Fall 2023 Classes
Please note: BHLC is not a drop-off program. All families will be required to remain on-site and complete a volunteer job, which typically involves assisting in a class.
For Fall Semester, BHLC will offer a ten-week session of in-person classes at a Lexington park on Mondays.
The dates for the 10-week in-person classes are as follows: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, and 11/13.
Registration begins Monday, 8/21 for members and Wednesday, 8/23 for new members.
A note on Covid-19 precautions
Two of BHLC's core values are inclusivity and compassion. As such, we strive to create an environment that meets the needs of our students and volunteer teachers. While the official public health emergency provisions surrounding COVID-19 have ended, COVID remains an ongoing health risk that impacts the participation of some families. For this reason, BHLC has decided to continue two-way masking in classes and at the sign-in pavilion. Unless otherwise indicated, masking will be optional at other times, including after classes, on the playground, at events, in clubs, and on field trips.
Registration information for Fall 2023
Registration for the Fall semester begins Monday, August 21st for current members and Wednesday, August 23rd for new members. The registration buttons will go live on those dates.
If you have questions about registration, classes, or payment, email us at hello@bluegrasshomeschool.com
In-person 10 Week Classes
These classes will occur at a Lexington park. The location will be shared with participants upon registration. Classes begin the week of September 11th, 2023.
Schedule:
10:00am-11:00am Class 1
11:15am-12:15pm Class 2
12:15pm-1:00pm LUNCH
1:00pm-2:30pm Free Play and Other Activities
*Our K-2nd grade class runs from 10:30am-12:00pm
Story Share | K-2nd | 10:30am-12:00pm {$35}
Taught by Jessie C. and Sarah F.
The K-2nd grade years are the perfect time to build an interest in books on various topics while connecting with new and old friends and trying out what it means to be a learner in a group environment. This semester this class range will take on a different format.
Beginning at 10:30 with a short circle time with Jessie Clark, we will start the day with a welcome, connect with each other, and learn a new Body Break Strategy. These will all come from “The Kids Guide To Staying Awesome and In Control: Simple Stuff To Help Children Regulate Their Emotions and Senses’ by Lauren Brukner. We will make this time short, fun, and engaging. Circle time will close out with our book of the day.
10:45-11:15 Book-related activity (art/stem/or creative play)
11:15 Snack time (Caregiver provided)
11:30-12:00 Group games or activity (gross motor). This time will be led by Sarah Flight.
Some of the books and activities we look forward to sharing include:
-The King of Tiny Things by Jeanne Willis, followed by making nature crowns and embarking on a creepy crawly expedition and identification journey
-Should I Share My Ice Cream? An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems, followed by ice cream making
-Not A Box by Antoinette Portis and Boxitects by Kim Smith, followed by box building and open Boxitect time
-Smelly Socks by Robert Munsch, followed by a Design Your Own Socks project
With this format, we hope to encourage more individuals in our community to pick a day to share a favorite book and activity. Jessie and Sarah will facilitate the circle time and transitions and provide hands-on help during activities. Please let us know if you want to share a story and activity. We can't wait to learn, play, and connect with you!
10:00am-11:00am
CLASS IS FULL 3rd-5th: Global Art Passport, Taught by Nora K. {$35}
Grab your passports because we are traveling the world… through art! From making an animation of the Niagara Falls in Canada to a collage of the Amazon Rainforest in South America, we will be learning about each destination while practicing basic art skills. We will be printmaking in Spain, making our own paper beads in Africa, and using oil pastels and watercolors to make a Chinese Dragon. Come join us on our trip around the world and bring home some amazing art!
6th-7th: Create! Art in 3 Dimensions, Taught by Amanda C. {$35}
Get creative this semester! We’ll be learning about—and making—many different types of 3D art. Plan to get messy, use lots of glue, and make art from clay, paper, cardboard, fabric, and beyond. With one or two exceptions, we should be creating a different project each week. There will be plenty of opportunity to use your imagination and let your personality shine through your art.
8th-12th: The Art of Biology, Taught by Hannah H. {$35}
Fundamentally, the study of biology is driven by wonder, imagination, and the willingness to challenge the status quo with new ideas.
Unfortunately, too many science education programs are so dry and/or overwhelming that they lead creative and unconventional kids to think they’re “not good at science.”
That ends here! This two-semester class will provide a thorough grounding in the material and background students need to go on to AP or college biology if they so choose, but Art of Biology students will leave the beaten path of rote learning and instead go on a journey of discovery as we explore the fascinating beauty of the world around us.
11:15am-12:15pm
CLASS IS FULL 3rd-5th: Amazing Arthropods, taught by Hannah H. {$35}
Do you prefer your critters crunchy? Or maybe you’re not such a fan of creepy crawlies. Whether you want to be in a hive of activity or stay a fly on the wall, you can join us to learn about the fascinating world of insects, spiders, crustaceans, and more! We’ll go on small-world safaris around the park, learn what features characterize different groups of organisms, conduct a bug orchestra, investigate the mechanics of flight, and even try building our own exoskeletons. It’s a (miniature) jungle out there, so let’s explore it!
6th-7th: Gameschool, taught by Celia T. {$35}
Ready to level up your fun while mastering life's skills? Join us for a unique learning opportunity with Gameschool, where laughter meets learning, and dice rolls pave the path to success! In this exciting class, we're not just playing board games – we're building brains, camaraderie, and a whole lot of unforgettable memories.
Together we'll explore the captivating realm of games, where each roll of the dice or flip of the cards brings forth a world of strategy, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving. So make your move and experience the joy of learning through play!
8th-12th: Costume and Theater Design, taught by Maria G. {$35}
In this class we will be doing a deep reading of the play ‘Ariadne’s Thread: The Adventures of Theseus and the Minotaur’ with the purpose of transforming the written script into visual storytelling. How do we indicate the lead characters? Is this a question for costume, prop, sound or set design? What is the purpose of this story? Is it possible to change the meaning or give greater depth to the story through design choice? Exploring these questions will be just the beginning of our quest with Theseus through mountains, forests, swamps, spreadsheets, mask making, and art as we bring this story to life.
Nanowrimo: {$35} Meets Online | Thursdays 9/28-11/30 (off 11/23)
3rd-6th 3pm-4pm | 7th-12th 4:15pm-5:15pm |Taught by Melissa R.
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, empowering approach to creative writing. The challenge: draft an entire novel in the month of November. For 30 wild, exciting, surprising days, you get to lock away your inner editor, let your imagination take over, and just create!
In this class, we will take on the challenge of writing a novel. Students will set their own writing goals for the month of November, choosing a word count goal that works for them. In September and October, we will meet to begin planning and prepping our novels. In November we will meet for word sprint challenges, support, and cheering each other on in our hard work (including some optional extra sessions as we near the finish line). We will end with our last session to celebrate our victory (whether or not we actually finish our novel- the trying is the important part)!
As your guide on this novel-writing journey, please note that I do not care about grammar, spelling, proper capitalization, or punctuation. You can worry about that stuff in January and February! For this semester, I am most interested in your ideas and your unique writing voice. What's the story you've always wanted to tell? Now's your chance, so join us for NANOWRIMO 2023!
