Super Saturday Courses for Spring 2012

Art in Science, Science in Art

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 5-8 | Materials fee: $10
Science and art are intertwined more than you might think. Produce works of art each week while learning the science behind their materials and structure. You’ll create origami cranes and polyhedrons, pop art, kites (to fly that day!), watercolor sunsets, art using recycled cans and paper beads, and food art using vegetables! You’ll study videos, history, literature, poetry, and music surrounding these topics, and see how science and art influence each other. (Nancy Ruppert, Ed. D., Curriculum and Instruction)

Cartooning

10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: $6
Welcome to the wonderful world of cartooning! In this course, you’ll learn methods to create your own characters for a comic strip. Each student will work toward creating a five-frame comic strip which will be put into a class cartooning comic book at the end of the session. (Jessica Tranchina, B.F.A., Studio Art)

Digital Photography

9:00-10:20 | Grades 3-5
10:30-11:50 | Grades 6-8
Materials fee: $6
Explore your digital camera! Learn composition, lighting, and camera features to make better pictures. We’ll discuss abstraction, perspective, and learn about some famous photographers. Create landscapes, portraits, and unexpected imagery to share with each other while you gain confidence in your photography skills. Each student will display their best photograph as a print at the end of class. Bring a simple digital point & shoot camera to class each week. Class requires the ability to email one photo per week to the instructor. (Erin Fussell, B.A., Art & Photography)

French Conversation 1: Beginning

9:00-10:20 | Grades 3-6 | Materials fee: $6
Bonjour! How would you like to immerse yourself in a French speaking class and understand what is being said? Lots of hands-on materials make learning fun and easy. We’ll count, sing, learn vocabulary including food and animals, act in skits, play games, and see slides of Paris, all with a creative, step-by-step immersion approach.  (Susan Ratner, B.A., French; Teaching Credential - French)

French 2: Beginning Too

10:30-11:20 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: $6
Bonjour classe! Did you have fun in French 1 and want to continue learning this beautiful language? Then this class is for you. We’ll learn colors, family, clothing, numbers, the French alphabet, more foods, act in a new and funny skit, and see a “French Castles and Art” slideshow, all through songs, creative games, and a fun, hands-on experiential immersion approach. Even it if has been a long time since you took French 1, you’ll feel comfortable, since we focus on different topics. French 2 is offered once per year, Spring only. (Susan Ratner, B.A., French; Teaching Credential - French)

Gasshuku:  Discover Martial Arts

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: $20 (optional)
Gasshuku is an intensive martial arts experience that packs a lot of training into a short time. You’ll learn different martial arts styles and gain exposure to their cultures, including China, Korea, Japan, and Brazil. You’ll learn about personal safety skills, the excitement of competition, and martial arts in the International Olympics. Styles covered include Karate, Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Ju-Jitsu, and more. Class includes historical storytelling relating to life lessons for today. Recommended but optional martial arts uniform: $20. (Hanshi C.D. Wilcox, Ph.D., 9th Dan; Shihan Jeff Rhodes, 2010 USA Karate National Champion and 2011 Ju-Jitsu National Champion, 5th Dan; CMAUSA staff)

Hands On Geometry with Zome

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-5 | Materials fee: none
Leave your pencils at home because this math class is strictly hands-on! Learn about numbers the way the ancient Greeks did. Study the inter-relationships of numbers in your own 3-D constructions. Lego-maniacs are encouraged to apply! By the end, students will design shapes of dazzling complexity and symmetry, in the style of geodesic domes. (Ian Riddell, B.F.A., Performing Arts Theatre)

Icky Sticky Fun Biology

10:30-11:50 | Grades 5-8 | Materials fee: $5
Explore the foundations of biology! This class introduces concepts in cell biology, botany, zoology, genetics, neuroscience, evolution, stream ecology, and physiology. Fieldwork includes visiting a stream to look for aquatic insects and examining plants in the forest. We’ll see animal bones, learn about how brains work, build cells, and more. Warning: there will definitely be some ickyness and stickyness, so be prepared! (Team-taught by UNC Asheville Missing Links Biology Club students)

Improv for the Theatre

9:00-10:20 | Grades 5-8
10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-5
Materials fee: $2
Do you like to be in front of people, be funny, and have fun? Then come join us! Learn the basics of theatre through improvisation and group games. Learn to think on your feet and present your original ideas in front of an audience. Get your creative mind rolling while creating stories, skits, and scenes for the stage! (Erinn Huntley, B.A., Theatre & English)

Introduction to Chess

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: $5
Chess is a fun board game for two players with the object of capturing your opponent’s king! Meet the chessmen: pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, queen, and king. Discover the basic principles of chess, the Golden Rules of the opening game, as well as basic tactics and strategies. Develop your logic, critical thinking, and creativity as you play to beat your opponents! Learn about king safety, light and dark square control, and creating attacks. Class is for beginners and those with some familiarity of basic chess moves. Checkmate! (Justin Lalor, expert-rated chess player in U.S. Chess Federation)

Knots, Braids & Weaves 1 & 2

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8
Materials fee: $8 (level 1) or $10 (level 2)
This combination class is for beginners and those who have taken the class before. Both level 1 and level 2 students learn how to take cords, yarns, and basket reed, and interlock them to create 3-D objects. Learn knotless netting to make dream catchers, and spiraling half knots, square knots, and overhand knots to make a bracelet. Make a bookmark with the Japanese braiding technique called Kumihimo. Use colorful hemp to craft fabulous necklaces. Weave a small basket using plain weave, twining, step-up, and lashing techniques, and embellish your projects with beads and feathers for color and interest. Level 2 students create projects with added levels of complexity, using advanced techniques and additional materials. (Janine Brearley and Yvette Brearley, instructors)

