ELEMENTARY CLASSES
The following are a sample of our offerings for Summer 2020.
Elementary classes are for students entering grades TK - 5 in August.
2020 Class descriptions are also available in pdf
SUMMER 2020 PROGRAM
For our younger elementary students, we have full-morning classes so that students entering TK, K, Grade 1 and even Grade 2 can stay in one class all morning.
For our older elementary students, they will be able to select classes for each of three periods so they can build a program that most appeals to them!
NOTE: all classes will run subject to enrollment. If a class is cancelled due to lack of enrollment, you will be contacted. Instructors are not guaranteed and may be switched without notice.
>>FULL-MORNING PROGRAM 8:30am to 12:30pm<<
#010 AN ANIMAL A DAY
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) & Kindergarten
Join our summer safari as we travel through oceans, jungles, forests and farms to meet an animal a day. We will practice letters and sounds, counting and patterns, and learn about animal habitats as we circle the globe to find some animal friends. On the way we will explore reading, writing, math, science, social studies, cooking, sculpting, painting, puppets and music to learn fun facts about the animal world!
Elayne Borenstein
#020 STEAM ENHANCED PHONICS/MATH WORKSHOP
Transitional Kindergarten (TK), Kindergarten & Grade 1
Our STEAM workshop (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) provides a head start on essential early literacy and math skills to prepare your child for TK and Kindergarten, or as reinforcement for incoming 1st graders. Literacy and math skills are explored and strengthened through fun, engaging and hands-on activities that are adjusted for the learning needs of each child. Keep current with your child’s progress via their personalized Seesaw Digital Portfolio!
Veronica Juarez
#030 KINDERMASTERS
Kindergarten
Are you excited and ready for Kindergarten learning? Then this is the class for YOU! We will have fun with letters and sounds, review sight words and make fun projects, including kooky crafts and quicky, snicky snacks. Literacy-rich activities, phonemic awareness, reading, writing and social science activity centers will be part of our daily routine.
David Petrilyak
#040 READY FOR KINDER!
Kindergarten
Get ready for Kindergarten through song, play and dance! We’ll practice ABCs and 123s through hands-on, sensory experiences that are fun and engaging. This class also includes Second Step curriculum used to teach and reinforce the social-emotional strategies necessary to navigate skills such as feeling identification, empathy and solving peer conflict. Learn while having fun!
Danielle Royer
#050 EXPLORING ESPAÑOL!
Grades K-1
Join our class and immerse yourself in Spanish and Latin culture. Be a part of our exciting adventure while learning through a variety of activities including music, cooking, art, age-appropriate games and much more. We will explore, have fun and learn at the same time!
Elida Cavazos
#060 BOOK COOKS
Grades K-1
Book Cooks will whet the physical and mental appetites of young readers. We will spend three to four days diving into a new book, studying the story elements, focusing on vocabulary, and writing a response. We will then finish the book with a culminating cooking activity that aligns with the story. We will focus primarily on fiction titles, at a variety of reading levels, to engage all students as we feed our brains and our bellies!
Jamie Sharpe
#070 LEGENDS, CRAFTS AND STORIES
Grades K-1
From the Three Little Pigs to the Little Mermaid, Greek myths and beyond, we will explore the world of legends and familiar stories. Developing readers will have a blast while improving their literacy skills through art, imaginative play and exciting crafts. We will play age-appropriate games that promote confidence. Let’s learn and have fun at the same time!
Pat Proft
#080 SUMMER FUN CAMP
Grades 1-2
This class is for you! Incoming first and second graders will reinforce and maintain their academic and social skills. We will read, write, draw, sing, dance, create, build, play age-appropriate games and dig into foundational math concepts, all while having fun and meeting new friends. Play, explore and learn. Come join us!
