Build fine motor skills, explore texture, form and creativity while learning basic clay techniques. One week we will create a piece and the next we'll be painting. 7 total pottery pieces will be completed throughout the semester.

Each week the students will read (or listen to) the Wild Robot book at home, then delve into the book together in class. We will do character and animal studies, weekly art projects, grammar and vocabulary activities, and some fun writing prompts. We will finish up with one framed art project at the end and a number of multimedia art projects, as well as workbook with all our finished classwork at the end.rnrnWe will read through The Wild Robot, and then The Wild Robot Escapes. These can be found at your local library, or bookstore, or can be purchased online. They are also available as audiobooks.rnrnThe Wild Robot is a story about a robot named Roz who is accidentally activated on a remote island after a shipwreck. Initially struggling to survive and misunderstood by the animals, she adapts by learning to communicate with them. A turning point occurs when she adopts and raises an orphaned gosling, Brightbill, and this act of care allows her to become an integrated, protective member of the island community.

Explore the amazing wilderness of animals and their habitats! In this class, we'll discover how creatures survive through camouflage, communication, cooperation, and clever adaptations. You will learn about predators and prey, pollinators, and endangered species while exploring how humans impact the natural world and how we help to conserve it. Every lesson will be full of fascinating facts and hands-on discovery!

This class is designed for middle school students who want to explore the exciting world of creative writing! Students will learn the basics of storytelling, crafting interesting plots, creating memorable characters, and using vivid settings to bring their ideas to life. Through fun writing exercises and creative challenges, students will gain confidence in their writing and discover new ways to express themselves. Additional topics of discussion include: AI, genres, and more. Students will be expected to write outside of the class.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Or do you just wonder where this grainy sweetness comes from? How does it grow out of the ground? How does it become what we see in the sugar bowl? Come join us as we explore all things sugar and sweetness! In this class, we will journey through the science, history, geography, and culture of this fascinating carbohydrate. We'll round out our interdisciplinary study by listening to and discussing the podcast 'Big Sugar' for the first half of the session and then reading and discussing an on-topic novel in the second half of the session. We'll also strike out into the culinary arts as we explore the chemistry of sugar, as well as how it interacts with foods and ultimately our own bodies. We will compare different types of sugars and other sweeteners. What even is high fructose corn syrup, stevia, saccharin, and all those other products we see indexed on ingredient lists? How does all this sweetness effect human health in general and we how feel individually? Bring all your questions, your curiosities, and your senses as we survey the wide world of SUGAR! Students will need to access the podcast 'Big Sugar' and procure a copy of the book we will read (details sent in January to registered students).

Pick your practice and find your fit! This class will help you find ways to pause, breathe, and reflect through an exploration of mindfulness practices from movement to meditation, journaling to drawing, sound to breathwork, and more... Wear comfortable clothing that allows for free movement.

Welcome to Biology! This is the second session of a year long class. This semester we will look at genetics, heredity, evolution, ecology. We will have some choices to make as a group in what we focus on. Most of the reading and notes should be done at home during the week. You probably will want to spend 30 minutes to an hour a day on the material, but it is up to you how much time you spend on it. On Friday we will quickly review the topics from the week and then enjoy some activities and lab work. I plan to use the curriculum for Its Not Rocket Science as a backbone for the year. We will most likely not be able to cover all the topics but we will see what works best. There is a quick list of the topics at the link below.

This course will explore the literary and artistic merit of graphic novels. Students will encounter graphic novels spanning multiple genre including memoir, fiction, historical narrative and autobiography. Discussion of texts will focus on both the content and the medium to examine how text and image work together to convey meaning. Students will need to acquire the graphic novels, but all should be available from the public library. Because of the importance of images in these books, audio versions will not be sufficient. 8th graders may register on the waitlist and will be moved into the class as space permits.

Each week we will make our way outside to explore and enjoy what the changing seasons bring us. Time will be spent reading, sharing warm tea, and creating and playing with things found in nature. I will try to go outside every class so please dress warmly!

Each class we will learn about, watch videos, and even do experiments on the history of a specific candy, candy type, or candy brand. At the end of class, we will sample the candy/candies we learned about during class time. Some classes will be extra special, and we will have class activities, such as fun science projects that have to do with candy! Lead Teacher: Averie Watkins Let me know of any allergies, for this is a food sampling class.

Hands-on science activities teaching a variety of subjects such as hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances, buoyancy, light, sound, circuits, polymers, non-newtonian fluids and more. Most, if not all, lessons will include a take-home demonstration so they can share what they learn with others.

