Great Valley Homeschool-House
An Eclectic Learning Experience
Middle School Classes
These classes are appropriate for children from fifth to eighth grade unless otherwise indicated in the class description. Please see our "Class Registration" page for specific class dates and registration fees.
Have time between classes? Register for our Game Room, a place where our registered students can take a break, play and socialize in a safe, supervised environment. There is no fee for our Game Room.
*Teacher's kids and families who are enrolled in IEW, who have siblings that are not, get first priority in Cooking, Comic book and Art.
Classes at a Glance
A Slash (/) indicates that there is more than one class offered during a particular class period.
Mondays
Thursdays
Class Descriptions
Science
"Focus on Chemistry II" :
This class is a continuation of last semester, for those students. Each week, we will read and review a chapter in "Focus Middle School Chemistry" from Real Science 4 Kids. Worksheets will be provided. Hands on activities are planned throughout the semester. Homework will be given each week. This class will be graded on participation and homework completion.
Class Time: 9:00-9:50am on Mondays
Class Type: Academic, Graded
Teacher: Erin Murphy
Class Fee: $20
Texbook: Real Science 4 Kids, "Focus on Middle Chemistry", 3rd Edition.
ISBN: 978-1-941181-70-6
At-Home Commitment: approximately 1-2 hours per week.
European Studies/Geography
In this class children will study the history of abandoned and interesting areas in the European area. We will be tasting different food in the different areas. This is a graded class with projects and homework that will be turned in. I will have handouts, different videos and pictures so you do not have to buy a book.
Class Time: 12:30-1:20pm on Thursdays
Class Type: Academic, Graded
Teacher: Samantha Burroughs- Johnson
Class Fee: $15
At-Home Commitment: appoximately 1-2 hours per week.
U.S History
Gilded Era to the Great Depression( American History)
This semester we are diving into the Gilded Era to the Great Depression. We will set the scene with the end of the Civil War. We will discuss the rise and fall of the Gilded Era, the Progressive Era, WWI, the roaring 20's and end with the Great Depression. WWII ended the Great Depression. I would like to continue the timeline in the fall, starting with WWII and diving deep into the WW, the Civil Rights Movement and end with the Vietnam War, if possible!
Class Time: 10:00-10:50am on Mondays
Class Type: Academic, Graded
Teacher: Genevieve Anthony
Class Fee: $15
At-Home Commitment: approximately 1hour per week.
Spanish
Beginner Spanish:
In this class we will learn Spanish and Spanish culture through music, games, hands-on activities, food and fun! This is a great class for younger learners who are not yet proficient in reading and writing. While this class is more fun than academic, there will be some light homework involved. Please plan for about an hour of homework per week for this class. This class is a great pre-requisite for Spanish I, which will be offered in the fall of 2022.
Class Time: 9:00-9:50am on Thursdays
Class Type: Elective, Graded
Teacher: Heidi Myers
Class Fee: $10
At-Home Commitment: approximately one hour per week.
Spanish II
This class is a continuation from our Fall Spanish classes and combines the Elementary and Middle School Classes from the fall semester. Students who did not pass or who did not take Spanish in the Fall 2021 should take Beginner Spanish. In this class, we will continue to expand our Spanish vocabulary through practice, study, games, food and fun. Learning a new language is only possible with daily practice. This class is for students who can devote a minimum of 20 minutes a day, four days per week for study, practice and homework activities.
Class Time: 10:00am-10:50am on Thursdays
Class Type: Elective, Graded
Teacher: Heidi Myers
Class Fee: $10
Book Required: "Spanish For You".
At-Home Commitment: A minimum of 20 minutes per day for 4-5 days per week for practicing with flashcards/Quizlet, approximately one additional hour per week for homework assignments.
*Cooking
This is a blended class that includes elementary, middle and high school students. This semester, we will be learning to cook with substitutions! I've never met an ingredient I couldn't substitute. Please let me know if your child has any allergies or are vegetarians. Elementary students will learn to mix, measure, and roll, while tweens and teens learn to reference recipes, ingredient identification, and proper measuring techniques. We will be sauteing, boiling, braising, grilling, baking and more, all while exploring new world cuisines, healthy menus, and seasonal dishes.
*Families that are enrolled in IEW, that have siblings not in IEW get first priority in class enrollment. If any space is available after those families register, will go to wait-listed students.
