Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Thu

Open Spots: 5

In July 2020, NASA launched the Perseverance Rover to search for fossilized evidence of ancient microbial life in a crater on Mars. In September 2020, scientists announced that traces of phosphine gas, whose source is microbes, had been detected in the noxious clouds of Venus. And in October 2020, NASA announced that water molecules have been discovered across surface of the moon. This class will explore the big questions of, "Are we alone in the universe?"; "Is there other life"; and "Where?" In this class students will examine the evidence from recent studies and past findings to debate these questions. They will discuss exoplanets and what conditions are needed for a "Goldilocks Planet", the "just-right" conditions for life to thrive. The class will learn about aspects of astrobiology and biomarkers for possible life, and will debate, "How will we know if life is found?" This class will use some NASA projects for educators in their investigation. Future themes in this series include: Inner Solar System (Quarter 1); Outer Solar System (Quarter 2); Stars, Galaxies, and the Cosmos (Quarter 3); and Exoplanets and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life (Quarter 4).

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Thu

Open Spots: 1

Learn history and geography through hands-on, interactive play rather than by studying flat, dull maps! Many great games feature play on map-based boards that can be used as teaching tools. Visual and kinesthetic learners will remember where Mongolia and Madagascar are when they have amassed miniature armies there! The instructor will use board games from his personal collection as teaching tools. In addition, he creates custom boards to use with modified game rules and playing pieces.

Fourth quarter, students will learn about World War I using a custom table-top world map and the rules and playing pieces adapted from the game The Great War. Students typically play in 2-person teams where one takes the role of admiral, making decisions about naval forces and the other takes the role of general, making decisions about ground forces. The game continues week-to-week with students reviewing the geography as they set the game back up. For this conflict, students learn which countries were engaged and where they were located, capitals and key cities, shared borders and boundaries, and prominent geographic features and waterways. They gain an understanding of why countries were at war and how those events influenced history and the modern map.

There is a $15.00 supply fee due to the instructor on the first day of class for custom-printed maps and shared class materials. Topics in this series include: The 18th Century World (Quarter 1); The American Civil War (Quarter 2), Imperial Asia (Quarter 3), and The World at War- WWI (Quarter 4).

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Thu

Open Spots: 1

Learn history and geography through hands-on, interactive play rather than by studying flat, dull maps! Many great games feature play on map-based boards that can be used as teaching tools. Visual and kinesthetic learners will remember where Mongolia and Madagascar are when they have amassed miniature armies there! The instructor will use board games from his personal collection as teaching tools. In addition, he creates custom boards to use with modified game rules and playing pieces.

Fourth quarter, students will learn about World War I using a custom table-top world map and the rules and playing pieces adapted from the game The Great War. Students typically play in 2-person teams where one takes the role of admiral, making decisions about naval forces and the other takes the role of general, making decisions about ground forces. The game continues week-to-week with students reviewing the geography as they set the game back up. For this conflict, students learn which countries were engaged and where they were located, capitals and key cities, shared borders and boundaries, and prominent geographic features and waterways. They gain an understanding of why countries were at war and how those events influenced history and the modern map.

There is a $15.00 supply fee due to the instructor on the first day of class for custom-printed maps and shared class materials. Topics in this series include: The 18th Century World (Quarter 1); The American Civil War (Quarter 2), Imperial Asia (Quarter 3), and The World at War- WWI (Quarter 4).

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Thu

Open Spots: 4

Kids are naturally curious about chemistry! Chemistry explains the properties, behaviors, and interactions of materials around us: things we eat, drink, clean with, wear, drive, and even play with. Kids can use chemistry to understand how things taste, smell, mix, melt, combust, feel, and whether they are recyclable or rubbish, helpful or harmful, nutritious or not. Chemistry is key to understanding the world around us, including other areas of science. In this class, kids begin to use scientific words to describe their observations and will become familiar with some science apparatuses. Fourth quarter, kids will explore aspects of chemistry used to activate and animate favorite toys. In-class projects may include the creation- and chemistry- of invisible ink markers, lava lamps, and fizzy bath bombs. Figure out what chemical processes are used in smoke ring launchers, silly putty, chemical rockets, glow sticks, and projectiles. See how chemistry is used to power devices with salt water-powered cars. A lab fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Chemistry in the Kitchen (Quarter 1), Chemistry in Action (Quarter 2), Chemistry at Home (Quarter 3), and Chemistry of Toys (Quarter 4).

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Thu

Open Spots: 3

"S" is for science, and "A" is for art in the study of STEAM, but have you thought about the science in art? Artists must understand the science of the materials that the use: how they tint and texturize, mix and melt, dye and dry, blend or bend. There is a complex community of scientists and engineers with specialties in polymers, glass, chemicals, paper, and textiles who design the materials that artists use to create their art. This class will learn about the science and properties of some unique artistic processes and materials and how and why they work. Fourth quarter, the class will learn about paper engineering and 3D paper projects. Students will examine different types of paper under the microscope. Over 2000 years ago, paper was made from linen, animal skin, and papyrus plants, rather than wood pulp. Students will make paper from a variety of materials, including dryer lint! Other projects include crepe paper sculptures, paper sun catchers, and 3D projects from 2D paper: quilling paper, making a box, and pop-up techniques for cards and books using circles, rectangles, and spirals. Topics in this series: Resins & Polymers (Quarter 1), Paints & Dyes (Quarter 2), Optical Illusions & Color (Quarter 3), and Paper Engineers (Quarter 4). There is an $15.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on the first day.

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Thu

Open Spots: 4

Every parent knows that kids are curious, captivated, and quick to learn technology-based products. Programming Projects builds on that curiosity to introduce computer science basics, problem-solving, and computational thinking through play-based learning. Fourth quarter, students will learn to use Tinkercad. Tinkercad is an open source, online, 3D modeling software. Students will practice spatial relationships and learn how to visualize objects in 3-dimensions. To encourage accurate and ordered thinking (as is required coding), students will do a partner exercise called "Write it-Do it" on a regular basis. Students will create designs in Tinkercad, and the software will convert designs to code that is sent to a 3D printer. Students can select one of their designs to have 3D printed. Skills learned in this class can be continued at home to further independent design work. There is a $20.00 technology use fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day. Topics in this series include: Sphero indi Robotic Cars (Quarter 1), Scratch Coding (Quarter 2), Sphero Robotic Ball Quarter 3) and Tinkercad Design (Quarter 4)

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Thu

Open Spots: 9

Pet a parrot, meet a Madagascar hissing cockroach, touch a giant tortoise, study a sea star, and peek at a porcupine! Meet live animals at Compass each week as we explore some of the major animal families through interactive presentations. Each week, wildlife educators will bring a variety of animal ambassadors. They will discuss adaptations, habitats, diets, and diversity in the animal family. They will help students discover similarities and differences among species in animal families. Students will learn about adaptations and plenty of fun facts about the live animals that they meet each week.