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Elementary Summer Programs 2009

Week 1A
June 15-19
Hit the Trails - introduction:
Join us for a week of trail riding on the Rails to Trails system around Traverse City. We'll ride between 8 and 20 miles a day. Adult support is available to accommodate a variety of ability levels - beginner to expert. Time is spent daily learning basic bike safety and maintenance. Parents are welcome to come along.
Steve Maas, instructor

Week 1B
June 15-19
Creative Writing:
This creative writing class follows the children's interests - stories, poetry, speeches - in a format that includes writing time, followed by a mix of one-on-one conferences with Catherine, peer "consults", mini-lessons, groups where students can share their work, and groups where they can share a book they're reading "from a writer's perspective".
Catherine Turnbull, instructor

Week 2A
June 22-June 26
Disc Sports:
Throwing and catching, Ultimate Frisbee, disc golf. Join us as we learn disc sports. Visits include two local disc golf courses as well as practice at school using our own baskets. Come have fun learning games that are fun and can be lifelong fitness activities!
Steve Maas, instructor

Week 2B
June 22-June 26
World of Color:
Discover the world of COLOR in Art! Learn about basic color theory through exploration in a variety of hands-on activities. We discuss how artists mix and use colors in their work while learning new techniques and experimenting in multiple forms of media. Join me in making beautiful and amazing works of art!
Alison Hoffman, instructor

Week 3
June 29-July 2
Masks and Simple Costumes:
Come join the fun! Bring a cardboard box and a paper bag to help create masks and costumes for you, a friend, or a whole group. Learn the history of culture and experience lots of hands-on gluing, pasting, painting, and bedazzling. Please wear work clothes and join the party.
Rachel Roberts, instructor

Week 4
July 6-10
Drum Camp:
Experience an interactive week-long workshop where you can learn to play drums and percussions, make an instrument, and learn performance techniques. Travel the world through rhymes, songs and story telling. The stories come alive with interactive music, costumes, and acting.
Dede Alderman, Rachel Roberts, instructors

Week 5A
July 13-17
Mountain Biking:
Trail rides move to more intermediate trails such as the Lake Ann Trail, Sand Lakes Quiet Area and the VASA Trail. Participants should be comfortable riding in the dirt and sand and on hilly, rough terrain. Parents are welcome to come along and ride with their children.
Steve Maas, instructor

Week 5B
July 13-17
Creative Problem Solving:
You are stranded on an island and you want to get home. There are many trees. You have a saw, some rope, 3 books, a bag of clothing, and enough food to last a week. What will you invent? Solve this problem and others like it over a week of brainstorming, critical thinking, expanding ideas and spontaneous games with your friends.
Rachel Roberts, instructor
Week 6
July 20-24
Kids with Keyboards:
Students are introduced to electronic music through hands-on techniques in synthesizers, computer-generated music, sequencing, and mastering. Students are encouraged to help write and play electronic music resulting in a published song on CD! Mike Kazmierski is an avid electronic music composer and sound creator (in his spare time, of course!).
Mike Kazmierski, instructor

Mother / Daughter backpacking trip to South Manitou Island
Leave your phones, computers, cars, and appointments behind and enjoy peaceful time away while learning basic backpacking skills in a spectacular wilderness setting. Instruction before you even leave town covers how to pack a backpack, what to include (and leave behind), what to eat, and how to keep dry, safe and warm. After arriving by ferry on the island, a base camp is set up complete with cooking, eating, and sleeping areas. Backcountry survival and Leave No Trace practices are demonstrated. Explore the wonders of South Manitou including hikes to the dunes, the giant cedars, historic farm, school house, and lighthouse. (Supply and gear lists are provided prior to the trip. Aunts, nieces, grandmothers, and friends are welcome.)

Instructor Ashley Christensen holds a BS from U of M in Natural Resources and the Environment, is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and has a Master's degree in Montessori Education. She is trained as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and has directed summer rock climbing and mountaineering camps for children in North Carolina. Ashley worked as a tour guide on South Manitou and a deck hand on the ferry. She currently teaches a primary class at West Hills Montessori School in Portland.

July 22 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.: Instruction and preparation of packs (at The Children's House)
July 23-25: Ferry to the island Thursday morning and return Saturday afternoon

Week 7
July 27-31
Digital Dynamos:
Students work with professional photographer and Photoshop master, Mike Kazmierski, and artistic photographer Reed Zitting to unravel all those complicated buttons on a digital camera. Learn the basic components of indoor and outdoor photography through daily photo assignments including manipulating and printing images. Each student should have a digital camera, minimum 3 mega-pixel. (Loaner cameras are available if needed.) ($15 material fee)
Mike Kazmierski, Reed Zitting, Rachel Roberts, instructors

Week 8 & 9 A
Aug 3-7 and Aug 10-14
Theater Workshop (for children who have finished 3rd - 6th grades):
Students participate in a variety of theater games and improvisations ending in a workshop presentation. Activities include machines, improvisations, scripted dialogs, and various games. No prior experience needed.
Reed Zitting, instructor

Week 8B
Aug 3-7
Yoga Camp:
Combine beginning yoga postures and activities with a week of cooking instruction to experience the benefits of lifelong healthy behaviors. Activities are offered in a variety of formats to keep the week interactive, instructional, and fun.
Kristina Weidenfeller, Keil Moshier, instructors

Week 9B
Aug 10-14
Out of the Garden and Into the Pan:
Spend a week enjoying, harvesting, and cooking with vegetables and herbs straight from the gardens of The Children's House. This class combines gardening with cooking to help children not only learn the art and science of growing food but also the importance of fresh food as a healthy alternative to packaged and fast foods. Children will work in the school production gardens, in the kitchen and learn basic food preparation skills. Bring your appetites!
Keil Moshier, Rachel Roberts, instructors

Week 10
Aug 17-21
Make It - Gift It Workshop
Create a variety of artistic gifts to take home and give to others. An assortment of materials and ideas are provided to guide the gift-making activities throughout the week. Get creative and discover a fun alternative to spending money.
Jodie Tasch, instructor

Week 11
Aug 24-28
Math on the Run - games for mind and body
85% of students are kinesthetic learners. Are you one? Join me for a week of fun and games indoors and out while we get ready for the new school year. Practicing math CAN be fun!
Steve Maas, instructor

Grasp at The Children's House 2009

What is GRASP?
The Grand Rapids Academic Summer Program is a reading and math program for grades K-8. The program seeks to help students retain skills learned during the past school year by providing review exercises.

What is its format?
Students work with learning packets consisting of 9 lessons. Each lesson reinforces or re-teaches the basic skills typically taught in most curricula at that grade level.

How does it work?
A student is enrolled for reading or mathematics in the grade level that he/she have just completed. The student then is issued the appropriate book and with the teacher’s guidance, completes 9 lessons over 9-weeks. Completed answer sheets are scored by the teacher and returned to the student with comments.

How was the GRASP curriculum chosen?
The development staff examined local, state, and national standards that are common to most schools. The MEAP standards were also used in writing curriculum for GRASP.

Why participate in GRASP at The Children’s House?
Jen Harris directs each class on-site and provides individualized instruction for each student. She prepares all materials and scores completed assignments during the 9-week session. Direct interaction with her ensures individualized attention and success for the student. Jen holds a Montessori primary teaching diploma and a Bachelor's Degree in English and art and has been teaching at The Children's House for seven years.

This page last updated on 5/14/2009.

The Children's House - An Independent Montessori School
5363 Long Lake Rd. | Traverse City, MI | 49684
(p) 231.929.9325 | (f) 231.929.9384 | email: learn@traversechildrenshouse.org