Afternoon Electives    Fall 2023

Homesteading is a hands-on and messy class, learning how to be more sustainable and resourceful on our farm and at home. We will be in the garden planting and harvesting, in the "kitchen" cooking, and around the table creating. Students will be introduced to "old-fashioned" techniques that will allow us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and hard work in the process.

​

Teacher: Kaitlyn Wargo

​

Cost: $360 per semester

Book Club invites students and families to read chapter books at home before we deepen connections on the farm. We bring the literary world to life through discussion, games, crafts, and food to foster a joy for and love of reading. We’ll read a mix of classic and contemporary living books emphasizing character development. Themes include nature, courage, friendship, history, animals, and exploring world cultures. Books will be read at home either by the student themselves or by a parent (kids do not need to read independently). At the end of each book, we will have a celebration in class!

​

Monday Teacher: Rena Frey

Tuesday Teacher: Jessica Manuel, PhD

​

Cost: $360 per semester

Lego Storytelling is a unique and creative experience that gives students the opportunity to create with LEGOs as they use their imagination to develop and create characters and storylines. Students will grow their language and comprehension through the process of story development and their creative and critical thinking skills as they work to create stories, scenes, objects, and creatures.  Weekly building challenges will give students the opportunity to work both independently and collaboratively as they all become "Master Builders".

​

Teacher: Kaitlyn Wargo

​

Cost: $360 per semester

Create beautiful works of art inspired by famous artists! In this class, students will learn about a diverse group of history’s most talented and famous artists. Each week will focus on a specific artist’s life, as well as that artist’s unique art forms, techniques, and styles. Students will get to work with a variety of mediums as they create their own masterpieces each week inspired by the artist they’ve just learned about.

​

Monday Teacher: Rena Frey

Thurday Teacher: Jessica Manuel, PhD

​

Cost: $360 per semester

Come learn about the history of our beautiful state! Through a variety of hands-on activities, engaging literature, and class discussions, students will learn about the diverse geography and the fascinating history of California. From Native Americans, to the Spanish exploration and colonization, to the Gold Rush and onto present day, we will explore how California has evolved into the state we call home. This class is designed for students in K-5th grade, so students in all grade levels are welcome. It is highly recommended for 4th graders, as it will meet all of the standards for 4th grade Social Studies (if taken both semesters). 

​

Teacher: Mindy Kinnier

​

Cost: $360 per semester

All animals all the time. With Coyote as our guide, we will travel the globe to all seven continents to explore the wonderful wildlife of the world. You might know that Coyote is a trickster, and he has some fun up his sleeve for our young explorers as they get to know what makes each creature special. We will also focus on animal habitats, giving your child repeated exposure to maps and geography. Students will learn to keep and care for their very own nature notebooks to develop the habits of attention, curiosity, and wonder.

​

Teacher: Jessica Manuel, PhD

​

Cost: $360 per semester

This class will teach kids mindfulness and how to live a healthy lifestyle through lessons involving yoga, breathing exercises, physical activity, nutrition and healthy habits. The benefits of such practices are empowered and confident kiddos with healthy coping mechanisms, a strong immune system, body awareness, natural stress relief and so much more!

​

Teacher: Alisha Petak, Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Yoga Therapist

​

Cost: $360 per semester

The garden is full of beautiful artistic inspiration. Join us as we work together in the garden, learn about different types of plants, and explore painting the beauty that surrounds us with watercolors. In this class, students will be introduced to the beginning basics of watercolor, exploring different techniques and methods of painting. They will work with a variety of plant life, including fruits and vegetables, herbs, and flowers. This class will be a beautiful blend of farm and art.

​

Teacher: Kristina Kardous

​

Cost: $360 per semester

In this class, students will have hands-on exposure to a wide range of farming practices.  Students will learn about seed starting, veggie growing, caring for animals (chickens and goats), vermiculture (worms!), composting, and will help harvest our pumpkins and plant our fall veggies!  As we expose kids to the wide variety of farming practices, our goal is to help kids catch a vision of working with nature’s design and rhythms as we cultivate soil, care for animals, and plant crops.  

​

Teacher: Nick Kinnier

​

Cost: $360 per semester

Students will gain understanding, empathy, and compassion for the world around them and go beyond typical community service projects. We’ll learn how to positively and respectfully impact the lives of people who need our help the most, be good stewards of land and wildlife, and understand how community heroes support our society. Students will learn that even through small acts and deeds, together, we can have a lasting and powerful impact on our community. All “projects” will be done at Gathered Oak during class with 1-2 optional field trip opportunities to serve as a group.

​

Teacher: Justine Jackson

​

Cost: $360 per semester

Reading is magic, and all a child needs to read is their imagination, BUT, what if we added a few more ingredients like science, technology, engineering, art, and music to the reading equation? Sparks fly, connections are made, and life-long learners are formed. This elective adds dimensions of understanding to some of the best childhood picture books. Our living book choices explore nature, fantasy, history, biography, poetry, and the imagination. Every class will feature a new book and a new world to discover and explore together.

​

Teacher: Jessica Manuel, PhD

​

Cost: $360 per semester

What makes a job “cool”? Passion, excitement, the people you work with? It’s all those things and more! This elective goes even deeper than well-known “dream jobs” to show students the many different types of skills and people it takes to make our world work! This class will build confidence through collaboration, oral presentation, and critical thinking skills. Students will also have the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship.

​

Teacher: Justine Jackson

​

Cost: $360 per semester