The Intermediate program consists of 3 hours of classroom instruction per week, with a complete syllabus and schedule provided for 4 additional days of study at home. Intermediate students will continue with literature and poetry study based in Socratic discussion, both persuasive and creative writing, and math concepts explored through challenging, real-world applications. Our history studies will be focused on Ancient Times, and we will join the Elementary students in creating an immersive Living History museum at IfSpace each semester. We will continue our study of the sciences with an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach that prepares the student for high school science.

Planned curriculum includes (but is not limited to) the final volume of Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, Teaching the Classics, IEW Ancient History-Based Writing, History Odyssey: Ancients, History of the Ancient World, and team explorations through Mathalicious. A complete list of curricula, history and science spines, and living books and supplies will be supplied to families upon registration.

At IfSpace we welcome discussion and differences of opinion. We are excited to offer a class in Social Justice this year, where we will explore three political ‘hot topics’ using current events and news in addition to primary sources. Classroom activities include historical simulations, mock trials and elections, and hopefully some knowledgeable guest speakers. Our investigations will be guided by the Choices series from Brown University where applicable. The planned topics for this school year are Racism and Civil Rights, Global Poverty and Human Rights, and Immigration.
While our personal backgrounds will always inevitable inform our opinions as teachers, the goal in this class is to allow students to form their own informed opinions that hold up to debate within the classroom environment. We will not be promoting a particular political party or worldview – just working to raise aware citizens.

Students hone their research, argument, presentation and persuasive skills as they represent the international community of the United Nations in various crisis scenarios. We will learn parliamentary procedure, how to draft resolutions, and the art of the caucus as our students how to represent a given point of view and negotiate resolutions that meet the needs of their country. After initial scenarios are introduced, the bulk of position research will need to be completed at home, as class time is reserved for caucus and debate!

Highly interested students are invited to travel with us to the Model UN conferences in early 2017 – more information coming soon!

Our High School core program seeks to prepare students for rigorous study in college through the same hands-on, discussion-based explorations used throughout the IfSpace curriculum. High School students meet twice per week for 2 hours each, and will study European literature including Shakespeare, Austen and Dickens, SAT writing and vocabulary, and American History. Our science focus this year is on Biology, and students will be offered differentiated instruction in mathematics, with a choice between supported home study or group instruction in Algebra II with trig.

Curriculum for High School includes The American Pageant, Math Without Borders Algebra II or Saxon 7/8 for home instruction support, and Campbell’s Biology. Students who keep up with assignments and approach IfSpace classes with academic rigor should expect to be prepared for the US History and Biology CLEP exams. A complete list of curricula, history and science spines, and living books, study guides and supplies will be supplied to families upon registration.

This class explores a variety of countries and cultures from all over the world. We will have some cooking projects and hands-on activities to teach students about how others within our community and our world celebrate their favorite traditions and holidays.