Class Descriptions

In our imaginations, let's pack our bags and grab our passports! Welcome to the world with picture books. We will learn about world cultures and geography using read alouds, discussion, group activities and note booking to cover topics like folktales, fables, art, poetry, history, maps, and nature study. Continents covered this year will include Europe and South America.  All read alouds will be provided in class, and students will keep a notebook. An optional supplementary reading list, which families can pursue on their own will also be provided.

Children delight in the exercise of creating with their own hands. This class will give students the opportunity each week to create with their hands, as well as work on fine motor skills, observation and attentiveness. Possible handicrafts include clay modelling, loom knitting, and chalkboard drawing. We will also complete a few liturgical art activities, most likely around Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. Come join us and let's create!

We will use Richard Halliburton's Marvels of the Orient, map work, and other mediums to explore the geography and culture of some marvelous places on earth! "Visit wonders both natural and man-made, places you've heard about, and others you won't believe you didn't know of before."

(Students do not need to purchase the book.) 

Come discover with us as we keep a travel journal with pictures, maps, and other activities, using the delightful Marvels of the Orient as our guide!

  We will practice making hypothesis every week and writing lab reports as we transfer metal atoms, make crystals, build marshmallow molecules, discover what colors are in a marker, split water, create chocolate bonds, and more!

Homework will include a simple sketch each week and 2-7 pages of reading in a Science Encyclopedia.

Chemical reactions, acids and bases, chemistry of life, and industrial chemistry will be covered in Logic Chemistry part 2.

In Life Skills, each lesson will start with a real-world problem -- a leaky faucet, a broken appliance, or a car that won't start. Students will diagnose the issue, strategize solutions, and apply practical skills efficiently. Learn to identify tools, handle home repairs, understand engines, perform basic car maintenance, and clean effectively without causing damage. This course teaches critical thinking, resourcefulness, and practical know-how to solve everyday challenges confidently and independently. 

Marine Science is a lab based class, with hands on guided inquiry activities in which students will study the physical and biological components of the ocean. Topics include: ocean formation, exploration and oceanographic instruments, sea water chemistry, ocean dynamics, ocean floor features, ocean life, marine ecosystems and ocean biodiversity. 

This course is designed to give students a better understanding of the world ocean via labs, data analysis, dissection and projects.

Homework will be approximately two hours each week and include reading, guided notes, videos with questions, etc. Also, one larger project will be assigned each semester.

Through the use of various mediums, including but not limited to graphite pencil, charcoal, colored pencil, conte crayon, pen and ink, and oil pastels, students will gain inspiration from classic and religious artwork, and explore the foundations of art that will lend beauty to their own artwork. 

This studio art class will also highlight art history and works as they relate to the foundations of art. Focusing primarily on 2-dimensional artwork (drawing, collage, and possibly printmaking), students will also complete a sculpture. The source material for projects will mainly be 'from life' as well as some reference photos and historic artwork.  Materials will be provided.

Game theory is the study of strategic interaction - of what happens when my actions have effects on you and vice-versa. How do military strategists, candidates, nations, and business firms reach or not-reach equilibria? How do countries decide whether to go to war or negotiate an accommodation? How do candidates compete for votes? How did Solomon reason when judging (1 Kings 3:16-28)? 

Game theory uses formal models, empirical investigations, and simulations to understand simple and complex strategic interactions. 

In this course we will learn the tools of game theory, with a focus on application within the history of World War I. We will play many simulations and work to hone our strategic decision-making, negotiation, debate, and conflict resolution skills. Our primary text will be The Politics of the First World War: A Course in Game Theory and International Security by Scott Wolford. It can be purchased on Amazon for about $40. https://www.amazon.com/Politics-First-World-War-International/dp/1108444377  

Come sew AND cook with us! 

We will sew for six weeks, followed by five weeks in the kitchen.

In sewing club, we will continue to practice our machine sewing skills while we learn about quilting through making a reusable patchwork calendar and, if time permits, we will work on patchwork coasters and Christmas ornaments. 

Learn how to cook and bake with recipes tailored to liturgical living and Catholic feast days! Explore new ingredients, improve cooking and knife skills, learn to read recipes and make adjustments, and demonstrate proper food safety and hygiene while working in collaboration with others. Nutrition and meal planning will also be discussed.

Learn to play or level up your game while exploring the minds of real-world tacticians. Each week introduces a battle-concept like ambush, interdiction, or siege warfare then connects it to positions and strategies on the chessboard. Through guided play and discussion, students will build strategic vocabulary, sharpen their thinking, and come away with a deeper understanding of winning battles on and off the chess board.