Ages: Matured 3rd graders to 6th graders
This is a hands-on interest-led project-based class.
The goal of this class is to encourage topic exploration and provide space for the learner to discover their particular interests. The activities each child chooses to do will help them (and their parents) discover what their interests are and what they are drawn to. Children will learn that they can use their interests and skills to learn about any topic.
Every week we highlight a different topic and provide “rabbit trails” (activities, readings, crafts, etc. suggestions). Then each child chooses which rabbit trail to pursue and work on it throughout the week. On Thursdays children will share with the class where their interest journey took them the past week. Then we’ll discover new “rabbit trails” together again and repeat the cycle.
In addition, we’ll highlight a new book every month. We’ll introduce the book at the beginning of the month and will do the debriefing (what we learned from it) on the last Thursday of the month. We will not read the book during class. Instead, we highly encourage families to read the book together and discuss it among themselves. Family book reading and discussion encourages family bonding ☺️
Student expectations: Children should be able to read, write, listen and follow instructions, and have classroom manners (able to stay seated, keep hands to themselves, indoor voice, etc.). Children should be able to do their work throughout the week.
Parent expectations: Parents should encourage their learner to explore the topics presented on Thursday, give them some guidance, suggestions, and help them get unstuck. The parents should NOT do the activity/craft/writing for their children. The learners should do the work themselves (at least 95% of it), so they can enjoy the satisfaction of being able to complete something.
**It’s perfectly ok for the child to try something and in the middle of it they lose interest or it becomes too hard. The parent might encourage, give a couple of suggestions, or help with one thing that the child absolutely couldn’t do on her own, but if the child is still not interested, they can drop that activity and try something else. All this is part of discovering what they are capable of doing. Switching activities is not giving up, they are just trying different things and the goal is for them to LOVE learning
| Week | Date | Description |
| Week 1 | Jan. 25 | Class Intro and decorate your binder |
| Week 2 | Feb. 1 | February Book Club: Little Britches
Service Project |
| Week 3 | Feb. 8 | Leadership Excellence: Foreign Language |
| Week 4 | Feb. 15 | Outstanding Citizenship: Local Government |
| Week 5 | Feb. 22 | Present progress, and binder update |
| Week 6 | Feb. 29 | Book debrief and Family Reset |
| — | Mar. 7 | March Book Club: The Little Prince
SPRING BREAK |
| — | Mar. 14 | SPRING BREAK |
| Week 7 | Mar. 21 | Lamp of Learning: Science |
| Week 8 | Mar. 28 | Outstanding Citizen: State History |
| Week 9 | Apr. 4 | Book debrief
April Book club: The Rescuers Service Project |
| Week 10 | Apr. 11 | Leadership Excellence: Current Events |
| Week 11 | Apr. 18 | Outstanding Citizen: State government |
| Week 12 | Apr. 25 | Final Presentation and End-of-Class celebration |
For additional information https://tjed.org/product/yss/