Class Time: 9:00-10:50am on Mondays
Class Type: Elective, Pass/Fail
Teacher: Krystal Hichee
Class Fee: $25
Class Time: 9:00-10:50am on Mondays
At-Home Commitment: none.
Outdoor Skills *Full-waitlisted
Participants will have exposure and practice various outdoor skills over the semester. This class will require maturity and teamwork for success. Without maturity, students will have to be turned away or removed from class mid-course. Participants should have their own pocketknife for this class and may wish to build up tools as they move along in the class. Good recommendations for these tools will come with the class so please don’t buy anything except a pocketknife. If you are in Scouts BSA, please let Greg know your Scoutmaster’s email and phone number. You may be able to complete rank requirements in this class.
Students and instructors will develop our Code of Conduct with penalties during the first day of class. This class is team based and so, we are accountable to our class. Poor behavior can’t be tolerated due to the nature of what we’re doing.
Class Time: 11:30am-12:20pm on Thursday
Class Type: Elective, Pass/Fail
Teacher: Greg Sazonov
Class Fee: $7.25 *(No Teacher Discount)
IEW
This is a continuation of our Institute for Excellence in Writing! course. This is available only to students who completed and passed the Fall Semester IEW class. This class will now meet once a week for 2hrs, to ensure enough time for each lesson and guided practice. Student workbooks/packages purchased for the Fall Semester will be used for this class.
"IEW's unique approach provides the structure that students need to develop confidence in the writing process, while gradually guiding them toward greater independence and creativity. Our core writing program is supported by materials for reading, grammar, spelling, literature, poetry, public speaking, and more."
Class Time:11:30-1:20pm on Mondays
Class Type: Academic, Graded
Teacher: Julie Brown
Class Fee: $10
Required book: Structure and Style, Level B, Year 1 Student Workbooks and Fix It! Grammar "Nose Tree".
*Workbook(s) purchase is the responsibility of the parent. Teacher will have the DVD's for class use. Recommended for grades 6 and up.
At-Home Commitment: approximately 3-5 hours per week.
*Art
This class is all about fun and creativity! We will use paint, glue, yarn, magnets, tinfoil, magazines, cardboard and all kinds of stuff to make beautiful, unique creations! We will learn a different art technique each week!
Class Time:12:30-1:20pm on Mondays
Class Type: Elective, Pass/Fail
Teacher: Heidi Myers
Class Fee: $20
At-Home Commitment: none.
*Comic Book/Creative Writing
I’m going to start out talking about comic book history and the first super heroes and then we will move into drawing basics and brainstorming our characters and worlds to write them. Each week we will work on a new pencil draft in class and hw will be to complete it in pen and colored pencil and we’ll keep them all in a binder inside sleeve protectors.
Class Time: 11:30-12:20pm on Mondays
Class Type: Elective, Pass/Fail
Teacher: Rae Ehrlund
Class Fee: $10 and a class supply list will be provided, for parent to purchase before class starts.
At-Home Commitment: approximately 1-2 hours per week.
Spelling/Vocab/Cursive
In this class your children will learn and understand grammar/spelling we will use Megawords 1 2nd edition. We will have spelling test every 2 weeks and writing assignments. Plus, we will practice curve writing.
Class Time:9:00-9:50am on Thursdays
Teacher: Samantha J. Burroughs
Class Type: Academic, pass/fail
Class fee: $5, plus cost of Megawords I. Parents are responsible for workbook purchase.
At-Home Commitment: approximately 2-3 hours per week.
Game Room ~ Free Period
This room will be designated for those students with a "free period", between other classes. This is for all school ages. The room will be monitored by a Parent/Volunteer at all times. Different types of board games, cards etc. will be available for play.
Class Time: Mondays & Thursdays 9-1pm
Class Type: N/A
Class fee: Free
At-Home Commitment: none.
After School Add-on: Health/Fitness/First Aid
Participants will play various games over the semester. The students will decide what fun things we do. Ideas I will offer are biking and bike maintenance, rock climbing, kayaking, and swimming. Other activities will have us learning first aid skills, exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This class will require maturity and teamwork for success. If you are in Scouts BSA, please let Mr. Sazonov know your Scoutmaster’s email and phone number. You may be able to complete rank requirements in this class.
Students and instructors will develop our Code of Conduct during the first day of class. This class is team based and so, we are accountable to our friends.
Class Time: 1:30-2:15pm on Mondays
Class Type: Elective, Pass/Fail
Teacher: Greg Sazonov
Class Fee: $10 (No teacher discount)