Summer sure flew by and September started year two with new friends and fun. We welcomed five new families this year for a total of eleven families and twenty-nine kids ages 18 months-15 years old. Of course, our littlest kiddos mostly nap and play, but everyone else enjoys hands-on learning together.
Opening time finds the kids gathered around to hear a story with a character lesson and open in prayer. Then the kids break up into two groups for science, writing, history, music, and gym. The little’s also get art on Fridays, while the older students get art on Tuesday afternoons.
Last year we had small business owners come in and talk to our older kids about running their business and what it’s like to be your own boss. As we got to know the kids last year, it became clear that we had quite a few that were entrepreneurial-minded so we had some small business owners come in and talk to the kids. The older students enjoyed learning from a jeweler, a videographer, owner-operators of two semi trucks, an auto mechanic, an engineer, and an IT specialist, and it encouraged a few of them to begin businesses of their own. It became clear that our kids were more likely to jump into career and tech industries instead of attending college.
As a result, this year we added a Tuesday class that allows our older students to deep-dive into a career and tech industry as well as enjoy longer presentations and demonstrations from more local small business owners. They are also participating in weekly art lessons from a local professional artist in the afternoon. We began the year learning about building trades and carpentry. Our students prepared to build 3 raised beds which will be used in the spring as a final science project.
Speaking of science, this year all our students are studying botany. We were blessed to apply for and receive a grant from Cornell University’s Ag in the Classroom. The grant is funding a year-long vermicomposting project that will have the kids tending worm composting bins this winter and culminating with growing spring vegetables in garden beds as an experiment to see which soil, ordinary garden soil or ordinary garden soil amended with worm compost, produces the best vegetables.
September brought lots of learning fun. In science, the students have already learned about how botanists use observation skills and their 5 senses, plant classification, built jello and fruit model cells, and extracted strawberry DNA.
History brought lessons about American history as the students began working through the Hillsdale College Land of Hope eCourse and discussing the upcoming election.
Gym brought group games to get the wiggles out which included Tug of War, Everybody’s It, Jump Rope, Calisthenics drills, strength training exercises, Rope’s on Fire, Sharks and Minnows, and more.
Music found the kids doing rhythm and tonal activities, using their voice to sing in harmony, body percussion activities, and singing both God Bless America and an Owl City Melody
Writing activities for the older students included using their five senses to describing an object and identifying a character’s values. They began memorizing the poem “Hope” by Emily Dickinson and writing a story.
The littles explored lines in art and did some spaghetti printing and paper-tearing designs while the older kids were anticipating their art class to begin in October.
September proved to be a great month for learning both academically and entrepreneurially. We also participated in Livonia’s Autumn in the Village. We had an informational booth set up offering cookies for donations, and three of our families set up tables with their art and jewelry for sale.
We’re happy to begin this brand new school year and are excited to see what this year brings for our kids. We’ve had a great start!
You can view all the pictures in the September album here.