May 4, 2009

And Here Is Where I Pick Your Brain

Sign-ups are this month for our next session of Homeschool Co-op and I plan on teaching again but I'm stuck on what to teach.

Seriously stuck!

I'd like to teach to a 12-14 age group but I want something interesting and fun. So any ideas out there? Any classes that you've taught that have been a success? Any curriculum that you loved and would work in a classroom setting with 8 classroom hours and anywhere from 5-12 students?

I'm desperate.

13 comments:

Leanne said...

Modesty for girls in a fun, innovative way?

That sounds kinda dumb!

How to make chocolate????? LOL!

Leanne

Jen@Scrapingirl said...

Have they done a cake decorating or scrapbooking class? The girls loved those classes in our co-op.

Halfmoon Girl said...

How about teaching them frugal, earth friendly things- talk about natural body care products, even make some homemade face wash, bath stuff, etc. I also thought that that link you recently gave on your other blog about the re useable sandwich wrapper would make a great project for older kids.

tina in thailand said...

Hmm after reading the other posts, mine sounds kinda heavy. Not sure what kind of class you are looking for, but I just did a small unit with my daughter that we both found interesting.
We read Animal Farm and then looked at different revolutions (French, Russian, and Iranian) briefly to see what they had in common and how all those groups ended up with tyranny instead of freedom.
We both learned alot, and could be a good way to talk about how we know and recognize truth and not be snowed by a charismatic leader.

But learning how to make chocolate treats or bath products would be a hit I am sure. :)

I lurk around your site alot, but want to let you know how much I enjoy it and appreciate your insights and humor.
Thanks for blogging!

Tracy said...

How about making a newspaper

Becky said...

For some inspiration, you might try a Boy Scout merit badge book. They sell them at Tobin's Lab or you could get them at your local council office. They are cheap, chocked full of information, and targeted at your age group. There are about 100 topics to choose from.

Kat said...

I just finished teaching a Home-Ec class at our homeschool co-op. We did not cook the whole time. We covered: budgeting (pulling materials from Larry Burkett's website/Crown Financial Ministires), the food pyramid and nutrition, and then cooking. I don't know if you'll have access to a kitchen though?

Just us Junts said...

Maybe you should teach ages 6-8??!! hee hee
I am not going to be much help. I really just wanted to harass you a little bit!!!
Hands on classes are popular. All your classes have been great, at least my girls have enjoyed them!
A blog class? Creative Writing?
Do you have any other interests that you have not taught about yet?
I have complete faith in you that this sessions class will totally rock!!

Coal Dog said...

Gayle,

How about teaching living history. There is so much going on in this area along those lines. You have Lalooska in Ariel, Ft. Vancouver in Vancouver, the Civil War reenactments at Ft. Canby and the historical summer at Ft. Clatsop. There is also the Chelachie Prarie train and the Maritime Museum in Astoria.

WendyDarling said...

The 4 years I was in a co-op I taught Art. We covered the color wheel/color schemes for a few weeks, as well as symatry and the different kinds of art. We looked a paintings using warm colors/cool colors, etc.

The second half we did crafts, and the they put into action what they learned. We painted ceramics, did glass painting with gallery glass; we even went to the ceramic place for a field trip and saw the kiln. :-) I used the book http://www.amazon.com/How-Teach-Art-Children-Grades/dp/1557998116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241664151&sr=8-1. It's for 1-6 grade, but I had older kids, and they loved it. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I taught a shorter class on advertising techniques. Our last class was a blind taste test of name brand foods vs. generic brands. It was really an eye-opener for the kids when they chose several generic brands as favorites. You could do two different 4 weeks classes.

Gayle said...

Great ideas guys!

Buttermilk Biscuit the Norwegian Fjord Horse said...

A few years ago I taught a FOOD class to a group of 9-12 year olds (boys & girls). We cooked for 2 hours and then while whatever was in the oven, we talked about food - where it comes from, how it gets to us, etc. One day we talked about what not having food is all about - and went to the HungerSite.org to learn and donate. Several kids wouldn't eat their lunches that day until I reminded them that that would be wasteful. Several of them began a food drive for the local food bank. We went on four field trips: a beef ranch (it was calving season and lovely - outside in gorgeous fields), a commercial fishing boat, a tofu factory, and a local very small organic farm (veggies, meats, cheese). Oh, five trips - to another farm where we helped with harvest and made a meal from what we picked. It was really easy and great. I had the kids for 5 hours/day for 5 days; you could shrink or expand it to fit.

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