Fall 2015 Classes Announced!

Slidell Family Homeschoolers Inc. Co-op announces its classes for the Fall 2015 semester! Classes run for 12 weeks on Thursdays from 9:45 a.m.-1:20 p.m. beginning September 10. SFHI Co-op is a cooperative organization for homeschooling families with school-age children ages 5 and up where the families work together to make each week and all other events (park days, field trips, MNOs, science fairs, etc.) possible and fun! A Preschool Program and Nursery are also available for younger siblings on Co-op days.

Online registration for the fall semester will take place during the last two weeks of July. Returning members will register the week of July 19; and new members will be able to register beginning July 27. All dues and fees will be due August 6. Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis as spots may be limited and certain age ranges may fill up more quickly than others. For more information about the Co-op and upcoming events, please join the Facebook group or email slidellfamilycoop@gmail.com.

Early Elementary (ages 5­-7)

1. Under the Sea: Study of Ocean and Sea Life
   ○ Fun study of beaches, oceans, and sea creatures with hands­-on activities and experiments each week.
   
   
2. Early Elementary PE
   ○ E​xercises, relay races, parachute games, and fun activities to keep the kids active, promote spatial awareness and good sportsmanship. Healthy morning snack provided.
   
   
3. Animals and Nature
   ○ D​iscover nature’s rhythm by exploring the four seasons and animals! What are seasons and how are they important? How do animals adapt to these seasonal changes? We will use hands­-on activities such as nature observations, hunts, sensory projects, food, art and crafts to learn about our world. Each class will begin with a poem or a story and end with the hands­-on activity. Topics include nature collections, seasonal change, animal habitats, migration, & hibernation.
   
   
4. Arts and Crafts with Creative Writing
   ○ C​hildren will create an art and craft including drawing with different mediums then write about it. Writing will focus on working with children at all writing levels from making words and sentences to tell about their art to writing paragraphs.
   
   
5. Tales through Time
   ○ E​ach week will be a new adventure in time as we read a non­-fiction or historical fiction picture book and then expand upon the time period or event with further learning and activities.
   
   
6. LEGO
   ○ Description: Crafts and projects based on LEGO
   

Upper Elementary (ages 8­-10)

1. Tales through Time
   ○ E​ach week will be a new adventure in time as we read a non­-fiction or historical fiction picture book and then expand upon the time period or event with further learning and activities.
   
   
2. Cartography
   ○ Students will learn all about maps and make a few of their own. Class activities will include reading a variety of maps, drawing a scale map, making a relief map, learning to use a compass, and planning a road trip.
   
   
3. Art Appreciation
   ○ We will study famous artists and styles with lots of hands­-on activities to correspond with the artists.
   
   
4. Backyard Biology
   ○ E​xperience biology hands­-on with critters you can find in your own backyard. We will be learning about plants and animals, as well as doing fun nature projects.
   
   
5. A Trip around the World
   ○ The class will take their passports and travel to a different country every two weeks. They will learn the culture, customs and landmarks of each country, and sometimes sample the cuisine.
   
   
6. Beginning Music:­ Learn to Play the Recorder
   ○ Learn basic reading music and play simple songs as a group. I would use recorder karate program. Students will get "belts" after learning each song to tie onto recorder for rewards. Only for beginners.
   

Middle School and High School (ages 11 and up)

1. Yarnology
   ○ S​tudents will learn how to do various yarn­-based crafts, including but not limited to crochet, knitting, loom knitting, finger knitting, yarn dyeing, needle felting, and more!
   
   
2. Introductory Entomology
   ○ We will learn about various classes of insects. The kids in the class will complete a bug collection and learn to classify the bugs they collect.
   
   
3. DIY
   ○ Students will perform a variety of experiments and challenges based on the website DIY.org. They will be given basic directions and materials and will use their imaginations to complete the tasks.

4. Health and Fitness
   ○ Health and Fitness will explore a variety of ways children and their families can get healthy and stay healthy! We will learn fun ways to exercise, healthy eating options, and how to have a healthy body image. We may have special guests and activities if time and circumstances allow.
   
   
5. Epistemological History
   ○ Each week we will focus on one historical event and look at the common teaching of that event, then investigate the accuracy of that teaching. Students will be required to prepare and briefly present a one­-page essay.
   
   
6. The Hunger Games
   ○ We will examine and discuss The Hunger Games trilogy. Classes will include discussion, responsive writings, activities and a final field trip to view Mockingjay, Part II in the theater.
   
   
7. Let’s Make a Movie...
   ○ F​rom the story to the sets we will get a glimpse of how a movie is made. We will be making a short film of a story the class chooses together. They will learn a little bit about each aspect of movie making and participate as well. Things covered will be story board, script, set building, lighting, sound and editing.