Curriculum Scope
SCIENCE:
Each semester we try to focus on one main science discipline to give our students time to really delve into the topic deeply. We have tried to make sure that we cover all the main science disciplines throughout our Five Year Sequence as well as all of the main topics within those disciplines. We have also attempted to pair life sciences with physical sciences each year with the hope that one or both of the sciences covered will be enjoyable to all the students. There are a few topics we've chosen to skip purposely, such as reproductive organs in anatomy and earth-age in geology, to give parents the ability to introduce these ideas in the way they see fit.
The plan is to do a Five Year Sequence. If your child stays in the coop from K through 8th grade, he/she will receive basic science information about each science discipline for five years. Then, he/she will begin to repeat those topics in more detail and at a higher cognitive level. No matter when your child enters the coop, he/she will study something new each semester and have the opportunity for comprehensive learning as he/she gets older.
Our five year sequence is:
Year 1: Chemistry- Astronomy/Aviation
Year 2: Physics 1- Botany
Year 3: Geology- Anatomy
Year 4: Hydrology/Meteorology- Zoology
Year 5: Physics 2- Technology/ Scientific Method
ART:
Art classes in our Coop are not as structured in sequence as our science curriculum. Instead they are largely based on interests of the art teachers. However, we strive to have one quarter of drawing as well as tactile art every year. In addition, the classes are to incorporate art vocabulary, art history as well as cultural diversity. Parents interested in teaching are welcome to put forth ideas for an art class as long as the class stays within the realms of visual, graphic or architectural arts (not performing or literary arts). We have paired performing arts and literary arts with visual arts in the past- stage design, poetry and abstract art, ballet and abstract art, music and painting. The following is a list of art classes that have been taught in the past:
- Drawing every year
- One tactile art every year
- weaving
- carving
- sculpture
- collage
- Lakota art, beadwork on leather
- pottery
- fabric dying and quilting
- paper mache
- Other Arts
- painting
- Impressionist study
- Pointillism study
- Hokusai study and Japanese arts
- abstract art
- Andy Goldsworthy and nature art
- mapping and drafting
- color palette