SCIENCE
Science & Literature TK/K
Instructor: Abigail Soto
$53/month ($212/semester); 50 minutes/week
Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners will all benefit from this course that will toggle between hands-on science and hands-on literature.
The science portion will use Mystery Science which introduces a concept in a two minute video presented in the form of a mystery. That leads to discussion questions where they further explore the concept and then a hands-on science experiment which solves the mystery in a way students can understand and remember.
For literature lessons, the course that will feature an illustrated classic children's storybook and include a variety of hands-on activities centered around the story. Using the unit study model, topics covered could include history, geography, art or science.
Math/Science Lab (Human Body) 1st-2nd; 3rd-5th
$53/month ($212/semester); 50 minutes/week
This course will alternate math one week and science the next. Both are 50 minutes.
Instructor: Alison Orozco
The Math lab will focus on improving recall of basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts depending on level. Math facts will be practiced with fun games, puzzles, and group activities. Techniques will be introduced to help with speed and recall. In addition, logic and problem solving activities will be done to aid in solving more complex math problems.
Instructor: Nicole Nyborg
The Human Anatomy & Physiology labs will examine these body systems: skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. In addition, nutrition, health, embryology, the immune system, and the major organs will be covered. Also included is a brief history of medicine and an introduction to cell structure and DNA. Activities will include finding blood type, making a cell model, and building a skeleton.
The focus of the class will mostly be experiments and activities. All labs are non-sectarian and supplemental in nature.
STEM: Lego SPIKE 1st-2nd; 3rd-5th
Instructor: Abigail Soto
$56/month; $224/semester
This one semester course will repeat for new students in the second semester.
All lessons will be new for this year so students who have taken the class in the past will have all new content.
Lego Spike lessons include motorized projects with a coding component.
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Cooperative STEAM Creation Station Ages 8-18
Instructor: Ann Baum & Staff Aides
$53/month ($212/semester);
50 minutes per week
This hands-on class will offer simple STEAM-based projects using a variety of media including Lego builds, science projects, and art creations. Each class hour will be a stand-alone lesson suitable for ages 8 and up.
The cooperative nature of the class will seek to pair developmentally delayed students with neurodivergent or neurotypical students capable of being a peer mentor. One thing I have noticed about some of our neurodivergent students who have struggled socially is that they have deep empathy for others who struggle. They are often not inhibited in interacting with special needs students who may have significant delays or other more obvious challenges. I think peer mentoring could be of benefit both to the high-functioning mentors and to our most challenged students who will need the extra help and often have very little opportunity to interact with peers.
The other cooperative aspect will be to pair neurodivergent students together to assist each other and potentially build organic friendships while also building knowledge. I often have parents who come to me seeking answers for neurodivergent children who are lonely and friendless and it is heartbreaking. We know that friendship has to develop organically so the hope is that this class could be a platform from which friendships could spring for socially challenged students.
This class will have limited opportunities for neurotypical students who have a desire to come alongside neurodivergent students to create a supportive team to complete projects.
This class will also need adult volunteers/parents to monitor and support all students as needed.
This class will take place outside under the giant tent at The Crossing.
MS Science: Geology/Biology (Real Science 4 Kids)
6th-8th Grade
Instructor:
$53/month ($212/semester); 50 minutes/week
Tracks 1 & 2 are identical. The same class content is offered both hours.
Textbooks for student use will be provided and must be returned at the end of the semester.
Students will complete a worksheet for homework each week. Tests will be given twice each semester.
This class is designed to give students both solid science information and hands-on experimentation. Students will be exposed to scientific terminology. During each class, the teacher will review with the students from the Real Science 4 Kids (Gravitas Publications) text. Experiments are designed to engage the students in an actual scientific investigation through hands-on labs or a demonstration by the teacher.
Fall Semester: Geology
Real Science Geology will cover topics such as technology in Geology, rocks, minerals, soils, Earth's layers, Earth's dynamics, Earth's spheres, the geosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, the biosphere, and more.
Spring Semester: Biology
This course will introduce students to biology concepts such as cells, how a plant grows, what protozoa eat, life cycles and ecosystems. The laboratory portion will include hands-on experiments that incorporate the biology concepts found in the student text. Students will explore how to sort living things, how plants make food, the life cycle of a frog and much more. The experiments are teacher-directed and will be conducted in class.
A-G Biology Lab 9th-12th Grade
Instructor: Tina Nassar
$63/month ($252/semester); 80 minutes/week (Includes supplies/specimens and lab manual)
This is a two-semester course but students are welcome to add at any time.
Light lectures will be done at the beginning of every lab to provide students with the information needed to perform the lab with understanding. At times, the students will also be required to complete some additional work at home to prepare for upcoming labs.
Students will be expected to complete the labs and will be assigned grades for their work and participation.
It is important to understand that this course only fulfills the lab portion of a biology curriculum. The students should be doing their own biology curriculum at home in addition to this lab class.
This lab course can be used with any biology textbook and we have charts available showing correlation of experiments to many common textbooks.
Check with your school to ensure this lab course will comply with a-g requirements.
Spring Semester
Fungus - Yeast
Monocot vs. Dicot (leaf, root, stem)
Parts of a Flower
Plant Leaves
Lichen
Dissection: Sea Star
Dissection: Worm
Dissection: Crayfish
Dissection: Grasshopper
Dissection: Fish
Blood
Muscle
Bone
Genetics
Dissection: Frog
A-G Chemistry Lab 9th-12th Grade
Instructor: Tina Nassar
$63/month ($252/semester); 80 minutes/week Includes supplies/specimens and lab manual
This is a two semester course, but students are welcome to add at any time.
Light lectures will be done at the beginning of every lab to provide students with the information needed to perform the lab with understanding. At times, the students will also be required to complete some additional work at home to prepare for upcoming labs.
Students will be expected to complete the labs and will be assigned grades for their work and participation.
It is important to understand that this course only fulfills the lab portion of a chemistry curriculum. The students should be doing their own chemistry curriculum at home in addition to this lab class.
This lab course can be used with any chemistry textbook and we have charts available showing correlation of experiments to many common textbooks.
Algebra 1 is a prerequisite. Students will be doing algebraic equations and graphing.
Check with your school to ensure this lab course will comply with a-g requirements.
Spring Semester
Mole Ratios
Melting Points
Freezing Point Depression
Le Chatelier’s Principle
Reaction Rates, Concentration
Reaction Rates, Temperature and surface area
Solubility Product Constant
pH and pH Indicators
Buffers
Organic Chemistry Models
Hydrocarbon Models
Polymer Models
Cross-linking of a Polymer
Nuclear Decay Simulation