SOCIAL STUDIES
Literature-Based World Geography 3rd-6th (1st-2nd in Semester 2)
Instructor: Amy Carrington
$50/month ($200/semester)
(This year we will return to the countries covered 2 years ago in the 2024-2025 school year.)
This class is designed to be a notebook approach to world cultures and geography for the primary student. Using children’s books, we will study nature, folktales, fables, art, poetry, history, and gentle Socratic questions to prompt discussion and discovery. Geographic elements include country maps and flags for students to cut out, paint, or color. Beautiful drawings of indigenous animals familiarize students with some remarkable creatures, cultivating respect and wonder for the natural world. As the student compiles these elements in a journal, they create a memorable keepsake recording all they have learned.
This class will follow the same format as it did last year with new countries to explore.
Semester 1 covers China, Japan, Thailand, & India. Semester 2 covers Antarctica, Australia, Morocco, Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ghana.(Continents: Asia, Australia, Antarctica, & Africa).
(Last year we focused on Europe and South America: France, Spain, Holland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Chile.)
Each unit will conclude with a unique & fun culinary tasting of the country studied.
Social Emotional Learning: Harry Potter Novel Study 3rd-6th
Instructor: Nikki Williams
$50/month ($200/semester)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: A Novel Study in Character & Courage
Step through the doors of Hogwarts and discover that the most important lessons aren’t found only in magic spells—they’re found in friendship, courage, kindness, and character. In this engaging novel study, students will journey alongside Harry Potter as they explore the first book in the beloved series while developing important social-emotional learning skills.
Through guided reading, discussions, creative activities, and hands-on projects, students will examine themes such as belonging, resilience, empathy, integrity, self-control, and making wise choices. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione face challenges together, students will reflect on their own emotions, relationships, and responses to difficult situations.
Each class will include opportunities for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, critical thinking, and personal reflection. Students will learn to identify character strengths, understand different perspectives, and recognize how actions impact others. Crafts, games, and cooperative activities will help bring the story to life while reinforcing both literacy and social-emotional growth.
Whether students are experiencing Hogwarts for the first time or revisiting a favorite story, this class offers a magical adventure that encourages young readers to grow in confidence, compassion, and character.
Skills Developed:
Reading comprehension and literary analysis
Vocabulary and language arts skills
Empathy and perspective-taking
Friendship and communication skills
Emotional awareness and self-regulation
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Confidence and personal responsibility
No prior experience with the Harry Potter series is required. Students should be able to read at approximately a 3rd–5th grade level or have someone willing to read the novel aloud to them.
Debate 6th-12th
Instructor: Jennifer Wright
$50/month; $200/semester; 50 minutes/week Two Semester Course
In this dynamic Teen Debate course, students will build confidence in expressing their ideas clearly and thoughtfully through presentations and discussion-based debate. The focus is on developing practical communication skills in a supportive environment where students can grow at their own pace.
We will explore the foundations of effective communication, including how ideas are shared, what makes a message persuasive, and strategies for organizing and presenting thoughts in a clear and engaging way. Students will practice presenting their ideas in low-pressure formats designed to build confidence over time.
A key part of the course will be learning to recognize and analyze logical fallacies. Students will examine articles, media, and real-world arguments, strengthening their ability to think critically and respond with well-reasoned ideas.
Throughout the session, students will prepare and share persuasive presentations, participate in researched debates, and engage in spontaneous “pop-up” debates on current topics. This course is designed to help students become confident communicators, thoughtful listeners, and respectful participants in meaningful conversations.
Entrepreneurship 6th-12th
Instructor: Jennifer Wright
$50/month; $200/semester; 50 minutes per week, Two semesters
What does it really mean to be an entrepreneur? And what does it take to turn an idea into a successful business?
In this hands-on course, students will explore the mindset and skills behind entrepreneurship while developing their own business ideas. We’ll look at what makes entrepreneurs innovative, resilient, and adaptable—and how those traits can be cultivated in everyday life.
Students will learn the practical side of starting a business, including basic cost accounting, how to determine pricing, and effective marketing strategies. Along the way, they’ll apply these concepts to their own ideas, gaining real-world insight into how businesses are built from the ground up.
By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of what it takes to launch a business and the confidence to think creatively, solve problems, and bring their ideas to life.
World Culture & Geography
Instructor: Jennifer Wright
$55/month ($220/semester) 50 min/week; Two semesters
Get ready to travel the world—no passport required! In this engaging World Cultures and Geography course, students will explore countries across the globe through interactive presentations from guest speakers with first-hand cultural experience.
As we “visit” each country, students will build a personalized geography binder, mapping their journey and collecting key facts, notes, and reflections along the way. This becomes a valuable reference they can revisit long after the course ends.
Students will discover highlights of each country’s history, traditions, and daily life directly from those who know it best. Along the way, they may sample traditional foods, learn a few words in a new language, or bring home recipes to try with their families—making each experience memorable and meaningful.
Countries will be grouped by continent, with presentations thoughtfully scheduled to align with important cultural and historical events, helping students connect what they learn to the wider world.
Regular review and interactive activities will help reinforce learning, ensuring students not only explore new places but truly remember what they discover.