Chrysalis School – Course Catalog – 7-8

Curriculum

We teach on a K-12 continuum, meaning that every student is allowed to follow a developmentally appropriate, personalized program with access to curricula at any grade level. We build our curriculum around the developmental age and stage of the individual child, not those of their peers or traditional external standards. We recognize that every child is ready for academic tasks at different times and develop their personalized program around that understanding. By allowing students to access the appropriate curricula for their ability level at the right time we can assure their success and confidence in these areas. Throughout the year we also include field trip experiences, guest speakers and special projects to support classroom learning activities.

Hands-On Learning

Hands-on learning offers children ways to learn content and skills in ways that traditional nose-to-textbook methods can’t offer. When learning is connected to real world situations it becomes relevant to students’ lives and provides the foundation for deeper, more joyful learning, and better retention. Aside from building critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, project-based learning also encourages independence, collaboration, communication, goal-setting, and creativity. Our students take up a myriad of projects each year at all ages and grades, ranging from quilting to understand the pioneer experience to cooking to better understand fractions to participating in a crime to learn about forensic science. By engaging themselves in every detail of a project, students learn lessons they’ll never forget. It’s not only fun…it’s learning at its finest!

Interdisciplinary Learning

Interdisciplinary learning is the use of more than one discipline to examine a theme, topic, or question (for example, mixing Social Studies with Art or Drama with English). It makes facts both meaningful and memorable, mutually reinforces both subjects, and provides deeper understanding of the subject matter. It also allows students multiple ways to take in information, make sense of it, and express what they learn. Our flexible nature allows us to take advantage of interdisciplinary opportunities every chance we get! South Campus students often engage in cross-subject thematic units. Their language arts, social studies, drama, and humanities classes are often tied into the theme.

Celebrating Learning

Chrysalis students develop an amazing level of expertise and ability that we can highlight in quarterly community celebrations. It is the ultimate demonstration of our commitment to hands-on learning, the arts, and interdisciplinary methods. During these celebrations students share what they’ve learned with their families and friends and we host community potlucks to celebrate their achievements.

Commitment to the Arts

Arts integration in schools is shown to boost academic achievement and promote creativity, self-confidence, and community. Studies show that when content is emphasized through art it becomes part of the student’s experience, which allows them to gain deeper understanding and better retention. It also leads them to practice higher analytical thinking and reasoning, and allows students of all ability levels and learning styles to engage the subject. Students who choose to may participate in art, humanities, music, and drama classes.

Course Offerings

The following courses are offered at South Campus.

Arts

Art:

• This art class teaches techniques and elements of art and design. Creativity is encouraged through a broad range of projects that allows students to practice a variety of skills.

Drama:

• Students will practice their communication skills, express themselves creatively, and collaborate with their peers. They will use drama, improvisation, music, dance and art to enhance their learning. Performance opportunities happen throughout the year.

Music:

• This class’s focus will be on various forms of music. The instructor will plan and choose activities based on the experience and interests of the student(s).

Cooking:

• This course specifically focuses on techniques of food preparation, nutrition, planning, shopping, and safety guidelines in addition to cooking food.

Computer

Computer Applications:

• In this class students will develop a basic knowledge of current applications of productivity and creative software. Use of e-mail, cloud storage, and home access to the Internet is required.

Introduction to Programming & Logic

• Students will learn basic programming concepts such as: Variables, operators, control flow, iteration and Boolean logic. Students will be introduced to programming languages including but not limited to JavaScript, C#,Python and Ruby.

Photoshop:

• The students will learn the principles of design and apply them to create a variety of projects using Photoshop.

Humanities

Geography:

• This course will focus on cultures, map skills, climate and vegetation of various regions.

Humanities:

• This group course will combine social studies and the arts. There will be a strong focus towards drawing, painting and design skills and creative outcomes in general. A variety of resources will be used to encourage self expression, analysis, critical thinking, communication and cooperation.

Language Arts & Social Studies: Primary

• This class is for emerging readers and writers. It will focus on developing sound literacy skills including reading, writing, oral communication and handwriting. The students will expand their knowledge of letter formation, sound awareness and sight-word associations.

Language Arts & Social Studies: Middle School

• Students will focus on increasing their skills in reading, writing, spelling and vocabulary. Geography, cultural studies, map reading and history will be addressed through research and reading both nonfiction and fiction. Students will participate in presentations and in class assignments. Middle school students may have assignments out of class in addition to their classroom work.

Language Arts:

• This course may include grammar, spelling, writing, and reading of fiction and nonfiction texts.

Social Studies:

• This course may include geography, cultural studies and history through research and reading both nonfiction and fiction.

Math

Math:

• In this one on one course students follow a traditional math skills sequence with an emphasis on mastery, understanding, and problem solving. We use a variety of resources including textbooks, teacher made materials, online subscriptions and hands on materials. Each course is individually designed for each student with most work being completed at school.

PE

PE:

• The goals of this course are to be healthy, to learn to play well with others, to acquire skills and rules for many activities and sports, to enable them to learn more effectively in class, and to ensure that they enjoy the experience so they choose to be active more often. Our students are scheduled for PE each day and includes a range of teacher directed activities. Our students also have “recess” each day where they can choose their activities.

Science

General Sciences:

• In this course the students will use a variety of resources to explore and research topics in physical science, earth science and life science . Students will work on problem solving skills through hands-on science experiments, formal observation, collection of data, and logic.

Study Skills

Study Session:

• This group session provides an opportunity for students to further develop their independent skills by completing their assignments with a teacher. A teacher is assigned to direct and aid the students during this time. Additional experiential activities are also available for students to explore.

Study Skills:

• In this individual course students will learn how to complete assigned work independently. During this period the teacher will assess the student’s skills by observation and address needs in this area. Skills include managing time, beginning and completing assignments and organizing thoughts and ideas.

World Languages