Chrysta Powell
#090 PRIMARY OCEANOGRAPHY
Grades 1-2
This very popular class is back for another year! Taught by a team of three experienced primary teachers, this course is an in-depth study of sea life. You will have visits from real marine scientists in order to gather knowledge and have hands-on experiences with sea life. You will be encouraged to apply your knowledge of sea life in a variety of activities: sea life stories, sea life riddles, pop-up books and under-the-sea murals, just to name a few! Math and science will be integrated throughout the program. Teachers will adjust instruction to challenge and motivate the individual learning needs of all students. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Tiffany Estrada, Emma Fujiwara, and Rebecca Urias
>>PERIOD I | 8:30am-9:40am<<
#101 MAKER SPACE: STEAM THROUGH THE SUMMER!
Grades 2-3
Do you like to tinker? Do you like to invent and create new things? This is the class for you! You will be encouraged to create something unique that has never been seen before. For part of each week, you will have the freedom to explore your own interests and come up with projects you would like to create. For the remainder of each week, you will work with a partner or team to solve a variety of Scientific, Technological, Engineering, Artistic and Mathematical (STEAM) problems. We will cook, build, create and solve challenges using LEGO®, K’Nex®, computers and recycled materials. Join us for an action-packed, fun-filled experience and STEAM through the summer!
Lorie Alexander & Carl Avitia-Witt
#102 UN POCO DE TODO (A Little Bit of Everything)
Grades 2-3
If you are interested in expressing yourself in a new language, this class is for you! This bilingual experience will focus on the Spanish language through listening, speaking, singing, acting, painting, cooking, dancing, counting, as well as reading and writing. Instruction will be adjusted to challenge and motivate the individual learning needs of all students. Join us and learn to express yourself in a new way!
Graciela Barba-Castro
#103 BASKETBALL “FUN”DAMENTALS
Grades 2-3
Basketball is a great game that teaches collaborative skills that students take with them beyond the court. Children of all skill levels will be introduced to the fundamentals of the game through engaging, team-oriented drills and games. In this fast-paced class, emphasis will be placed on developing team-building skills, good sportsmanship and having fun!
Kenji Yamamoto
#104 FABLES AND FRIENDS – DRAMA AND WRITING
Grades 2-4
Each week students will be introduced to, and explore a variety of, classic tales from Aesop’s Fables, followed by imaginative play to determine their own personal spin on the story. Students will engage in highly artistic projects to accompany their story, such as a handmade book, a poster-sized story map and a theater box with puppets, to name a few. In addition, students will be given writing scaffolding to assist in creating their version of a particular tale, as well as an opportunity to present short skits to express their version of the classic tales.
Jennifer Mack
#105 STEM THROUGH LITERATURE
Grades 2-4
Join our class as we engage with stories through STEM activities. STEM incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics using various supplies and creative materials. Students will have the opportunity to read engaging stories and bring the characters and settings to life through building, creating and experimenting! Instruction will be adjusted to challenge and motivate the individual learning needs of all students.
Hannah Coughlin
#106 LET’S DANCE
Grades 2-5
Come dance with us! You will experience the power of creative dance while developing confidence, problem-solving, perseverance and collaboration. Dancers will choreograph and perform their creations. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. Come join us for summer fun and show your moves. Let’s dance!
Linda Brown
#107 BRICKS 4 KIDZ
Grades 2-5
Let’s build a Brick City! There are many types of engineering jobs and building is the most fun. What would a city be without the architects and engineers whose ideas and plans bring it all together? In this class, you will learn and build city-themed models using LEGO® bricks. The sky’s the limit when students are challenged to use their thinking, ideas and skills to build a skyscraper taller than their heads! Everyone will have a blast using custom-built cars to move people in their city around town – brick by brick. Join us and build self-confidence while having fun!
Bricks 4 Kidz
#108 STORIES THAT POP UP!
