Science For Girls Returns

Hello Middle School Girls!

After a successful Fall session of Science For Girls up on the Peninsula, we thought we’d try it again this Spring.  The theme for this 8 week session will be Chemistry.  We will be introducing concepts and applying that knowledge towards the Provincial learning outcomes for grade 7 and 9 chemistry units.  Previous knowledge is not required; and also not penalized.  For those in the classes before, it is real academic content, but not in a rigid learning structure.  There will be many opportunities for hands-on activities and labs.

The proposed dates and times are Tuesday afternoons, 12:30-2 pm.  The dates: April 3, 10, 17, 24 and May 1, 8, 15, and 22.  The classes will be held in the Saanichton Bible Fellowship Church on Mount Newton X Road.

The cost is actually dependent upon the number of girls who attend. The more students, the less cost per student. For those with funding left, you can bill the classes to your school.  In the Fall, families paid a little over $100, I believe…just to give you an idea.

If you think you would be interested in this, please let me know as soon as possible so I know how many supplies to gather, and  I can confirm cost to those involved.  I will run the club with a minimum of five girls, and can handle up to 15.

This is an appropriate club for any girl around middle school age who is interested in science and wants to get together with other girls to learn more.  It is also appropriate for the student who needs to meet chemistry specific learning outcomes; or the older student (perhaps grade 10) who is struggling with science and would like a little refresher before they face the provincial exam.

And, if there is sufficient interest, I will consider classes for boys or mixed groups in the next school year.

For those in Western Communities, I am in discussion with some families about a mixed group to meet on Wednesday mornings, so please contact me if that interests you.

Today we studied the human vision chapter of the BC Science 8 book and then had some fun with some optical illusions.  The conclusion of the class was spent watching an online dissection of a cow’s eye.  Some of the girls were thinking it would be good to get one of their own.

Now, after a few months break, I hope to return to another session of Science For Girls.  Watch for updates and more details to come.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/cow_eye/step01.html

http://www.eyetricks.com/illusions.htm

Kratos International has facilitated a social studies unit study for four families with children in Grades 2-4 in the fall of 2011.  Based on the requests of the families involved, Kratos created a custom unit to fulfill learning outcomes in the BC curriculum for elementary social studies.  One request of the parents was that they wanted the topic of technologies of the past, present, and future be addressed.  To fulfill that outcome, I had the students research a different technology each week, allowing them to choose whether it would be past, present, or future.  Topics included housing, transportation, entertainment, clothing, and foods.  As the students reported the next week, it also gave them opportunities to improve their oral communication skills that they need for their Language Arts.

Another topic discussed were the symbols of Canada and some basic geography.  The grade 4 boys memorized the names of the provinces and territories.  Along with this went some basic mapping skills.  Each student was given a notebook that gave them activities relating to the topics discussed each day.  We were using the Donna Ward Canada, My Country text.  In the final weeks, this same text was used to discuss the basic governmental structure in Canada.  We end the session with a look at the cultural diversity in Canada.

For a final topic, it was requested that a Native Studies unit would also be taught, and once again Donna Ward came through with a guiding text, Canada’s Natives of Long Ago.  Each week a different group of aboriginal groups was studied alongside their geographical area in Canada.

In all, it seemed to be a well received class and it was a pleasure to break into this new genre of teaching for the company in such a wonderful way.  In the spring, Kratos will gear up to work with the same group of children in a science unit.  If you have a need, contact us to see if we can customize a course just for you.

Starting on September 21, 2011, a new club was started called Science For Girls.  Kratos began an 8 week series of middle school level science classes designed for home learners to supplement their science curriculum in a small group setting–with all girls.  For this experimental class, we took on the Grade 8 learning outcomes for Fluid Systems and Optics.  There have been 8 girls that have met with me on Wednesday afternoons for 1.5 hours at a local church.  Sene and Sarah are in Grade 6.  Asha is in Grade 7.  Sarita, Rebekah, Anna, Janelle, and Paule are in Grade 8.

In each class I have worked through some chapters from the BC Science 8 textbook and we have done experiments and activities along the way to reinforce concepts.  Some of those activities have included making wacky straws, testing the buoyancy between Diet and Regular Coke, using syringes and tubing to make a simple hydraulic system, playing with lenses and mirrors, and watching a virtual eye dissection.

