SAIL: Students Accelerated in Learning

Course Descriptions: Grades 5-8

The following SAIL courses are for students who have completed fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth grade. Courses will be limited to 20 students.

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Note: Please check back frequently to view new courses
as they are added to the curriculum.

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Regents, Rogues, and Rebels: Recreating the Renaissance

Karin Sconzert
Lentz Hall 229

What do Bloody Mary, Leonardo daVinci, and Martin Luther have in common? Why did Henry VIII have six wives? How did Romeo and Juliet meet such a tragic end? Students will recreate the world of the Renaissance through the art of Michelangelo and Botticelli, the plays of Shakespeare, the reign of Elizabeth I, and the terror of the Spanish Inquisition. Students will replicate art of the era, study important historical figures, untangle religious conflicts, and perform scenes from Shakespeare’s greatest works. On the final day, students will stage their own Renaissance Fair, with food, music and costumes of the era. This course requires an additional $25 materials fee.

Fairy Tale Inventions

Lisa Cinelli
Johnson Art Center 219

Students will explore the realm of fairy tales by hearing and discussing numerous tales and viewing examples of materials and techniques used to express mood and atmosphere in book illustrations. There will be much emphasis on visual story telling through the use of compositions, line, color and value.

The students will then have the opportunity to retell a traditional fairy tale or invent a new 21st century fairy tale through the creation of an accordion book. Accordion books are three-dimensional books created by folding, cutting and gluing together one large sheet of paper. It can be viewed from both sides, with windows and images expanding across one page to another. This non-traditional book format sets the stage to draw, paint and collage through words and pictures. The students will be guided through several sketch stages to work out sequential ideas and create character studies. By combining art and literacy, they will leave with stories and illustrations strong enough to stand on their own. This course requires an additional $25 materials fee.

Games from Around the World

Susan Blust
Lentz Hall 220

In every single country around the world, kids are playing games. Have you ever wondered if their games are similar to your games? Come join us to learn card, geography and word games for such distant lands as Ireland, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Japan, Vietnam, Egypt, Hungary, and many more. Learn songs and hear music from other countries.

You might get to learn games that your great-grandparents played. Take your knowledge home to have fun evenings teaching new games to your parents and friends. Parents and guests are invited to attend the last hour on Friday to participate.

Tai Chi and the Art of Living Well

Clausen Center 107

This course will introduce students to the ancient art of Tai Chi Chuan. Students will learn a series of physical and mental exercises that promote balance, sensitivity and peace. The course will also explore readings from Lao Tzu’s classic treatise, Tao Te Ching, and other commentaries on the value of stillness, patience, humility and flexibility in all aspects of life. Students will become familiar with the elementary movements of the traditional Yang style Tai Chi Chuan, and they will be encouraged to apply Tai Chi principles in everyday situations.

Learning Spanish While Having Fun: Graphic Novels in the Classroom

Sergio Salazar
Lentz Hall 227

Have you ever wondered how to get young students reading? This is a big dilemma when we see that it is through reading input that the learner gains understanding of the language. Students will explore the realm of graphic novels by engaging in reading interactions and discussing different excerpts from compelling comic books. Through pair and group work, students will discover the motivational power of graphic novels. This is a fun and educational way to learn Spanish. The class will culminate with students developing their own comic strip. Communication, enjoyment, learning, and teamwork are what you can find when working with graphic novels as a way of learning Spanish!