Each class we will hear the call of the wild and travel to a new location to learn about a big cat. Together we will study their habitat, diet and what makes them special. In the process, students will gain experience points and battle it out in a test of wits to become the ultimate Big Cat Keeper!

This class will be designed in a very interactive video game style. Students will be assessed on XP or experience points. As their XP grows, they will level up at the “safari”. Students will gain XP through class participation, assignments, answering questions, helping others and pop quiz style “battles” where they will go head to head to test their knowledge. 

I think that excitement about learning is contagious, and that students can learn as much from each other as they can the teacher. Students will be given opportunities to form "adventure parties" to solve problems and gain achievements. What work they do individually outside of class will be also be shared and new information presented in the beginning of every class. With the gaming model, self-directed learning outside of class is optional, but fun. Moreover it taps into children's competitive nature which propels them to learn far beyond mandated tasks.