2010 SUMMER COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

ART SAFARI (Grades 1-4)
Nature and art collide as we travel to distant lands exploring color, texture and theatre arts. Puppets, masks, and musical instruments will be created using advanced sculpture techniques and various media. The students will enter the art room as a student, but might leave as a lion, tiger, or bear…oh my!
Instructor Amber O’Neill

GEOMETRY (Grades 7-11) (For full year credit)  CLOSED
Prerequisite: Algebra 1
Want to get a jump start on Geometry? Well, summer is the right time! This class includes the concepts of triangle similarity and congruence, complicated area problems, special quadrilaterals, the art of angle chasing, power of a point, 3-dimensional geometry, and geometric proofs, circles, and cords. If you don’t know what these things are, you will by the time summer’s through!
Instructor Dan Ary

GRAMMAR BOOT CAMP (Grades 5–8)
When do the words “grammar” and “fun” appear in the same sentence? When it’s referring to Grammar Boot Camp, a course that will reinforce your grammar skills without a single yawn. Hands-on fun includes creative and engaging activities on the interactive whiteboard, parts of speech review through poetry, music, and drawing; punctuation and editing practice; and essay writing. These things you learn in boot camp are your foundation for the next school year.
Instructor Nissa Hales

“GROSS” SCIENCE (Grades K-6) 
Ewww! Have you ever wanted to make “brain juice” or fake blood? If you have ever wondered how to make gooey stuff, then come get slimed at this weeklong class to explore the ‘grossness’ of the natural world. Mad scientists will discover the chemistry behind it all with experiments making fake bodily fluids, investigating slime, growing mold, and exploring other really gross things that ooze!
Instructor Clara Svedlund

JUMPSTART FIRST GRADE! (Entering Grade 1)  CLOSED
REVIEW THE 3 R’s (Reading, wRiting, & aRithmetic)
Before you start your back-to-school shopping, come review the 3 R’s in a small group setting. We will practice phonics and printing, keep a journal, and play fun math games. You will sharpen your skills and learn new ones for the upcoming school year.
Instructor Christie Glanville

KINDERGARTEN KICKOFF! (Entering K)
Get a feel for Kindergarten! This week gives students a real feel for what goes on in Laguna’s big, bright Kindergarten classroom. You will be introduced to phonics, printing, math games, storytelling, and classroom etiquette. The session is designed to build confidence in our youngest learners and is open to non-Laguna students who are 5 years old as of September 1, 2010.
Instructor Mieke Delwiche

MYTHOLOGY IN FILM:
From Hercules to Harry Potter (Grades 5-8)
Even though you have probably seen Hercules and Harry Potter in movies, these characters are more than just entertainment. Ancient myths and popular stories from around the world explore the “Hero’s Journey.” You will watch contemporary children’s films including Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire; The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace; The Golden Compass; and Mulan.
Instructor Nissa Hales

SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS & MINDS (Entering Grade 2)
This class salutes the second grade! Grammar, reading comprehension, writing, and math games will give your child an advantage for the new school year. Brush up your journal and paragraph writing skills, math skills and enjoy reading together in small groups.
Instructor Christie Glanville

STUDY SKILLS (Grades 5–8)
Say goodbye to homework headaches and test-taking stress! This invaluable course will teach you about goal-setting, task-management, prioritizing at home and school, effective note-taking, test-taking strategies, homework/project planning, speed reading techniques, and how to communicate with your teacher. You will also discover your learning style. Plan to join us if you are new to Laguna Blanca or just wish to strengthen these skills and get a jump start for back to school.
Instructor Trish McHale 


WRITING WORKSHOP (Grades 7-9)
There are specific writing skills that are absolutely critical to succeed in school. If you want to develop effective word usage, correct punctuation, effective sentence construction, paragraph development, and essay writing, let this class show you the way! Emphasis will be placed on organizing your prewriting, building argumentative thesis statements, developing topic sentences, incorporating cited materials and effective supportive evidence, and crafting insightful commentary. This course is particularly recommended if you are new to Laguna Blanca School or just need to strengthen these skills.
Instructor Lindsay Woodard