Worlds of Wisdom and Wonder - Burr Ridge - Grades K - 11
Pleasantdale Middle School
7450 South Wolf Road.
Sunday afternoons, 2:00 - 4:30
February 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14
Tuition: $190
| Kindergarten Forum: As with all Center for Gifted classes, this new, exciting course is designed to challenge and accelerate; to differentiate the classroom experience through creative activities, materials, and strategies to effect dynamic, hands-on learning. Bright, talented kindergartners expand their joy of learning through an interdisciplinary approach, integrating literature, math, science, history, art, and drama. Instructor: Susan Oster |
| Creative Writing: Compose stories, prose, and poetry inspired by creative catalysts, including posters, paintings, films, and books. Express yourself through free verse poetry, freed from the constraints of rhyme and rhythm. Write different genres of stories, such as mysteries, fractured fairy tales, and biographical fiction. Get published in our creative writing magazine. Grades 2-6 Instructors: Joan Franklin Smutny and Carol Howe |
| Math to Boggle the Brain: Consider complex conundrums and challenge your logical reasoning. Explore mind-bending number games, puzzles, tricks, and riddles. Create your own brain-bogglers to perplex your peers. Grades 1-6 Instructors: Carol Hauswald and Paula Koomjohn |
| Science Spies: Conduct hands-on investigations to uncover hidden principles of mystery solutions and ingredients. Grades 1-2 Instructor: Arlene DiGiacomo |
| Soda Pop Science: Ever wonder why soda pop fizzes? Or why soda pop and Mentos cause an explosion? Investigate serious scientific principles such as carbonation, air pressure, buoyancy, and density through fun soda pop experiments. Grades 3-6 Instructors: Sharon Ciborowski and Beth Nicholson |
| Lego Robotics I: Employ engineering, math, programming, and technology to design and create computerized robots with Lego Mindstorms. Learn how to add gears, sensors, and motors to make your robot faster, smarter, trickier, or more industrious. Solve daily challenges utilizing newly acquired programming skills. Grades 3-6 Instructor: Matt Hall |
| Lego Robotics II: Experienced students build on earlier knowledge to learn more advanced programming skills as they tackle complex challenges. Grades 4-6 Instructor: Matt Hall |
| Computer Games Lab: Explore computer game designs, options, and intricacies, then design and create your own computer game. Join your peers in a cyberspace tournament as you challenge one another at your own games. Grades 3-6 Instructor: Kathy Hemmesch |
| Le Français: Embark on an effervescent adventure in French conversation, culture, and cuisine. Research correlates early exposure to languages with higher scores in math, reading, and musical ability. French teacher, Amy Hansberger of Language at Lunch, Inc. engages students with fun folk songs, movement, and games incorporating the TPR method for language learners. Madame Hansberger has worked with young students for over 16 years, sharing her love of French language and culture. She believes in language acquisition via the theory of multiple intelligences, appealing to all types of learners. Grades 1-6 Instructor: Amy Hansberger |
| Bid, Bargain, Sell! Buy low and sell high. Make a million on the first day, just to lose it all on the second day, only to make two million on the third day. Do you dare to take a ride on Worlds of Wisdom and Wonder’s stock market? Warning: It is not a ride for the faint hearted. Do you buy Nerdstrom or sell it? Is Super Sports Wear a good investment? Is Macro-Hard near the end of their profit potential? Participants will use their critical thinking skills in a game situation to make decisions based on news and world events. Who knows . . . this may be the first step in discovering the new “Wall Street King.” Grades 4-6 Instructor: Allen Studnitzer (traded futures on financial instruments, grains, and stocks on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade for over fifteen years). |
| Chess Club: Explore basic rules and sophisticated strategies; experiment with various opening schemes and end games tactics. All players, from beginners to champions, are welcome! Grades 1-6 Instructor: Trevor Scott |
| Theater Club: Experience the joy of acting with the guidance of a professional actor and playwright. Play theater games; explore characters; stage a performance for parents and friends on the last day. Grades 1-6 Instructor: Matt Rieger |
| Art Unlimited: Create your own multi-dimensional masterpieces of mixed media, methods, and muses, such as collage, sculpture, drawing, pastels, and watercolor. Grades 1-6 Instructor: Christie White |
| Robotics I: Learn the skills of soldering on a practice circuit board. Then try out those newfound skills on making a siren. Now you are ready to construct Scooter, your own sound-activated robot. (Soldering required.) $40 lab fee. - Instructor: Mike Gorelick |
| Robotics II: Begin by practicing your soldering skills on the siren before proceeding to a challenging robot. Construct Scrambler, Blinky, Copy Cat, and/or Digital Dice. If you have successfully built all of these, let us know so we can find another robot for you. (Soldering required.) $60 lab fee. - Instructor: Mike Gorelick |
| Historic Games of Strategy and Diplomacy: Re-enact history through games of strategy. Invade Britannia as the Romans, the Saxons, or the Normans; fight World War II in Axis and Allies; battle successive empires in History of the World. Discover the strategy of learning to fight the wars of the past to keep them from happening in the future. Or, focus on economic strategy, building railroad networks across the United States in Empire Builder, and elsewhere in Eurorails, British Rails, India Rails, Australian Rails, or China Rails. - Instructors: Chris Freeman and Dale Ridder |
| Actors Workshop: Is the stage calling your name? Enter the exhilarating world of live theater! Great performance requires confidence, concentration, and, above all, a sense of humor. Build a true ensemble through theater games and improv exercises. Develop plots and characters and rehearse scenes toward the ultimate goal of performing for parents and friends on the last Sunday. - Instructor: Jamie Kendall |
|