Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Wed

Open Spots: 12

Why does Virginia have a one-term limit for its governors and why do we vote in odd years? What is the difference between a mayor, a supervisor, or a councilman? What is a delegate and an attorney general? Who are all of these people and how is the state of Virginia organized? Get to know your state and local government! Using an inquiry-based approach, middle school students will be given leading questions to investigate our state and local government. Discover what are the powers of the state government and what is left up to counties, cities, and towns. Find out who we vote for and who is elected. Discover how responsibilities are divided up among the state government and the localities. Who makes laws about driving, voting, education, and who is in charge of roads? Students will identify a state or local issue of importance to them and write a letter to the proper authority as they learn about how a proposal becomes a bill and eventually a law in the Commonwealth.

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Wed

Open Spots: 10

Discover Attila the Hun's rampages through the declining 5th century Roman empire, particularly his conquests against the Eastern Roman Empire, where he captured hundreds of towns and cities and earned the nickname, "The Scourge of God." Attila led a horde of Nomads on horseback and introduced siege equipment, allowing them to do what even Hannibal could not do- take Roman cities! Students will engage in a hands-on 3D battle strategy game using the military dioramas that they make! Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, paint, and miniatures, each student will craft a 10 X 16 diorama. In class, they will view historical maps, artistic renderings, and/or photographs to understand the topography and development of this time and place in history. Students will customize their dioramas with landforms, landscape elements, waterways, and structures to represent a scene from this period. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with 1:72 scale miniature figures. Students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate a larger battlefield. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of this conquest while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Fire and Fury historical war gaming rule system for moving troops and equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how this battle progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices. Each student will have at least one board and set of miniatures to take home with them. Course documents such as maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this year's series include: Alexander the Great (Quarter 1); Hannibal (Quarter 2); Julius Caesar in Britain (Quarter 3); and Attila the Hun (Quarter 4).

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Wed

Open Spots: 10

The US capture of the Mariana Islands in 1944 allowed American bombers to reach Japan's home islands. The US sought a halfway point, both to allow damaged bombers a life raft and to allow the shorter-range escort fighter planes a base to launch from. The island of Iwo Jima was an obvious choice as it was already serving as an air base for the Japanese military. Allied intelligence estimated that the island's defenses were weak enough to fall in as little as one week. In reality, it took five weeks of some of the most hellish fighting in WWII for "victory" to be declared, with thousands of Japanese soldiers holding out all the way until 1949! Iwo Jima has the dubious distinction of being one of the few battles in WWII where US forces suffered more casualties than the Japanese. 20,000 men of the Japanese 109th division and a handful of tanks, artillery, and Kamikaze suicide planes put up a difficult defense against Allied forces which consisted of an armada of 500+ ships and nearly 100,000 men. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will each form a 10" X 14" shaped, foam diorama with landscape elements (hills, vegetation, shoreline, etc) to represent the major battle sites of the Iwo Jima Campaign in dioramas of the beaches, the airfield, or to the site of the famous flag-raising on Mt. Surabachi. Once the dioramas are completed, students will stage 1/72 scale Japanese troops, US Marines, and equipment to refight the battles in miniature. This will allow the class to examine the tactics of the later Pacific battles of WWII and see the challenges of this type of warfare. The instructor will use maps and visual presentations to explain the historical background and circumstances leading up to the specific battle. The instructor will use maps and visual presentations to explain the historical background and circumstances leading up to the specific battle. Course documents, such as period maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. Topics in this series include: Operation Torch/North Africa (Quarter 1), Battle of Stalingrad (Quarter 2), Iwo Jima (Quarter 3), and Philppine Sea (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Wed

Open Spots: 12

Why does Virginia have a one-term limit for its governors and why do we vote in odd years? What is the difference between a mayor, a supervisor, or a councilman? What is a delegate and an attorney general? Who are all of these people and how is the state of Virginia organized? Get to know your state and local government! Using an inquiry-based approach, middle school students will be given leading questions to investigate our state and local government. Discover what are the powers of the state government and what is left up to counties, cities, and towns. Find out who we vote for and who is elected. Discover how responsibilities are divided up among the state government and the localities. Who makes laws about driving, voting, education, and who is in charge of roads? Students will identify a state or local issue of importance to them and write a letter to the proper authority as they learn about how a proposal becomes a bill and eventually a law in the Commonwealth.

Quarter(s): 4

Day(s): Wed

Open Spots: 10

Discover geography and diverse cultures in this interactive, imaginary tour of the world. Each quarter, students will take a classroom journey to two distinct nations. They will locate the highlighted countries on the world map and complete a map project before buckling in for a fictional flight to the featured locales. Once they have "arrived" in the country, they will begin with an introduction to home and school life by meeting a child through a story or video. Students will learn to recognize similarities and appreciate differences when they compare that child's home, clothing, food, town, daily activities, and school to their own. In subsequent weeks, our Globe Trotters will learn about the culture and traditions of the country through songs, games, projects, and activities that highlight elements like folktales, customs, celebrations, distinct features, language, points of interest, or native species. Fourth quarter, students will journey to Peru and India. Discover the gigantic Ganges River and towering Taj Mahal palace in India. Meet the heroes of the epic Ramayana story, and learn about elephants, cobras, and the "holy cow" in India. Find out what it would be like to take a rickshaw to school. Find Machu Picchu high in the Andes mountains of Peru, ancient Nasca lines in the desert, and hear examples of the Quechua language. Guinea pigs and alpacas come from Peru, but discover why viscachas might be the coolest animal. Example projects from these countries may include: simple llama craft, feather art, and simple kit. Students will be excited by geography and culture when approached through this engaging, multi-disciplinary exploration of diverse countries of the globe! Topics in this Series include Indonesia and Morocco (Quarter 1), Sweden and Mexico (Quarter 2), Ireland and Japan (Quarter 4), Peru and India (Quarter 4). A supply fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Please note: This instructor only accepts cash payments.