Grades 2-5
Express yourself with words and 3-D pop-ups! Awaken the creative writer and artist within you! Once you learn the basic steps for making pop-ups using all kinds of crafty materials, you can create your own designs. Use your imagination in new ways to illustrate and illuminate your stories. Write better paragraphs with captivating details that actually jump off the page. Have fun improving your essential writing skills. Our summer session will culminate with a WRITERS AND ARTISTS SHOWCASE for families to attend. Freedom of expression is your key to Stories That Pop Up!
Ila Sender
#109 AMAZING ART
Grades 2-5
Join this class to learn about the seven elements of art design: line, shape, texture, color, value, form and space. You will observe and discuss how famous and contemporary artists used these basic concepts of art design in their works. We will incorporate a variety of materials in our projects, including crayon, marker, paint, pastels, pipe cleaners and paper. You will express yourself and have fun while creating your own personal drawings, paintings, collages, weavings and sculptures. Be an artistic star ̶̶ join us and make Amazing Art!
Stephanie Neumann
#110 CULTURE CLUB
Grades 2-5
Let’s “travel” together and learn about a variety different people, places and cultures during our five-week summer journey. We will be world travelers as we unpack and explore Japan, Egypt, China, Italy and Brazil through customs, art, culture, music, folklore/mythology, language, geography, landmarks and sampling delicious cuisines. All aboard for a wonderful journey!
NOTE: Foods served are often non-gluten free and may contain animal products. Parents of children with severe allergies are cautioned.
Audra Radcliffe
#111 UNPLUGGED GAMES
Grades 2-5
We will have fun while gaining confidence in mathematics. Students will sharpen their number sense, build math proficiency and boost basic language skills while using dice, cards and a variety of board games requiring addition, subtraction, multiplication, as well as higher-level problem-solving skills. Games are a wonderful way to make friends and learn while having fun!
Christine Brewer
#112 PE FUN IN THE SUMMER
Grades 2-5
We will play and build skills through a variety of PE games that are demonstrated throughout the school year. All our favorite games are designed to build sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation, skills and FUN! We will play games from SPARK® PE, part of the current SMMUSD curriculum. New games and skills will be introduced as well. The importance of sportsmanship, daily aerobic activity, improving athleticism, warming up, staying hydrated, cooling down and maintaining a positive attitude will be emphasized.
Tony Murphy
#113 DIGITAL STORYTELLING
Grades 3-5
Are you creatively minded, tech-savvy, and looking for tons of fun? Join us and you can learn and master the art of storytelling using animation technology, storyboards and digital tools that bring your stories to life! Come work in collaborative, story interest groups and use the available technology to publish your work. Each student will receive a flash drive or CD containing his/her stories, creations and productions, to take home to share and enjoy. Are you ready to be a digital star?
Note: This class is for any child already tech-minded with some experience using technology.
Deborah Talbott
#114 EXPLORING WRITING WORKSHOP
Grades 3-5
Join us for the opportunity to experience a writing workshop every day. We will explore the genres of poetry, mystery, short stories, fantasy, picture books and novels. Students will be immersed in a different genre each week with a publishing goal as well. We will incorporate “just right” fun activities, including games, art, crafts, storytelling and community building.
Paula Flynn
#115 & #212 ACTING-DRAMA
**This is a two (2) period class**
Grades 3-5
Students will be provided with acting workbooks containing simple scripts, focusing on developing imagination, elocution and improvisation, as well as one- and two-act plays for memorization and performance. During our time together, students will develop stage presence, speaking and movement skills, and memorize lines and perform at least two short plays during our final week. Students will also design and create their own scenery backdrops for their plays.
Faron Isom
#116 & #215 VIDEO GAME NARRATION
**This is a two (2) period class**
Grades 3-5
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to create your own video game? Bring your ideas to life and jump into the exciting world of video games, as you assume the role of concept designer. Through narrative writing and the use of detailed storyboards to draw out characters, settings, tools and more, you will draft a proposal for a video game that includes a setting with detailed characters, a thrilling plot and overarching theme. We will explore the elements of video game coding online and create simple versions of the games through Java and Block Coding.
Stacy Spehn