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.

 

Social Justice

Categories

History, Reading, Writing

Age Range

Age 13, Age 14, Age 15+

Duration

16 weeks
Start Date Stop Date Day(s) of Week Class Time
January 5, 2017 May 4, 2017 Thursday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

We’re delighted to found the first Homeschool chapter of the Technology Student Association in Florida! As a group, students will explore different technologies as they choose the field in which they would like to compete. Learn more about the TSA and potential projects at their website here!

Technology Student Association

Duration

16 weeks

Materials Fee

$50

Curriculum

Material fee is notional and will be determined based on the selected project.

Start Date Stop Date Day(s) of Week Class Time
No Classes Are Currently Scheduled

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!

 

Model United Nations

Age Range

Age 12, Age 13, Age 14, Age 15+

Duration

16 weeks

Curriculum

A small materials fee may be required depending on student project scenarios.

Start Date Stop Date Day(s) of Week Class Time
January 5, 2017 May 4, 2017 Thursday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

We are so excited to get started with Odyssey of the Mind again this year!

OM is a creative problem solving competition. The students choose from 5 long-term problems, and prepare their solution in advance, which they must present through a skit or similar performance. Additionally, teams compete together in a spontaneous problem solving challenge that is not announced beforehand. OM teams display out of this world creativity, pun perfection, and spendiferous crafting, costuming, and construction skills! Humor and outright hilarity are encouraged throughout the OM organization, from silly chants and rhymes to mirthful millenery.

IfSpace plans to host 5 Odyssey of the Mind teams this year. Students are sorted by age, with a maximum of 7 and a minimum of 5 students per team. One of our 5 teams will perform in the Primary division, which is non-competitive, expo-only. The other 5 teams will choose from the list of 5 long-terms problems after we have sorted our 2017 participants by age and schedule availability. The oldest participant on each team determines the level at which the whole team competes, so it’s important to try to keep the teams similar in age! Our 2016 teams scored very well at the Space Coast competition, and our Division III team advanced to state competition at UCF!

If you register for OM, please select the time that is most ideal for you, and include any additional information regarding your schedule preferences in the comments or send me an email at odyssey@ifspace.org.

More About Odyssey of the Mind Here

Read the 2017 Problem Synopses Here

Odyssey of the Mind

Duration

24 weeks

Materials Fee

$20
Start Date Stop Date Day(s) of Week Class Time
August 24, 2016 February 22, 2017 Wednesday 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
A Team – Ages TBD
August 24, 2016 February 22, 2017 Wednesday 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
B Team – Ages 5-7
August 25, 2016 February 23, 2017 Thursday 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
C Team – Ages TBD
August 25, 2016 February 23, 2017 Thursday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
D Team – Ages TBD

Written and spoken Japanese for absolute beginners! Students will learn spoken and written Japanese (Hirugana) and Japanese culture. Class is organized into a series of monthly themes focused on different areas of life in Japan, and will include games, cooking activities, and lots of traditional writing, speaking, and grammar.

Interest in Japanese classes has been very high. We will be adding an additional class for younger students on Wednesday mornings, and would happily consider adding a second culture/study hour of class if there is enough interest!

The required textbook for this class is Genki : An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese I, Second Edition. You can find it on Amazon here. Please do not rent this textbook! If you decide to continue with Japanese in the second semester, you will need this book again!

The recommended workbook for this class is Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese I, Workbook, Second Edition. You can find it on Amazon here. This workbook is not absolutely required, but having access to additional practice will help build confidence and encourage greater fluency, which is important in learning to love a language. We strongly suggest making this investment!

 

 

Japanese II

Duration

16 weeks

Curriculum

Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese I (Textbook) (Required)
Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese I (Workbook) (Recommended)

Start Date Stop Date Day(s) of Week Class Time
January 6, 2017 May 5, 2017 Friday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM