Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 Day School
Due to the Pandemic, classes are currently meeting virtually via Zoom. Please contact the school for current Zoom class times.
Sprouts, ages 5 to 7
August 13, 2020 to May 7, 2021, 9am to 2pm
Currently meeting virtually via Zoom, please contact the school for Zoom class times.
$660 per semester or $165/month (plus $35 Non-Refundable Registration Fee and
$60 Non-Refundable Supply Fee per semester)
Children ages 5 to 7, will study a combination of Kindergarten and First Grade using a
Montessori base with a Lively Arts, mindfulness, and inclusivity influenced curriculum. We aim
to educate the whole child: their mind, body, and heart.
During their day the students will spend most of their time with their main teacher exploring
Circle Time, Literature, Poetry, Writing, Math, Spelling, Show and Tell, and Art. They will also
participate in Yoga with their main teacher and Gardening/Nature Studies class with our
Gardening instructor.
As part of their Language Arts lessons the teacher will read, explore, and enact stories with
them each week which will be based on Fairy Tales, current Holidays, or seasonal occasions.
Students will then create an artistic depiction of the story through drawing or painting.
During this time, students will also practice writing and spelling.
Math instruction will include a story component as well as focusing on learning about the
four processes of math — addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They will also be
introduced to Roman numerals. Math will be very hands-on and include multiple learning
techniques and activities.
Three to four snack times, and outdoor times, will be included in the day so that students have a natural balance of active play time and time to quietly focus. (PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE A NUT FREE FACILITY!) Part of our outdoor time will be free play, and the other part will be focused on nature studies in Gardening Class where students will be exposed to topics such as the four seasons, insect studies, nature crafts and more.
Seedlings, ages 7 to 9
August 13, 2020 to May 7, 2021, 9am to 2pm
Currently meeting virtually via Zoom, please contact the school for Zoom class times.
$660 per semester or $165/month (plus $35 Non-Refundable Registration Fee and
$60 Non-Refundable Supply Fee per semester)
Children ages 7 to 9, will study a combination of Second and Third grade using Lively Arts,
mindfulness, and inclusivity influenced curriculum. We aim to educate the whole child: their
mind, body, and heart.
During their day the students will spend most of their time with their main teacher exploring
Circle Time, Literature, Poetry, Writing, Math, Spelling, and Art. They will also
participate in Yoga and Gardening/Nature Studies classes with those teachers during the day.
During Circle Time the teacher will lead the students in one or two seasonal poems, one or
two seasonal songs, and movement games that touch on math and language arts skills.
As part of their Language Arts lessons the teacher will read, explore, and enact stories with
them each week which will be based on Animals, current Holidays, or seasonal occasions.
Students will then create an artistic depiction of the story through drawing or painting.
During this time, students will also practice writing and spelling.
Math instruction will include a story component as well as focussing on expanding their
understanding of the four processes of math — addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division. They will also explore Time and Money matters. Math will be hands-on and include
multiple learning techniques and activities.
Three to four snack times, and outdoor times, will be included in the day so that students have a natural balance of active play time and time to quietly focus. (PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE A NUT FREE FACILITY!) Part of our outdoor time will be free play, and the other part will be focused on nature studies in Gardening Class where students will be exposed to topics such as animals, flora and fauna, nature crafts and more.
Saplings, ages 9 to11
August 13, 2020 to May 7, 2021, 9am to 2pm
Currently meeting virtually via Zoom, please contact the school for Zoom class times.
$660 per semester or $165/month (plus $35 Non-Refundable Registration Fee and
$60 Non-Refundable Supply Fee per semester)
NAMAS-PLAY YOGA FOR KIDS: Through movement, mindfulness, music, and breath, we will
come together to cultivate a joyful calm; and set the stage for a day of learning and fun.
GARDENING & NATURE STUDIES: Nourishing with Nature is a hands-on gardening class that
will engage students in the education, planning, and executing of a garden.
BOOK CLUB FUN! (Literature and Writing Class): This is the book club everyone is reading to
get in! Students will read specific chapters at home and participate in discussions and activities
in class that are designed to help with self-expression, teamwork, analysis and creativity.
Together in class the students will explore the world of literature and learn critical thinking skills
as we delve into the text and learn how to actively discuss the plot line, characters, literary
devices, settings, and messages the books are conveying through their stories. They will also
focus on grammar, copy work, dictation, and different formatting styles and why the author
chose to use them. Once or twice a month the students will work on a writing assignment that
ties into the current book they are working on. This year our book list includes: Flora and Ulysses,
The Nerviest Girl in the World, Fish In A Tree, and Children of the Longhouse for our
Fall semester. Our Spring semester book list includes: Greenglass House, Pax, The People Could Fly, and Amal Unbound.
BIOLOGY FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY: From the cute animals to the "icky" ones... from "Why do my teeth fall out?" to "Why are my eyes blue?"... from healthy foods to who-eats-whom... biology is fascinating to young kids because it's everywhere around them. Using lots of hands-on activities and real-world motivations, we will cover high-interest topics in biology and the life sciences.
FINE ART: Students will take a tour through Art History as they learn about select styles and works of art. They will then experiment with similar techniques in a variety of mediums and materials - from painting to sculpting and from charcoal to chalk pastels - to create their own master works of art!
Three snack times, and outdoor times, will be included throughout the day so that students have a natural balance of active play time and time to quietly focus. (PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE A NUT FREE FACILITY!)
Red Maples, ages 11 to 14
August 13, 2020 to May 7, 2021, 9am to 2pm
Currently meeting virtually via Zoom, please contact the school for Zoom class times.
$660 per semester or $165/month (plus $35 Non-Refundable Registration Fee and
$60 Non-Refundable Supply Fee per semester)
NAMAS-PLAY YOGA FOR KIDS: Through movement, mindfulness, music, and breath, we will
come together to cultivate a joyful calm; and set the stage for a day of learning and fun.
BIOLOGY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL: This course is a full-year study of biology at a level
appropriate for 6th-8th graders. Through lectures, discussions, activities, and labs, we will
cover topics in cells, genetics, microorganisms, plants, animals, and ecology.
This class will utilize a textbook (Prentice Hall's "Life Science" for middle school) as a way to
introduce students to skills such as reading for content, understanding scientific charts and
graphs, note taking, summarizing, and finding answers in the text (students do not need to
come in with these skills; we will build on them as the year progresses).
**Students should expect to have homework each week in this class; the amount
and difficulty can be tuned by the parent to each child's grade and ability level.
GARDENING & NATURE STUDIES: Students will study a variety of plants, incests, vertebrates,
and invertebrates that are native to Florida. They will learn how our ecosystem works to support
all of the living beings that reside within it. They will be keeping a natural journal to help further
their studies and enhance their knowledge of the natural world around them. Students will also learn how certain plants can be
beneficial to aid in first aid, skin care, and health.
**Students should expect to have some homework in this class, ranging from nature walks and working in their nature journals to researching plants and experimenting with herbology.
GREEK MYTHOLOGY: This class will journey to Greece to discover the rich culture of the Greeks through geography, history, mythology and even a little Greek math. During the semester, each student will create their own book filled with the curriculum we use in class, maps, illustrations, poems and more! The class will utilize D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths as our guide for this course. Each student will receive a copy of this book along with a Main Lesson Book to create their very own curriculum book with.
**Students should expect to have homework each week, ranging from reading chapters in the Greek Myths book to creating pages in their Main Lesson Books.
FINE ART: Students will take a tour through Art History as they learn about select styles and works of art. They will then experiment with similar techniques in a variety of mediums and materials - from painting to sculpting and from charcoal to chalk pastels - to create their own master works of art!
Three snack times, and outdoor times, will be included throughout the day so that students have a natural balance of active play time and time to quietly focus. (PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE A NUT FREE FACILITY!)
High School, ages 14 to 18
August 13, 2020 to May 7, 2021, 9am to 2pm
Currently meeting virtually via Zoom, please contact the school for Zoom class times.
