Learning Lab Descriptions

Topic details for Session: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

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Session 3

O’ Pioneers! (Elementary & Middle)
Imagine covered wagon journeys, the Oregon Trail, wilderness trekking, and Native Americans. We’ll study the life and times of pioneer Americans using first hand diary accounts and narratives.

Reading Strategies (Elementary & Middle)
Open that book! Fine tune your reading skills in this fun course. You’ll learn how to read for understanding, remember the elements of a story, take proper notes, and recall details. We’ll be reading classic and contemporary stories as we learn to be master readers!

Science through The Magic Tree House Series (Elementary & Middle)
Come along with Annie and Jack as we explore the world of science through this wonderful book series. We’ll read one book a week and explore science through their adventures in the Fog Creek Forrest and beyond!

Fun with Science- The Rainforest (Middle School)
Did you know that the world’s rainforests take up 14% of the earth and are the home to over 1/2 of the world’s animal, plant, and insect species? Can you believe that 1 out of 4 ingredients in our modern medicines are found in the rainforest? This class will dive deeply into the many layers and scientific elements of the world’s wonderful and mysterious rainforests!

Math Art (All Grades)
Study math through and in the world of art! We’ll look at such artists as M.C. Escher, Leonardo Davinci, and Robert Pinrose. We’ll examine tessellations, the pyramids, cubism, and more! You’ll even have the opportunity to create your own math art!

Essay Writing Workshop (High School):
Perhaps there is nothing more daunting to students than writing an essay. This class will demystify and debunk the hardships of essay writing. We’ll focus on organization, structure, and design as we make essay writing a breeze! This course is designed as a 1/4 credit elective course with 1 hour in class and 2 hours of homework weekly.

The Creative Writing Experience (Middle & High)
In this Creative Writing lab, you’ll learn how writing can be an adventure in being unique. We’ll practice observation techniques, listening skills, journaling or blogging, and your favorite types of creative writing.

References and Research (High School)
Citation isn’t as scary as it sounds! All colleges require citation, so it’s best to be prepared. This course will help you to refine your research skills and teach you how to cite sources in any type of essay or writing.

SAT Prep I (High School)
This class is recommended for college-bound juniors and seniors planning to take the SAT. Almost all undergraduate colleges and universities require that prospective students take either the ACT or the SAT. Taking this course will prepare students for understanding the format and strategies of all of the question types found on the SAT. We will analyze each of the test question areas and give special consideration to verbal refreshers and techniques aimed at relieving test-taking anxiety. Topics include sentence completions and reading comprehension for the reading section, grammar and essay writing for the writing section.  This course does not offer review for the math sections but does offer some strategies to employ for those sections.

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Session 4

Real Life Math (Elementary & Middle)
Ever wonder how and why math is useful? How is all of our number crunching going to make a difference in our lives? We’ll explore the realistic uses of basic math in this fun, inventive, and discovery-oriented math class!

Sentence Construction (Elementary & Middle)
If a word equals one diamond, then a sentence is bank. We’ll collect great sentences and study how phrasing, sentence combining, and punctuation is a million dollar art form to express ideas and big dreams.

SAT Prep 2 (High School)

This class is recommended for college-bound juniors and seniors planning to take the SAT. Almost all undergraduate colleges and universities require that prospective students take either the ACT or the SAT. Taking this course will prepare students for understanding the format and strategies of all of the question types found on the SAT. We will analyze each of the test question areas and give special consideration to verbal refreshers and techniques aimed at relieving test-taking anxiety. Topics include sentence completions and reading comprehension for the reading section, grammar and essay writing for the writing section. This course does not offer review for the math sections but does offer some strategies to employ for those sections.

Virtual Science Lab (Middle School)
Have fun doing cool, at home science labs! You’ll watch the teacher then do them yourself. You’ll also learn about the scientific method and how to write a proper lab report.

The Middle Ages (Elementary & Middle)
Knights, castles, and Lords; Oh My! This course will dive right into the life and times of the middle ages. Come on a journey back in time to read Chaucer, design your own castle, and live like a serf!

Creative Writing (All Grades)
Creative Writing is like a golden ticket that gives you permission to grab hold of life and put it into words.  In this course, we’ll produce some wild group literature and explore styles of creative expression based on each student’s interest.

The Art of Speech and Storytelling (Middle & High)
Learn how to tell a really good story to anyone who wants to listen. Learn professional voice acting techniques, oral interpretation, and how to handle butterflies in your stomach.

Parents:  Encouraging Reluctant Writers
Reluctant writers can learn to enjoy writing when parents get involved.  Learn some encouraging tips that will result in good writing habits and a portfolio of memorable experiences for the whole family.

Essay Writing Workshop (High School):

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