TUESDAYS
REASON TO
WRITE 9:00-12:00 $60
Led
by Anne Rinnard, Tania Thompson and Deb Womer
First
quarter:Treasure Hunting (not just pirate stuff-- we've got American history covered, too!)
Second quarter: Food (lunch time will special during this unit!)
Third quarter: The 1950's and 60's (special emphasis
on Civil Rights)
Fourth quarter:
Mystery!
SCIENCE 12:30-3:30
$75
Led by various people at various times, including the following at some point in
the year: Karen Cattell, Ellen McHenry, Hannah (McHenry) Lysczek, Deb Womer
First Quarter: Electricity and Machines
Second Quarter: Cells (includes not only animal and plant cells but
also bacteria and protozoa)
Third
Quarter: Your choice: The Brain, or Microbiology. Some of
the students may have had The Brain before, therefore we are providing the microbiology option as an alternative. (If
they haven't take The Brain, we highly recommend it as your first choice. It's a fabulous unit!.) The microbiology
will pick up where cells left off, and go into more depth about bacteria, viruses and the immune system. Will include
lab work.
Fourth
Quarter: Science Mysteries (WIll include mysteries from many branches of science, not just CSI. Emphasis is on
problem solving and logical thinking, which are essential in science.)
PLEASE NOTE: Students are NOT permitted
to be in either church building (Tuesdays or Thursdays) if they are not in a class. In other words, NO, THEY MAY NOT
"HANG OUT." (For extenuating circumstances or questions about this policy please contact Tania or Anne.)
THURSDAYS:
ALGEBRA
I 9:00-10:30 $50
Led by Tania Thompson
This is the beginning of a two
year course using the Harold Jacobs Algebra book. This is for anyone in 6th - 9th grades.
FUN WITH FRENCH
(first semester only) 10:30-12:00 $25
Led by Ellen and Paula
McHenry, hopefully with help from the PSU French department
A fun introduction to French, with games, songs, and basic vocab. Very little homework. This is also
open to high schoolers who want to try out French without commitment to a year-long class.
FUN WITH GREEK (second semester only) 10:30-12:00 $25
Led by Deb Womer
A fun intro to ancient Greek (the language
of the New Testament era). So many students enjoyed the brief dabble into Greek we did last year that we've decided
to offer a bit more of it! High schoolers are also welcome to join this class. (And parents are more than welcome
to learn along with us, too. No charge for parents sitting in-- come and join us!)
GEOGRAPHY
CLUB (geared primarily to grades 2-6, but open to 7 & 8 as well)
12:30
- 2:30 PM $40
This year our goal is to do the US states-- that's 2 states a week. This is a club, not a class, which means there
isn't much homework, but also that we strongly encourage parents to do some kind of volunteer job at some point. Tasks
can be a easy and painless as baking cookies or just sweeping the floor. We do have some curriculum to use, but if you
have special interest or knowledge in one of the states, you are encouraged to offer your ideas.
SCIENTIFIC
ILLUSTRATION $25 per quarter (open to grades 5-9)
Taught by Ellen McHenry
Science topics will be as diverse as possible. We will draw everything from leaves and worms to planets and
molecules.
Two sessions are available:
LEVEL
ONE meets at 12:30-1:30
This
level is for students in grades 5-8 who can be described by any of the following: 1) is at the younger end of the age
bracket, 2) benefits from a very clear, step-by-step approach to instruction (nothing open-ended), 3) needs encouragement
to do art, or 4) works very quickly and doesn't like to spend a lot of time on details. I will custom design this section
to get the best results possible from the students-- guaranteed success, and some nice portfolio pieces.
LEVEL TWO meets at 1:30-2:30
This section is specifically designed for the older students
(grades 7-9) or students who do a lot of drawing on their own, and don't need a step-by-step approach. Students in this
section should be able to deal with extended drawing sessions (work on the same drawing for 30-45 minutes) without getting
bored and be at least moderately self-directed if given general instructions.
NOTE:
STUDENTS MAY SWITCH LEVELS BETWEEN QUARTERS. If they level they start out in doesn't suit for
some reason, we can switch easily because both the science and art instruction topics will be very similar each week.
I've got the lessons coordinated so that they won't have missed anything crucial if they switch to the other group.
Media by quarter:
Frist quarter:
Pencil and colored pencil
Second quarter":
Pen (with and without wash) and scratchboard
Third
quarter: Watercolor
Fourth quarter:
Acrylic and mixed media (includes some final projects)
PHILOSOPHY FOR KIDS $25
Two session are available: 12:30-1:30 and 1:30-2:30 (Both sessions
are identical in content.)
Led by Tania Thompson and Anne Rinard
Middle schoolers are out to test limits and stir up contention. Put those inclinations to constructive use
and let them explore the world of philosophy (in a safe environment with sane, traditionalist adults in the room to to make
sure no one derails!). Students will learn some history along the way, also, as we explore famous philosophers and the
the difficult questions they tackled. Students will get a chance to express their opinions, but will learn to do so
in an articulated way that will impact their listeners. On the flip side, students will also be expected to be careful
listeners and really tune in to what others are saying, as well. This club will hone communication skills and will provide
wonderful preparation for high school speeches (as well as for life as an intelligent adult).
NATURE WRITING $40
12:30-2:30 (second semester only)
Led by Anne Burgevin
This course
offers its participants an opportunity to explore the natural world using not only their five senses but a pen as well. We
will take weekly jaunts into the central PA landscape then retreat to recapture in words what we've observed via our senses.
In addition to these first hand experiences, we will read works of classic and contemporary authors who celebrate
nature through poetry and prose, and look to their writing for inspiration in our own writing. My plan is to encourage
a lot of close encounters with the natural world. For instance, I may ask the students to observe a storm as it approaches,
builds and passes. A foundation of the course will be a nature/field journal which will serve as both a source of artistic
expression and a tool with which to discover the natural world around us. Lastly, I plan to arrange meetings with two
or three natural scientists and writers. One possibility is to meet the Penn State representative of the American Chestnut
Restoration Project and perhaps help plant chestnut seedlings in the spring time.There is no prerequiste for this course other
than a sense of wonder and a desire to write. (Please feel free to call with any questions: 235-6362 or email me at anneatpeace@yahoo.com)
INVESTING
CLUB $20
2:30-3:30
(first quarter only)
Led
by the Pilch family, with special guests TBA.
This
club is open to anyone (even alumni or parents!) who are interested in learning about investing. What does it mean when
the DOW goes up three points? When should you sell? What should you buy? We'll aim to find some answers
and gets students started on their own investing by using a simulation game where they invest "practice money" with
no risk. This is a great way to get some experience investing before risking real cash. In March or April, the club
will get together again at least one more time (probably an evening) to find out how everyone has done in the interim and
to discuss results.
ELECTRONICS CLUB (second and third quarters only)
$20 per quarter
2:30-3:30
Leaders TBA.
This club is open to anyone (even alumni
or parents!) who want to learn the basics of electroncis-- how to read circuit diagrams, how to use resistors and capacitors,
and how to use simple mathematical formula related to electronics. Make sure your student understand that they won't
be building any robots. We'll try to make it as fun as possible, but at the basic level the projects are pretty simple.
DRAMA CLUB $20
2:30-3:30
(fourth quarter only)
Yes, you read that correctly. If you can believe
it, someone talked us into trying to field a play in the spring. The play would be open to all ages and would require
quite a bit of reheasal in May. The details aren't totally worked out yet, but rumor has it that we're headed east for
some very long night of tale-telling....
YEARBOOK CLUB
Details are still in the works.