When this class set ends on November 9, there will be a break until next March.  While demand will dictate the next subject areas, it is likely that chemistry topics will be addressed.  If you are interested in this club for yourself or your daughter, let me know of your need and I’ll take it into consideration when planning for the next session.

A house for little people.

One week of Science camp is complete, and one to go.  Last week 8 campers studied a variety of physical science topics and performed many science activities to round out the first week.  Our activities included:

Balloon rocket races, Hot Wheels racing down ramps on various surfaces to test the affects of friction, experimenting with magnets, making a compass, making a hovering butterfly, making butter, crystals with sugar and baking soda, floating rocks, building structures with marshmallows and dry spaghetti, testing the strength of a short span verses long span bridge, planning a stable and strong structure and understanding how building a structure must consider the function, showing how light travels in a straight line, how sound can be muffled or amplified and reflected, making a tuning fork with a table fork and a string, and making kaleidoscopes.

Sound like a lot?  Wait till this week is over.  The theme for our second week of camp is Earth and Space Science.

I want to show some photos of our day of building with marshmallows and spaghetti.

Great builders also have a lot of fun.

Another chance for hands-on learning

Future architect?

I wonder if we could build a real house out of marshmallows.

Some structures can push in...

Or they can pop out…

In a past life, this was a pyramid contractor.

Amazing structure for a 6-year old.

Science and Social Studies for Grades 1-4

All camps held 10am – 11:30am, Monday through Friday, at Lion of Judah Ministries, 6021 West Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC V9E 2G4, in the K-2 classroom.

July 18-22, 2011

Physical Science Camp:  Learn about friction, magnets, the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, structures, and light and sound to help fulfill the physical science learning outcomes for grades  1-4.  There will be fun experiments and activities to complement student learning at home.  Students who are older, but haven’t completed some units are also welcome to come.

July 25-29, 2011

Earth and Space Science Camp: In this week we will learn about the seasonal effects on living things, the physical properties of air, water, and soil, some familiar constellations and the solar system, and weather.  Once again, these are the topics needed to fulfill learning outcomes for science in grades 1-4.

All full-week sessions are priced at $75/student per week.  Drop-ins for select classes are based on space available for $25/day.

If you are interested in detailed lesson plans so you can plan what days you would like to attend via “drop-in”, please contact me, Lori ann Brehaut, at 250-888-7973, or email: kratoslab@gmail.com .

You can make cheques out to Kratos International Holdings, Ltd. Cash or cheque, along with this registration form, can be given in person; or mailed to:

Lori ann Brehaut, 1767 McTavish Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5T9

If you prefer to pay by credit card or through PayPal, please contact me so I can email you the details on how that can be done.

Each child being registered above will have to have an emergency contact and medical information form filled out for them as well.

Summer Camps 2011

Kratos is proud to announce its first, ever,  summer day camps the summer of 2011.  The camps are designed to help address a need that has been expressed in the local home school community for help in meeting  the primary school science and social studies provincial learning outcomes….and to facilitate some really FUN learning.

The classes will run for 1 1/2 hours for 4 different weeks in July and August.  They are designed to help fulfill the science topics in grades 1-4, with a social studies unit on Aboriginal Studies for the last camp.  They will be held from 10-11:30, M-F,  at Lion of Judah Ministries, 6021 West Saanich Road.

All camps are priced at $75/week.  If there is room in the class, daily drop-in sessions are available for $20/day.

Dates:

July 18-22: Physical Science Camp

July 25-29: Earth and Space Science Camp

August 8-12: Life Science Camp

August 22-26: Aboriginal Studies Camp.
A more detailed breakdown of daily course content will be available shortly.   It is my intention  to provide links to supplemental resources for the  families who are interested to help round out the rest of a science curriculum for their child.

Registration forms will be available soon.

I have been an educator for almost  20 years. I have worked in many different schools and in different countries. I have operated a tutoring company since 2003 in Victoria, BC. All  of these life experiences have helped make me into the expert educator that I am today.

Whether you are looking for some help with your college applications, are looking for academic support, or seeking help with your home schooling, consider Kratos. We adapt to you.