Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
​FLC - Fun Learning Company                         Fall 2021
Students and teachers must be able to readily switch to online instruction at any point in the semester in order to register for classes. All students must complete a project for these classes.

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Art and Culture in America
Format: In-person
Masks: Required
LOCATION: S.T.E.A.M. Room MakerSpace 2601 N. 5th st. Niles
MAIN INSTRUCTOR: Dawn Frasieur
CONTACT INFORMATION:    phone: (269) 262-0697    email:
dawnandmike007@yahoo.com    website: FunLearningCompany.com
​Tuesdays,  12-2:00 PM - Ages 6-12  
Classes begin Sept. 7 
Description: This year we will cover 6-8 American Girl dolls, roughly chronologically (some skipping around for holidays); each doll will be covered for 4-6 weeks. First, class members will be introduced to a doll and we will talk a bit about the era. After the introduction of a doll, we discuss and participate in activities related to chapters assigned as weekly reading for the remaining weeks. The class has a full library of the American girl books available.The pattern will continue for each succeeding doll. Academic and fun projects appropriate to each era (a game, a dance, or a creative project) will be directly related to the weekly reading. Examples of projects
include: physical activities (like Pow wow dancing for Kaya or Victorian era games such as Tops), period songs or art and needle activities (like Victorian decoupage and Native American basket making).
Note: instructor may request some parent involvement/assistance, depending on the child.
Syllabus

 Art and Culture in the World 
Format: In-person
Masks: Required
LOCATION: S.T.E.A.M. Room MakerSpace 2601 N. 5th st. Niles
MAIN INSTRUCTOR: Dawn Frasieur
CONTACT INFORMATION:    phone: (269) 262-0697    email:
dawnandmike007@yahoo.com    website: FunLearningCompany.com
​Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00 PM - Grade 2nd and up  
Classes begin Sept. 7
Description: This class is essentially a cultural Geography Class based around Kiwi Co’s new Atlas Crate line – offering brief introductions to geographical areas around the world through pictures, discussion, food, music, games (maybe a folk dance here and there), and each week, an arts/crafts activity that reflects both differences in cultures and similarities. Examples of our crafty adventures have included: tiny rug weaving, Mexican paper flowers, origami, carp streamers, dot painting (an Australian aboriginal style), rain sticks, Masai “necklaces,” and basket-weaving.  Cultures we cover include Mexico, UK, Japan, Australia and Scandinavia. Activities and geographical areas will change if students are taking the class for a second year. 
Syllabus
 
Mixed Media Arts
Format: In-person
Masks: Required
LOCATION: S.T.E.A.M. Room MakerSpace 2601 N. 5th st. Niles
MAIN INSTRUCTOR: Michael Kirby
CONTACT INFORMATION:    phone: (269) 262-0697    email:
dawnandmike007@yahoo.com    website: FunLearningCompany.com
​Tuesdays, 2-4 PM - Ages 10+ 
Classes begin Sept. 7 
Description: In this class, Variety’s the name of the game, though that doesn’t mean jumping from one activity to another each week. Some projects may take several weeks; other times, we’ll just be “playing around” with possibilities. As a teacher, I always like to put things in context: in an art class that means a bit of history here, geography there.  We’ll look at the work of other artists - Native American basket and jewelry makers, for example – in print and online. I hope this class helps students appreciate the talents of other artists and makers and inspires their confidence, so if, in the future, their imagination is piqued by some new creative form, they won’t be afraid to try it out.  We’ll try to make connections: “How does it make sense that decoupage became so popular in Victoria’s England? How did new inventions – like the sewing machine – and the industrial revolution change the traditional “home arts” in 19th century America?  We’ll work on different skills:  from using a sewing pattern to embroidery and wool applique, napkin decoupage to simple jewelry making.
We’ll also just have some fun experimenting: dyeing different materials with natural items and commercial dyes; checking out how watercolor pencils compare to watercolor paints; the use of chalks and inks in paper crafting. Niles and Berrien Springs students will also get the chance to design and make a simple project using the Glo-Forge machine. The students will also keep a binder to creatively journal all their experiments.

Note: Exact topics/depth covered will adapt to the interests and skills of the students who sign up.
Syllabus

*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
 
​Teacher of Record:  Lisa Van Plew-Cid