THE ACADEMY at CVCU
THE ACADEMY COURSE DESCRIPTION
EARLY LEARNERS The Early Learners program is a supportive, parent-directed program for 2-5 year olds. Working together in a community-centric model, parents lead hands-on, interactive sessions and play-based learning activities that help young students develop curiosity and wonder. Students will build foundations in math, science, art, reading, music, physical education, and innovation in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment.
WORSHIP BAND The worship band course is intended to help train up the next generation of musicians and worship leaders in the church and community. Students in this class will gain an understanding of the basics of worship leading, including song selection, audience engagement, and verbal communication. Teamwork skills will be emphasized. Prerequisite: Students must already know how to sing and/or play an instrument.
CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE Critical thinking is a buzzword among educators today, but the traditional model of education does very little to help students develop this valuable skill. In this course, students will be asked to analyze, evaluate, and present ideas using the Socratic method. For each class, students will need to read, interpret, and apply lessons and values from classical literature that will help them learn practical assessment and critical thinking skills.
CONSUMER MATH From cooking to household finances, the consumer math class is designed to help students discover the practicality of math in everyday life. Learn how to create a budget and use math skills to manage a household or a business.
STREET BEATS PERCUSSION CLINIC Develop a sense of rhythm, learn to read music, and learn to play in a team-based environment with this exciting, dynamic drum clinic. Students will need a 5 gallon paint bucket and a pair of drum sticks for each class.
INTRO TO SEWING In this introductory sewing class, students will learn sewing basics from basic mending skills to making simple purses and clothing. No experience necessary.
CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH In this beginning Spanish class, students will learn foundational skills in conversational Spanish. Though some simple written work will be utilized to help solidify concepts, the focus of the class is on speaking and understanding the spoken language.
LEGO ENGINEERING Ready, set, build! The sound of LEGO bricks is the sound of innovation and creativity in motion! LEGO Engineering is designed to help students think visually about conceptual art and design, providing a fun, encouraging atmosphere for guided construction. In this semester’s class, students will focus on vessels of transportation and historical/Bible-based diorama displays.
INTRO TO THEATRE Develop team-building skills and confidence in presenting with this fun, interactive course. Students will learn basic theater techniques through theater games, in-class skits, and improvisational workshops.
DISCOVERING THE RAINFOREST Learn about the habits and habitats of rainforest animals in a fun, hands-on environment geared toward young learners.
MATH LAB / TUTORING The math tutorial session is an opportunity for students to bring in current work or challenging assignments in their homeschool math course to get additional support. Students will work in groups to demonstrate mastery and will also receive one-to-one tutoring assistance.
LIVING HISTORY Maybe you've heard the saying,"Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." This course centers on discussion and application of historical events that have shaped the course of human history. Students will leave feeling inspired to play a culture-shaping role in the choices we make today as citizens of a democratic culture, knowing that those ideas will have consequences for generations to come.
CORE SCIENCE LAB / TUTORING: This course is designed to support a student's existing homeschool core science curriculum. Students will discuss common challenges and questions in their science curricula, and mentors will tutor students in their individual course work to help them discover the wonder of the world of science.
NOVEL IN A YEAR Write your first book! The One Year Adventure Novel course will help 5th to 10th grade students understand and apply basic elements of storytelling in the creation of a rough draft of a unique adventure novel in one school year (two semesters). Writing, editing, reading, and rereading of drafts will assist in the fine-tuning of the student’s grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and organization. At the end of the year, students have the option of publishing their original novel. Required Text: The Compass by Daniel Schwabauer (available from the publisher at clearwaterpress.com).
INTRO TO SPEECH AND DEBATE Learn the art of public speaking, persuasive communication, and memorization skills in Intro to Speech and Debate. Students will study and memorize portions of historic speeches and Bible passages, learn to organize their thoughts for speech writing, and practice delivering speeches in both small and large groups. Students will also learn how to defend and oppose talking points in lively debates, learning the manner and form of formal debate etiquette.
