Families Home Schooling for Excellence

Winter 2007 Class Schedule

Opening Exercises is from 9:30-9:40

Closing Exercises is from 11:55-12:00

Course Descriptions

American History Through Speeches & Poetry:  We will start with the American Revolution and I hope make it up to the
Civil War. For the Revolution & Civil War, we will spend two sessions on each learning the basic history and then read aloud speeches and poetry from the times. In between we will learn about the War of 1812, the Alamo, and Westward Expansion including Lewis & Clark using the same approach. I'd also like the students to spend one session teaching me about their ancestors. This is for the 9 and over bunch and for those who want to improve their speaking skills and learn some history too. For the first class I'd like them to have some basic idea about the American Revolution using any resources you may already have.

Art:  Art basics.  Students will need to contribute $5.00 towards supplies.

Chess:  This class is for those who have a basic knowledge of the game and want to improve their chess skills by playing with others.  Players may sign up for the 7-8 year old chess class regardless of age. 

Cooking:  Learn basic cooking skills.  Students will need to contribute $1.00 towards supplies.

Crafts:  In this class, we will be doing fun crafts.

Drama:  Learn the fundamentals of acting and put on a brief play.

Geography:  Learn about different places in the world.

Hand Sewing:  learn the basics of needle and thread stitching. Includes: threading needle, sewing on buttons, stitching together a hole and stitching a straight line. Culminating project is a hand stitched (quilted) hotpad or other small sample appropriate for age.  Students will need to contribute $5.00 towards supplies.

Humanities:  Humanities sounds like a complicated subject but is the fascinating study of what us crazy human beings do.  We will focus on how art and music have been influenced by history.  We will talk about why Baroque music sounds so similar, how artists reacted to industrialization and wars, and how scientific discoveries changed music and art.  We will listen to lots of wonderful music, look at art and talk about events in European History that have shaped our world. 

Introduction to Dance:  Come and learn about the many different styles of dance from around the world. Guest teachers will teach us some fun dance moves and we will have the opportunity to go on some great field trips as well!!

Knitting:  beginning knitting for 9 years old and older. Students must have their own yarn and needles by the first day of class.
Please get some newer yarn--worsted weight and not fluffy, feathery, etc. Old, acrylic yarn often feels terrible and children (well, everyone) are less likely to enjoy knitting, if they don't like the feel of the yarn. Needles should preferably be around a size 7 to
9 (US).

Math:  Group math activities.

Pirates:  We will be looking at the history of pirates and shipping/trading across the oceans, some famous pirate stories, and making some pirate treasures of our own. 

Physical Science:  Basic science through a number of labs.

Science:  Beginning science.

Survival Stories:  Share survival stories about boys who live for months in the wilderness and learn how to survive with only animals as companions.  We will be reading Incident at Hawk's Hill by Alan W. Eckert and My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.  In class, we will read together, talk about the book, write about it, and do survival and wilderness-related activities.  There will be an assignment each week.

Winter Literature:  Read a story and do a craft each week on a winter theme.