trail with all the surprises and problems that he encounters. Some additional titles include “Gooney Bird on the Map” by Lois Lowry and “Wagon Wheels” by Barbara Brenner.
The children will be engaged in written reflections, hands-on projects, and writing skills surrounding the books we are reading. I’m excited for the exciting adventures we will experience through our adventures hidden in these books! The books used in this course can be borrowed from the public library or purchased from a local bookstore or Amazon. Each child will be given an art supply box with markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, and glue to use for in-class projects. Others will require simple supplies readily available from home
*Materials fee: $15.
Taught by Valerie Schmiesing
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Segundo Pasos (Full Year)
TIME: Friday 11:30-12:15
AGES: Intended for Grades 4-6
This class is a fun and practical program for learning basic Spanish. Students will experience the thrill of success with learning a second language and building a solid foundation. Lessons are organized by topics such as weather, mealtime, fashion and transportation. The topics are integrated into the lesson with songs, chants and games. The students will be using vocabulary and grammar to write sentences, and read short stories and dialogs. Students will use the language in context by performing short skits such as ordering in a restaurant or complaining about chores. This class will also learn some of the culture of the Spanish speaking world in the target language. We will focus on Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela. There is a small amount of homework each week, including practice pages, writing activities and puzzles. Students do not need a textbook, but a binder with loose leaf paper is required.
Copy/Materials fee: $20
Taught by: Mikaela Shorey
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Reading Readiness (Full Year)
TIME: Fridays 12:30-1:15
AGES: intended for grades K-1
This class is designed to complement and support your complete home learning to read efforts. While it is not a stand alone program, the lessons will follow a K/1 phonics based, scope and sequence. We will practice phonics with hands on multi-sensory activities, manipulatives, games, puppets, writing prompts, and reading buddies.
The reading of Big books, Living books, and age appropriate classics will help develop visual discrimination skills, letter recognition, vowel and consonant awareness and blending. It will increase vocabulary, recognition of sight words, develop fluency and comprehension.
Class will include some Whole Language reading and writing activities . With this, each student dictates a sentence of a story that is printed by the teacher in large print and displayed at the front of the class. As a group we orally “read” the story. Seeing their own thoughts and words in print adds enjoyment, interest and motivation in learning to read.
Other options for practice will be rubus,echoing and responsive reading .
An important goal of this class is help children develop the skills necessary to read the written word in Scripture and in the world around them.
Copy/Materials fee: $15
Taught by Joyce Lima
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Math Games & Play (Full Year)
TIME: Fridays 12:30-1:15
AGES: intended for grades 2-3
What is more fun than playing math games? Playing math games with with a whole group of friends! This class will focus on reinforcing the basic math skills of second and third graders through a variety of activities, games, and puzzles while working in partners, small groups, and as a whole class. Some of the best problem solving strategies and skills often come from working together and sharing ideas. We will reinforce basic math skills like adding & subtracting two and three digit numbers, place value, identifying and working with money, odd & even numbers, skip counting, telling time, measurement, fractions, basic multiplication & division (third grade), geometry, and more!
*Materials fee: $15
Taught by Kelly Kilbourn
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Learning Basic Grammar (Full Year)
TIME: Fridays 12:30-1:15
AGES: intended for grades 3-4
Want to learn 3rd and 4th grade writing skills in a fun and exciting way? This is the course for your 3rd and 4th graders! The students will learn how to write proper sentences and paragraphs. We will learn how nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions are used in our writing. Creative writing activities such as personal narratives, opinion paragraphs, persuasive essays, and research articles will be explored. This class will give your children a sound basis for their future writing development.
*Materials fee: $10.
Taught by Valerie Schmiesing
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Writing Level A; Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales (Full Year)
TIME: Fridays 12:30-1:15
AGES: intended for grades 5-6
Students in this class will learn remarkable and necessary skills, which will help them all throughout their school years, as they learn to write with structure and style. From students who can’t think of a thing to write, to those who love to write, but can’t seem to condense into quality stories, Excellence in Writing can help all types of student writers excel! Students will learn how to outline, summarize narrative stories, write from pictures, put together a mini-research report, and compose creative essays.
This year, we will be using Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales. Each family must own a copy of the Student Book, which you can find here… https://iew.com/shop/products/fables-myths-and-fairy-tales-writing-lessons
*Copy fee: $5
Taught by Erin Hazen