$750 per semester for the entire day OR $250 per single class per semester (plus $35 Non-Refundable Registration Fee and
$100 Non-Refundable Supply Fee for entire day program per semester)
SEPARATE NON-REFUNDABLE BIOLOGY SUPPLY FEE: $100 Regular Biology OR $250 Honors Biology - both are per semester)
**HOMEWORK IS REQUIRED IN ALL HIGH SCHOOL COURSES. ASSIGNMENTS AND CURRICULUM WILL BE PROVIDED BY INSPIRING MINDS DAY SCHOOL.**
BIOLOGY FOR HIGH SCHOOL: (Full year course. Counts as 1 credit Science with a lab
requirement.) This course is a full-year study of biology guided by Prentice Hall's "Biology"
textbook for high school. Through lecture and in-class discussion we will cover topics
including the nature of life, ecology, cells, genetics, evolution, microorganism and fungi,
plants, invertebrates, chordates, and the human body. Students will have required reading
and homework assignments to be done during the rest of the week in order to fully cover
the content of the class.
Students who wish to take this as an honors-level course can do so with
additional assignments.
ENGLISH WITH WRITING LAB: (Full year course. Counts as 1 credit English
requirement.) Taking a page from a traditional high school English course and mixing it up
with the details and interactive lessons homeschoolers have come to expect, this course
will cover a review of some grammar principles, vocabulary, literature, literary analysis and
writing. Students will be grounded in each of these important aspects, first focusing on
some basic grammar review and then incorporating vocabulary. This allows students to
see the relationship between words and their meaning and builds a strong foundation for
reading comprehension, literary analysis, and, of course writing. Seeing how grammar and
words play with and relate to each other helps students to dig deeper in their understanding of an author's meaning and in their ability to appreciate good writing. Writing will be studied using mentor texts and executed using the primary essays students are expected to write in high school and beyond. This course will give students an appreciation for the written word.
U.S. GOVERNMENT & ECONOMICS: ( Counts as two 1/2 credit courses. Both are required
courses.) In US Government (fall semester) students will study the foundation of the our
government, its institutions and political processes and their historical impact on American
society. Using a combination of reading, analyzing, critical thinking and hands on experience, the class will cover the functions and purpose of government, the function of the state, the constitutional framework, federalism, separation of powers, functions of the three branches of government at the local, state and national level, and the political decision-making process. In this election year, this class is more vital than ever!
In Economics (spring semester) class is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of the important relationships of economics to our social and political problems. The course emphasizes the philosophy, development, and operation of our American economic system and its important influence upon the individual and society. Through readings, analysis, and projects students will gain and understanding of the workings of the American economy and secure the knowledge necessary to enter the business world as an informed consumer.
FINE ART WITH ART HISTORY COMPONENT: (Full year course. Counts as 1 credit Fine Arts requirement or elective.) The goal for High School Fine Art students is to become more comfortable looking at and enjoying a variety of art, both old and new. To do this, we will study specific artists and their influences, and will experiment with a variety of art techniques. The artists we study will be modern to contemporary, but the art history component will involve studying their influences and predecessors. Students' particular artistic interests will guide the selections of some of the artists that we study as we delve deeper into their artistic creativity and development.
STUDY SKILLS & CRITICAL THINKING: (Full year course. Counts for 1 credit for an elective.) Studying and thinking critically are crucial skills at the high school and college level, but are rarely explicitly taught. This course will fill that gap, helping students learn, develop, and practice the skills they need to succeed in higher level academics. The course will be divided into two main parts. The first third of the year will be spent on study skills such as goal setting, time management, reading and listening critically, note taking, and test taking using the Victus Study Skills System curriculum. The rest of the year will use the Critical Thinking Company's Practical Critical Thinking curriculum to cover critical thinking concepts, language, arguments, fallacies, evidence, and more. Students will be encouraged to tie the lessons from this class into their work in other Inspiring Minds classes.
There will be a 20-30 minutes lunch period outside in our courtyard. (PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE A NUT FREE FACILITY!) There will also be time for students to relax and socialize in-between classes.
