Middle School Mini Course Offerings, Mini Term 2007

What is the Mini-Term all about?

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are busy ones at Mustard Seed. In this 19-day mini term, we begin with parent conferences and the communication of progress reports to parents. Then, just three weeks later, we end the term with a whole-school celebration led by middle school students (including the chorus) at Las Posadas. In between, the conferences and the celebrations, we give students the opportunity to take advantage of special course offerings.

Shakespeare: As You Like It -- with Mr. Davis
A Film Review: Movies of War -- with Mr. Choi
An Exploration of Ancient Greece -- with Ms . Rupke
Geography Challenge -- with Ms. Hanson
Japanese Music, Language and Culture -- with Mrs. Mauldin
Finding Your Voice! -- with guest recording artist, Ms. Owens
Painting and Story (Illustrating Elie Wiesel's Night) -- with Ms. White
Knitting -- with guest teacher, Ms. Sytsma

Morning Sessions

Shakespeare: As You Like It

Duke Frederick has banished his brother into the Forest of Arden, thereby usurping the kingdom. What follows? Well, there is a wrestling match, an unexpected meeting, a court jester, secret disguise, unexpected lovesickness, and hilarious mix-ups. Can anyone possibly set things right? In this elective, students will do just that - with many laughs and, of course, drama!

A Film Review: Movies of War

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how about a movie? A thousand sentences? During this mini-term we will be watching 3 movies depicting different aspects of WWII: To End All Wars, Schindler's List, and Letters From Iwo Jima. With each movie the students will engage in discussions, answer questions, and diagram the movie's structure. While all the movies are carefully selected for their content and appropriate for children this age, it is important to keep in mind that depictions of war do contain some violent scenes and graphic tragedies.

Ancient Greece

In this elective, students will visit Ancient Greece! They will attend the Academy, visit the Acropolis, discuss wisdom with Plato, and hear the stories of the Greek Gods of Athens. Who knows? Perhaps, some will even compete at the Olympics or dramatize a Greek tragedy! In the process, students will see the beauty of this ancient culture and see its influence on the present.

Geography Bee Challenge

This year, as always, all upper school students will participate in the qualifying rounds of the Geography Bee. During the mini term, interested students will prepare together for the challenge. We will take practice tests, explore maps, and visit the five themes of geography: location, place, human-environmental interactions, movement, and regions. Please note that we will practice during the mini-term and complete the qualifying rounds of the geography bee just before Christmas break. Finalists will take part in the final round after Christmas break.

Afternoon Sessions

Japanese Music, Language and Culture

Students will experience and explore Japanese language, culture and music. They will listen to traditional and contemporary music from Japan and note the variety of styles and forms that have emerged from Japanese culture. In addition, students will become familiar with traditional Japanese clothing, simple conversational language, and of course, food. If you are interested in broadening your horizons and visiting the land of the rising sun, this course is for you!

Finding Your Voice!

Ginny Owens, a singer and recording artist, will offer students an overview of singing and songwriting with an emphasis on exploring different styles of music. Students will incorporate writing collaboratively, recording and performance in the class. This would be an especially great opportunity for those students who are planning to audition for the spring Chorus.

Painting and Story

Students will create interpretive illustrations, depicting multiple scenes from Elie Weisel's book, Night. Students will create one painting every day after listening to an excerpt from the book, Night. Each student will create 12 paintings in all. The paintings will be their expression of the texts. Students will work with tempera and acrylic paints, along with crayon, oil pastels, and chalk. They will also experiment with a variety of papers and surfaces.

Knitting . . .

Restless? Are your fingers itching for movement? Do your hands long to create unique patterns and designs? In this class, you will do just that. With you, a few needles, and some yarn, you will create something that will surprise you. No experience required. This class is for everyone.