SAVY Course Descriptions, Spring 2010
[Kindergarten] [Grades 1-2] [Grades 3-4] [Grades 5-6]
Beyond Words
Can words have more than one meaning? Can the meanings change with time? Are you an author? Using picture books and poetry, you will explore the ways writers use words to help us imagine and understand our world. Be prepared to write your own poems, stories, and haikus, just like the authors you study.
Survive and Thrive
Have you ever wondered what animals do in a thunderstorm? How do they survive in the heat of summer and cold of winter? In this class you will study the habits of animals and learn more about their unique features and habitats. You never know what kinds of animals may show up in your classroom or on webcam! Bring your observation skills and get ready to think like a scientist.
Measurement Rules!
Did you know that if you hold your arms straight out from your sides and measure from the tips of your fingers you are as tall as you are wide? Do you know how to measure the amount of space or area an object takes up? Do you measure a box differently than a garden? Learn all the different ways you can measure your world. Measurement rules!
Weather Reporter
What causes a tornado? What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon? What types of instruments do meteorologists use? Answer these and other questions by observing, tracking, and analyzing weather. You will experience the work of a real scientist as you gather and measure data on weather phenomena and climate change. Get ready to be blown away!
Mythbusters and Science Sleuths
Does it really take gum seven years to digest? Does lightning ever strike the same place twice? Develop the various skills necessary to become an active, curious member of the scientific community. Learn more about how to gather and analyze evidence, and design and conduct experiments. Then get ready to bust your very own scientific myth!
Shape Up!
Is a parallelogram a rectangle or a square? Or both? From stop signs to ice cream cones, our world is full of different shapes. In this class you will use puzzles, hidden pictures, and cool Web sites to test your theories about shapes and their properties. Get a jump on geometry by comparing and contrasting two and three-dimensional shapes. Shape up!
Creative Writing
Do you like to write? Do you find yourself dreaming up plots for stories? Creative Writing is a class designed for aspiring writers with a passion for the written word and a desire to perfect their skills. You will learn how to develop compelling story lines and creative characters. Through individual writing exercises, group discussion, and journaling, students will learn to think, and work, like a writer.
What are the Odds?
Have you ever played games that seem unfair? How can you tell the difference between a fair game and an unfair one? Why do so many people lose at carnival or amusement park games? In What Are the Odds? you will play and analyze games, using mathematical equations to determine the fairness of each game. Chances are very good that you will have fun while learning about probability, in this hands-on, fast-paced class.