SCIENCE LAB / EXPERIMENTS The Science Experiments class is designed to support your existing homeschool science curriculum by providing a classroom experience that highlights the wonder of analyzing, hypothesizing, and utilizing the scientific method. Students will participate in lab experiments that instill the excitement of discovery.
CLASSICAL RICHES: LITERATURE AND ARTISTS (Part 1 of a Year-long Course) Classical Riches is a beautifully curated course designed to bring elements of a Renaissance education into today’s homeschooled child’s world. This course will focus on developing your child’s taste for academic richness in the following five categories: (1) Introduction to classical art pieces by such artists as Rembrandt, Van Eyck, and Botticelli, including the history of the artist, context for the painting, and the opportunity to replicate each work of art, (2) Development of beautiful italic penmanship using the Getty-Dubay method, (3) Exposure to classical music pieces by the likes of famous composer George Frideric Handel and others. Students will be prompted to create a mental scene to help identify and connect with each composition, (4) Read-alouds of character-building classical stories from The Children’s Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett (oral narrations will follow each reading to increase comprehension and develop articulation) and (5) Rehearsal of etiquette and manners learned through social skill activities and story-based scenarios. Join us as we embark on a truly rich and classical education that is sure to set your child apart for a lifetime!
WORD PROBLEMS AND MATH GAMES Learn math skills in a dynamic, competitive environment! Students will apply practical math to word problems and real-life mathematical computations that will help students see the everyday value of being a math mind.
HOLY HANDICRAFTS Holy Handicrafts provides a creative and spiritually stimulating space in which your child can practice new skills and relish in the work of their hands! Each handicraft will provide a natural segue into a teacher-facilitated discussion surrounding the topics of rest and creativity. With plenty of hands-on creating time, students will delight in learning such skills as candle-making, pottery, rock-painting and more!
PHYSICAL FITNESS This class will get your child's heart pumping with dynamic sports and game activities. The main goal is to get your child to exercise and to teach them the proper attitudes through competition and winning or losing. Spiritual principles will also be taught as a means of linking activity with learning.
VOCAL ENSEMBLE / CHOIR The K-12 youth choir is designed to teach students how to sing comfortably in a group setting and learn to work together with a wide variety of ages and abilities. Musical selections include modern, pop, spirituals, hymns, and other genres. Students may audition for solo or duet pieces as well. At the end of the semester, students will be invited to demonstrate their work, including a performance at the Semester Showcase.
INTRO TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP Calling all future marketplace influencers! The Intro to Entrepreneurship course is designed to inspire future business leaders to dream big! Students will learn how to design a product, write a basic business plan, analyze financial need, and market to their demographic.
FUTURE FOODIES This course is designed with two purposes in mind. First, given the propensity in Western culture for unhealthy eating and a general lack of education about health, nutrition, and personal responsibility, this course purposes to help students discover the most nutrient-rich foods for their particular body types and lifestyles. Second, the course is designed to help students build on that knowledge with creative ideas that they can take home to their own kitchens. Students will need a notebook and a two-pocket folder for storing recipes as well as small amounts of various foods to class for cooking. The final weeks of class, students will write and create their own unique recipes for a junior chef cook-off competition.
CORE SCIENCE LAB / TUTORING Like our other core tutoring classes, this science course is designed to support a student's existing homeschool core science curriculum in biology. Students will discuss common challenges and questions in their science curricula, and mentors will tutor students in their individual course work to help them discover the wonder of the world of science and help them feel adept at understanding concepts outlined in their textbooks.
CHAPEL: INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLES A mini version of CVCU’s Socratic chapel, this course is an interactive Bible-study discussion centering on the archeology, historicity, language, application, and cultural context of the book of selected Epistles. Students will need to read chapters every week prior to attending class. Includes a student-led worship segment. Parents welcome!
CORE WRITING LAB In this hands-on lab course, young writers will learn proper written communication skills, including sentence and paragraph structure as well as vocabulary development. More advanced writers will have the opportunity to practice writing like the masters, reading passages from classical literature and using emulation to improve syntax, vocabulary, and research skills.