In this discussion and hands on activities class we will be covering Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Chinese Myths and Legends. This will be an overview class, just lightly hitting each region and going off on tangents to explore how these stories were used to explain science of their day and to shape culture and history.

Come build your world! In this hands-on class, we will explore key concepts from different branches of science by building physical models that will bring complex ideas to life. Examples of topics include simulating plate tectonics, weathering processes, and ecosystems. This will be part 2 of a 2 part class (Part 1 was offered in the fall and focused on chemistry and biology. Part 2 will continue with biology and then explore Earth science and physical science). Some short outside reading and/or videos will sometimes be provided to help students prepare for classes (30 min or less typically). 1-2 weeks/projects may (potentially) involve some food items, so please let me know of any concerns.

Students will learn about a wide range of topics to equip them to be better consumers. Issues include planned obsolescence including of electronics and appliances, how fibers and construction impact how clothes will wear out, where clothes go when they are donated or recycled, the international impact of fast fashion (Shein, etc.) especially in the developing world, corporate greenwashing, the economics of thrifting and how to be a better shopper for used goods. We will also discuss the history of how things are made and how that shifted with the Industrial Revolution and globalization in the twentieth century. We will discuss if you can be an ethical consumer in the modern world and the burden of corporate responsibility. There will be a mix of lecture, discussion, and hands-on learning (examining vintage and modern garments, home goods, and electronics) with some out-of-class reading and video-watching possible. Students will come away from the class with a better understanding of how their purchases impact the world, how to read a garment label, be able to look past the luxury label to see if a garment is well made or not.

Students will explore advanced writing techniques with a focus on developing their unique voice and style. Students will learn to craft engaging plots, create complex characters, and refine their stories through peer and instructor feedback. This class will also delve into editing and revision techniques to help students produce polished work, preparing them for future writing opportunities. Other topics include: genres, AI, publishing, and more. Students should expect to spend time outside of class working on their writing. Students should expect to spend time outside of class working on their writing.

In this high school level class, we will learn about Shakespeare. We will explore his language, poetry, humor and style as well as the timeless nature of his stories. This class will focus in on one to two plays, and other works.rnrnStudents will have opportunities to both read, watch and do in class table readings/performances together to learn the material. We will pull apart the work and look for both obvious and hidden meaning in the work. Students will be assigned homework to do to get the most out of this class.

Every week we'll have a fun physical activity or game to play! Let's get our bodies moving.

Students will dive into the foundations of technology through hands-on, creative, screen-free exploration. From building simple machines and decoding binary (the language of computers), to crafting paper circuits and designing kinetic sculptures, kids will discover how technology works from the inside out.

In this creative, hands-on class, we will explore identity, culture, community, and justice through the lens of art. Through drawing, painting, and creating, we will discover ways to use our creativity to understand ourselves and others, spread kindness, speak up, and make art that celebrates everyone. 6th graders are welcome to register on the waitlist and will be moved in as space allows. Please come dressed for a mess.

Students will learn about the Mesozoic Era and all the creatures that lived in it, from the mighty Dinosaurs like T-Rex and Stegosaurus that ruled the land, to the Pterosaurs that soared the skies and the Mosasaurs that dominated the seas.

What is a 'maker' and what is the maker movement all about? Join us as we explore what it means to become self sufficient in setting goals, completing tasks, and innovating design. We plan to balance the technological side of the movement with the lifestyle aspect of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture. We will focus on breadth (rather than depth) of topic, using historic inventions and innovations as a springboard for our own hands-on projects. We hope to inspire curiosity and inventiveness inside every student in this journey toward empowerment. Be prepared to work in a collaborative environment and to apply strong fine motor skills as we "make" our way through the session!

Team sports for beginners & pros. Come out and play! Kickball, Street Hockey, 9 Square, Relays and more. 7th graders may register on the waitlist and will be moved into the class as space permits.

In a galaxy not so far away, politics, power, and ideology shape the fate of entire worlds. This course uses the Star Wars saga as a lens to explore key concepts in political science including democracy, authoritarianism, corruption, rebellion, leadership, and ethics in war. By analyzing major events and characters from the films, students will examine how governments rise and fall, how propaganda influences societies, and how citizens respond to tyranny and hope.

