Special Skills and Lifestyle Courses
The Art of Baking
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Mon, Fri: 4:30PM-5:15PM EST
Prerequisites: None
Get out your mixing bowls and preheat your oven! This course is designed for anyone interested in learning how to bake anything from a basic chocolate chip cookie to an extravagant fruit tart. In the Art of Baking, students will learn a range of various baking techniques, including how to properly measure ingredients, whip cream, knead dough, and frost a cake to perfection. We will create several new recipes, and students will be able to suggest what they would like to learn how to make. With Carly Gelles, our baking instructor, you will be baking up a storm in no time. Get ready for some delicious treats!
Introduction to Baking
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Sat, Sun: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: Access to an oven, pans, stovetop, and basic cooking/baking cookware.
Get ready to make some yummy food! In this course, students will be able to learn the basics of baking and cooking required to become an expert in the kitchen. We will be learning different techniques and recipes that are derived from a range of cultures. We will make various baked goods yet still cover all of the classics of the baking world. The students will also be able to requests certain foods as well. The course will accommodate all dietary restrictions. Be ready to have fun and make good food!
Introduction to Chess
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 5-8, Wed: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
Chess is a wonderful game that teaches many different life skills. Themes such as problem solving and pattern recognition prominent in chess can be applied to academic subjects such as math and science. This course will cover the basic rules of chess such as how the pieces move, including special moves like castling and promotion. Additionally the course will introduce basic principles of chess such as piece value, piece development, and central control. No prior experience with chess is necessary.
Intermediate Chess
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 3-8, Mon: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: Knowledge of how to play chess (How the pieces move, basic rules)
Chess is a wonderful game that teaches many different life skills. Themes such as problem solving and pattern recognition prominent in chess can be applied to academic subjects such as math and science. This course will cover vital principles of chess such as tactics, piece development, central control, etc. Additionally, the class will look at elementary endgame positions and themes like king activity and the value of passed pawns. Finally, we will look at famous games (such as the Opera Game) to teach opening and middlegame principles with a focus on piece activity and king safety. The course is perfect for students who know the basics of chess and are interested in further developing strategy and skill.
Advanced Chess
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 4-8, Tues, Thurs: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: Please attempt as few or many of these linked puzzles as you’d like (more instructions on the comment on the site); these puzzles illustrate the difficulty of the class, so if you don’t feel confident in most of them, it may not be the best fit. Puzzles: https://lichess.org/study/s1HWSqMD
Chess is a wonderful game that teaches many different life skills. Themes such as problem solving and pattern recognition prominent in chess can be applied to academic subjects such as math and science. This course will cover more advanced concepts of chess such as common attacking and defending patterns, theoretical endgames, pawn structures, positional play, etc. To teach these themes we will look at many famous games played by chess greats such as Kasparov, Fischer, Tal, Botvinnik, and more. I will also present many puzzles and endgame studies throughout the course in order to train calculation.
Introduction to Crochet
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Thurs: 4PM-4:45PM EST
Prerequisites: A category 4 yarn and a 6 mm hook
Have you ever wanted to make yourself a mini stuffed toys or a scarf? In this course, students will learn the basics of how to crochet! Students will be able to enhance their creativity as well as developing a new passion in crochet. Students will learn about different stitches and fundamental stitches to apply to their own creations. By learning how to crochet, students will motivate themselves to craft stuffed animals and sweaters.
Intermediate Crochet
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Fri: 4PM-4:45PM EST
Prerequisites: Required to have taken Youth Passion Project Introduction to Crochet, as well as a category 4 yarn and a 6 mm hook
In this course, we will be looking into starting bigger projects and learning various abbreviations for each stitch. Students will also learn more advanced stitches and crochet techniques such as changing colors cleanly. This course will require students to know the basic crochet stitches: single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, chains, triple crochet, and a slip stitch. Students should also know how to make a magic ring and a slip knot.
Dungeons and Dragons
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Fri: 4PM-4:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
In this course we will learn the ins and outs of playing dungeons and dragons, a game all about critical thinking and role play. Students from grades 6-8 will work together to overcome challenges in a fantasy world.
Introduction to Fencing
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 5-8, Thurs: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
In this course, students will learn the basics of fencing, including rules, moves, and strategies. Sessions will consist of learning basic information about fencing mixed with practicing important physical exercises and movements. Additionally, we will explore the differences and history behind each of the 3 fencing swords: foil, epee, and saber. This information, along with online fencing resources to be provided, will allow students to figure out which sword interests them and further pursue fencing outside the class. No prior knowledge or materials are necessary, other than an open space.
Grammar/Writing Skills
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 2-6, Fri: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
Grammar/Writing is an engaging, enlightening course that has everything you need in order to enhance your grammar skills and writing techniques! This course is guaranteed to aid you in improving the quality of your essays, with helpful lessons, exercises, examples, etc.
Health and Fitness
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Fri, Sat: 7PM-7:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
Health and Fitness is a course that will assist students in improving their lifestyle by learning to balance their diets as well as staying fit. The lessons will cover varieties of different topics such as “The Best Ab Workout” as well as topics like “Good and Healthy Smoothie Recipes”. Every class will include one healthy recipe alongside a demonstration on how to make the recipe.
Introduction to Plant-Based Cooking
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Wed: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: Access to a stovetop, oven, pan/pot, and general cookware
"Plant-based" is way more than just lettuce on a plate. This course introduces the world of plant-based eating through a delicious handful of recipes. If you want to: learn different ways to swap out animal products and craft beautiful, satiating, and most importantly, tasty meals that will impress both you and your family, then this is the course for you. From creamy pastas to not-your-average tacos, join Olivia in your kitchen to cook up something new.
Introduction to Rubik's Cube Solving
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 3-6, Mon, Fri: 6PM-6:45PM EST
Section 2: Grades 3-6, Wed: 5PM-5:45PM EST, Sun: 6PM-6:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
This course provides students the knowledge on how to effectively solve a Rubik's cube in under 5 minutes! Furthermore, teaching it enlightens young students on the basics of the cube. This exciting and engaging class will allow for minds to grow and students to explore my own personnel passion.
Stand Up Comedy 101
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 5-8, Wed: 5PM-5:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
John Mulaney. Ali Wong. Hasan Minhaj. Don’t know who any of those people are? Doesn’t matter. Know every one of their jokes by heart? Awesome. Whether you know nothing about stand-up comedy or watch ten Netflix specials a night, this class is for you! Stand-up Comedy 101 will serve as an introduction to writing and performing stand-up comedy. We will learn how to find funny material, how to shape that material and how to perform that material. Students will create their own stand-up bits and receive feedback on how to improve. By the end, students will hopefully be able to make humorous observations and write their own bits.
Stress and Health
Instructors:
Section 1: Grades 6-8, Mon, Wed: 6PM-6:45PM EST
Prerequisites: None
If you are interested as to how stress can internally hurt your mental and physical health without you even realizing it, this class is perfect for you. In this session, we will dive into how to handle stress from outside forces and how they can inadvertently hurt one's health. By catching this behavior of stress early on and providing solutions, it will help students avoid overwhelming their minds and bodies as they grow older, while also managing their mental/physical capacity of their health. I hope that this course will allow students to mature and develop their minds so that as they transition into adolescence, they will be able to manage oncoming stress and anxiety, as well as their health.
