Spring Club PALS

The new twelve week length of this class makes the commitment (and even the opting out) a bigger deal.  I’d like to give some more information on the class so that your decision is as informed as possible. 

Spring 2011 session of Club PALS is 12 weeks running roughly from March through May and we will be exploring the character trait of Awareness.  The first week will be the Shin Dig!/Training Day.  This is the mandatory day where everyone gets books, hears about Club PALS in general and this session specifically.  It is at this meeting that the delegation of centers takes place, as well.

Weeks two through eleven are standard classes.  The time begins with an opening circle that includes reviewing the definition and manifestations of Awareness, hearing a story from History, Nature, Bible or Literature and the public speaking opportunities of Show and Tell.  Then the group breaks up into center time.  We provide activities in the subjects of PE, Arts, Language Arts and Science (hence PALS).  All of the lessons deal in some way with our theme of Awareness, and relate more directly to the day’s theme introduced in the opening circle time story.   Next comes what is arguably the best part of Club PALS: Free Time!  This is child-directed learning at its best when several choices are arranged around the room for the kids to explore freely and parents get to catch up with one another as grown-ups.  We end the day with a closing circle that includes a concluding story, prayer and music.

Our final week of this session will hold the Closing Ceremonies.  We will have a cotillion—a formal party!  The kids will dress up and use the manners they’ve been acquiring through the session to show the value in others.  We will have awards, food and music!

So that is an overview of the whole session.  Let me give you a little more information about the lessons of Awareness offered. For circle time, we will pull from history, literature, the Bible and God’s creation to demonstrate how important awareness is.  We will talk about Samuel the prophet as a boy, hear about the Country Mouse and City Mouse, learn about Helen Keller and when it is proper to NOT be aware.

For PE, we have games of tag, movement exercises and square dancing!  This session introduces a full art program, teaching kids the various elements in a comprehensive method that will culminate in putting it all together by the end of the 12 weeks.  For Language Arts, we will be exploring poetry, performing a skit, and practicing advanced writing elements.  Finally, our science program will be traveling through our senses, with experiments and demonstrations to deepen understanding of both our bodies and awareness.

If you are interested in participating, our early bird registration deadline is this Friday, the 7th.  Our final, full-cost registration is January 28th.  You may register or ask questions through our website link.