Land-Based Wildlife Explorations

9:00-10:20 | Grades 3-6 | Materials fee: $6
Are you an animal lover? Come learn how to increase your enjoyment and understanding of the natural world. Meet such animals as an opossum, snake, degu, tarantula, or scorpion. Discover how owls are able to fly silently and how squirrels can appear to "fly" as well. Find out what an area needs to attract and keep groundhogs, deer, and other animals. (Donna Wallen, environmental educator and wildlife rehabilitator)

Movie Making and Animation

9:00-10:20, Claymation | Grades 5-8
10:30-11:50, Papermation | Grades 5-8
Materials fee: $10
Bring your ideas to life using clay or paper! Learn the process of stop-action animation and create movies using Windows Movie Maker. Shoot images, edit, and add sound to create your movie. The 9:00 class uses clay; the 10:30 class uses paper. Both classes learn the basics of animation with flip-books and Thaumatropes (a spinning toy). Create an animated movie of your name and another project of your own choosing. The classroom studio environment is designed for beginning animators and those with some experience, too! Students must bring their own point & shoot digital camera, USB cord, and memory stick. (Lisa Smith, M.A., Film Production)

Physics is Phun

10:30-11:50 | Grades 5-8 | Materials fee: $5
Are you ready to build an electromagnet? Experiment with lasers and holograms? Observe the optical spectra of several different light sources and glowing gases? Build telescopes and consider momentum? Through hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and videos, physics will come to life. (Team taught by UNC Asheville Physics majors/members of the Society of Physics Students, and Lyubov Nichols, M.S., Physics, UNC Asheville Physics Department)

Quilt in a Shoebox I, II, III

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: none
Each student will be provided with a shoebox of supplies needed for basic quilting. Beginning students will make a wall hanging using basic quilting techniques. Students who have already attended previous sessions will learn more advanced techniques and design. Each class will consist of beginners, intermediate, and advanced students. (Team-taught by Joan Tolley and members of the Asheville Quilt Guild)

Sketchbook Keeping

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: $7
Sketchbooks are not just for artists; anyone can have fun with them! Learn the art of capturing your daily observations and ideas in drawing and writing. Record your findings, jot down things that inspire you, and focus your thoughts into a visual diary that you can use long after class is over. We’ll sketch things and ideas from real life, as well as fictional settings and characters. We’ll also write one page stories, both real and fiction. You’ll have plenty of time to sketch and develop your own thoughts and impressions, too. Many people use their sketchbook daily; you might be one of them! Drawing experience is not necessary. (Jarrett Rutland, B.F.A., Illustration)

Spanish for Beginners

10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: $6
¡Hola amigos! In this class you’ll be introduced to the Spanish language. You’ll learn basic vocabulary and phrases as we play games, learn tongue twisters, watch interactive videos and read stories. Before you know it, you’ll be speaking, reading, and singing in Spanish! (Sandra Campagna, B.A., Spanish)

Spanish Language Workshop

9:00-10:20 | Grades 7-8 | Materials fee: $6
This class is for students with a beginner’s knowledge of the Spanish language. In this fun language workshop, you will expand your Spanish skills as we watch Spanish videos, listen to musica, speak the language together, read stories, and write cartoons. We’ll “travel” far from the classroom to discover Spanish speaking cultures. Some of our special guests will be native hispanohablantes (Spanish-speakers) and you’ll have the chance to practice speaking with them. Increase your knowledge of the language and leave class with a notebook you made yourself that shows your progress! (Sandra Campagna, B.A., Spanish)

Water-Based Wildlife Explorations

10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-6 | Materials fee: $6
Are you wild about animals that live in and around the water? This class will examine water-based habitats and the animals that live there. Come learn about rainforests, marshes, swamps, wetlands, and waterways. You’ll meet animals such as lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles, or a miniature opossum from the rainforest. (Donna Wallen, environmental educator and wildlife rehabilitator)

When Zombies Attack!

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 5-8 | Materials fee: $5
Zombies have taken over the U.S.! A few survivors of the initial attack must band together to fight off the zombies and restore order to the nation. Be one of the brave few who use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills and their knowledge of science, writing and communication, engineering, government, and history to save the world. Develop new systems of government, communication, and power.  Create a plan for survival, study zombie culture, and infiltrate zombie society through disguise! (Cassandra Love, B.S. Ed., curriculum consultant and developer)

World Building: Adventures in Writing

9:00-10:20 | Grades 3-5
10:30-11:50 | Grades 6-8
Materials fee: $5
In writing, anything is possible:  all you need is pen and paper to bring a world to life! World Building influences every aspect of storytelling, and in this class, we’ll focus on constructing places from your imagination for unlimited adventure. From map-making and scrapbooking to developing plot hooks and characters, we’ll explore ways to create settings that will keep your readers turning the pages and wanting more. (Amy Borg, Creative Writing student; UNC Asheville Writing Center)

World of Wildlife

9:00-10:20, 10:30-11:50 | Grades 3-8 | Materials fee: none
Get up close and personal with the wild creatures that inhabit our mountain landscape. This is your chance to meet many of them with the help of local wildlife experts! Learn about the animals’ lives and habitats, and how humans can co-exist peacefully with them. We’ll focus on black bears, reptiles, amphibians, wolves, and birds of prey. Discover the truth about these animals and why some of them are misunderstood. You’ll see amazing photographs from a professional wildlife photographer and hear animal stories from a Cherokee storyteller and historian. Howl with wolves, watch hawks fly, and greet turtles, lizards and snakes! (Team-taught by environmental educators from Wild South)