Discover ways to approach color and light in Acrylic paints in this dynamic and challenging painting class! We will explore a variety of fun lighting situations to create mood, tell a story with color and sharpen our skills. Paintings will take 2-3 classes to complete with outside time expected as well. Some experience with painting & drawing highly recommended. Please provide your own acrylic paints, brushes, palette knives, palette, smocks, easels (Jeneen has some but not enough for everyone!) and water containers. Jeneen will provide supplementary materials for certain projects (specific colors or brushes for example) as well as canvas surfaces. If you desire a different size canvas or different surface to work on, you can bring your own. (especially for anyone wanting to explore working LARGE!) *Recommended paints: highest quality you can afford of a standard artists grade basic palette such as: Cad Red, Cad Yellow, Cad Orange, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Viridian Green, Sap Green, Yellow Ochre, Red Sienna, Burnt Umber, Zinc White, Ivory Black.

Creation Station will provide our youngest students time and space to learn and grow through open-ended play stations (including a rotating "building station" with legos/k'nex/magna-tiles, an art station, a board game station, a dress up station, etc...). This unstructured and flexible form of play enhances cognitive skills, encourages the exploration of natural curiosities, and provides endless opportunities for socioemotional learning (self-awareness, regulation, empathy, effective communication and other interpersonal skills). Creation Station is inspired by FlexLab, but catered to younger students who may benefit from having a smaller scaled, age-adjusted environment.

Flex Lab is a wonderful, creative space for open-ended fun with Scoop friends at the end of each Friday! Adult facilitators will be available for assistance but not necessarily for instruction. We will have an Art and Science Lab component as well as basic art supplies for free-form creative use. 'Special' supplies will be rotated and each week will feature different 'special' (paint, model magic, sculpting dough, perler beads, jewelry making, etc). We will have a craft space that will feature rotating projects complete with instructions, some seasonal and some by special request (students encouraged to submit ideas)! There will be a game station for calm, quiet play indoors (Rush Hour, Tangrams, Chess, etc). We will also have an open ended building station in the foyer, with Legos, K'nex, Magnatiles, castle toys, etc. available on a rotating basis (different choice each week). Balls for playing outside. All will be available in one open-ended 'class' that changes a little each week! While adults are present in all parts of Flex Lab, adult supervision is not heavy or constant. If you would like to provide close supervision for your student(s), please join them in Flex Lab and hang out! The goal of this class is to provide space, supplies, and support for kids to enjoy some unstructured creative time or fun play time.

No Dance Experience Required--Absolute Beginners Welcome! Modern Western Square Dance is a low-pressure, high-energy group activity that's been a hidden gem in American culture for decades. But this isn't your grandparents' square dancing. It's a fun, engaging, music-filled adventure--no fancy footsteps, no partner required, and zero embarrassment. How does Modern Western Square Dance work? Eight dancers form a square. A caller (your instructor) teaches you how to complete choreographed calls like "Weave the Ring," "Right and Left Grand," and more--all to upbeat music. It's modern--we dance to pop, rock, movie soundtracks, and today's hits. It's part puzzle, part cardio, and all designed to improve balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. And if you really fall in love with square dancing, the fun doesn't have to stop here. In addition to available ongoing lessons, there are dozens of local clubs, festivals and more you can explore for long-term learning, fun and community.

Join our fun and inspiration painting class where we will explore a variety of engaging painting techniques, ranging from fundamental skills like color mixing and blending to more experimental, textured approaches. Class will be tailored to the interests of those who register so come with your ideas, requests and curiosity. We will mostly use acrylic paints on canvas or board. Some supplies provided but not all (see below) Students must bring their own set of acrylic paints and brushes. Any starter set with some basic primary and secondary colors will suffice. I recommend a decent quality student artist set. Please NO craft acrylics. In addition, make sure your student has a smock! rnJeneen will provide all surfaces and supplemental colors/materials as needed per project.

We'll be playing a "Dungeons and Dragons" style roleplaying game with a Greek Myth theme! Players will battle iconic mythological beasts while accomplishing great labors. We will be continuing our Fall session adventure, but new students are welcome. No prior experience in table top gaming is necessary, beginners welcome! 8th graders may register on the waitlist and will be moved into the class as space allows.

Game shows strike pop culture with intriguing themes and categories. These games have been around for nearly one-hundred years and continue to evolve the way we use critical thinking. In this class, we will learn about different televised programs that specialize in giving opportunities to test your knowledge, while learning about the creation and origin of these well-known game shows. Some shows we will include are Jeopardy, Price is Right, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Who's Line is it Anyways, $25,000 Pyramid, Wheel-of Fortune, Name that Tune, Deal or no Deal and Family Feud. Co-teacher: Gabe Berentzen

This course explores the pivotal events, movements, and developments in world history from the end of World War II through the fall of the Soviet Union. We will examine key political, economic and social changes that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Topics will include the Cold War, decolonization, global movements for social justice, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, events in the Middle East, and cultural and technological changes.