Club de coleccionistas de criaturas mágicas y míticas: Jóvenes aventureros

Enter a world of magic, where unicorns, dragons, and other imaginary creatures are all around us! We'll let our imaginations guide us on our journey. This weekly club will introduce your curious child to all things magical, as we learn about fantastical creatures within a cultural and historical context. By drawing upon young students' boundless imaginations, the activities encourage students to observe and discuss mythologies, legends, symbols, and cultural themes from around the world.

Each week, I will present a brief lesson about a featured mythical creature: what it looks like, what special powers (if any) it possesses, what culture(s) it belongs to, and it's legendary origins.  This lesson will be age-appropriate in content and themes. As we practice our skills of scientific observation by examining illustrations of the creature together, we will discuss any noticeable special attributes of these fantastic creatures, Once we have shared our observations, students will draw the creature in their "field guide" journal and label it.  Weekly printed fact sheets will be provided, which students may cut out and add to their journals, plus a coloring page for students who are not as adventurous about drawing on their own.

In addition to completing our journal entries, the remainder of the class will be spent exchanging creature facts and lore, sharing favorite fantasy-inspired  toys and books, and generally "geeking out" about imaginary worlds and magical creatures together.  We will also intermittently play related interactive games, movement activities, and more (see below).  Students will be encouraged to bring something to share each week, and will also occasionally be provided with extension activities between meetings.

Dressing up is ALWAYS encouraged, but never required.

In each short, introductory lesson, students will learn about the weekly featured creature through a variety of approaches, such as read aloud stories, informative slides, video clips, and graphics, and more.  We will also intermittently add playful learning activities such as: building and sculpting, movement activities, games, discussion, repetition and more.  Vocabulary words such as observe, investigate, legend, fiction, mythology, culture, origin, mythical, geography, parts of the globe, and more will be introduced and used during these interactive, engaging lessons.

While the main focus of this weekly club will be on allowing young fantasy enthusiasts to share their love of magical beings, we will also be practicing important primary-age social and educational skills as we learn about habitats, adaptation, and other STEAM concepts.  The short creature lesson at the beginning will provide a framework for these discussions and will help the young explorer to build and develop observation, recreation, and communication skills, as well as foster curiosity, wonder, and interest in the world around them, big and small, real and imagined.  The field guide will serve as a fun keepsake and reference for future fantasy studies and reflection.

2024 SCHEDULE:

Week of January 7: Kitsune
Week of January 14: Centaur
Week of January 21: Hippocamp
Week of January 28: Phoenix
Week of February 4:  Caticorn
Week of February 11: Wizard
Week of February 18: Magic Pets and Familiars
Week of Feb 25: Yeti
Week of March 3: Fairy
Week of March 10: Leprechaun
Week of March 17: Anansi
Week of March 24: Hydra (NO CLASS Friday, March 29)
Week of March 31: Pegasus (NO CLASS Monday-Thursday, 4/1-4/4)
Week of April 7: Cerberus
Week of April 14: Tiddalik
Week of April 21: My Very Own Monster
Week of April 28: Dragon Eyes
Week of May 5: (NO CLASS Thursday 5/9-Sat 5/11) Elves
Week of May 12: (NO CLASS Sunday 5/12-Wednesday 5/15) Elves
Week of May 19: Minotaur
Week of May 26: DIY Fairy
Week of June 2: MAGICAL CREATURES FUN WEEK
Week of June 9: Ammit
Week of June 16: Faun
Week of June 23: NO CLASSES
Week of June 30: Jackalope (NO CLASSES 7/4 due to the US Holiday)
Week of July 7: Raven
Week of July 14: Totem Poles
Week of July 21: Goblins
Week of July 28: Sphinx
Week of August 4: Sirens
Week of August 11: NO CLASSES
Week of August 18: Genie/Jinn
Week of August 25: Bake-Kujira
Week of Sept 1: MAGICAL CREATURES FUN WEEK (Games + A Creative Project)
Week of Sept 8: Manticore
Week of Sept 15: Moon Rabbit
Week of September 22: Dragon
Week of September 29: Ratatoskr
Week of October 6: Gryphon
Week of October 13: Cryptid Monster Lab (bring your drawing supplies!)
Week of October 20: Ghost
Week of October 27: Werewolf
Week of November 3: Medusa
Week of November 10: Sea Serpent
Week of Nov 17: Chimera
Week of Nov 24: NO CLASS due to US Holiday
Week of December 1: Hippogryph (Hippogriff)
Week of December 8: Unicorn
Week of Dec 15: Gnome
Week of December 22: NO CLASS
Week of December 29: NO CLASS

2025 Themes:

Week of January 5: Mermaid
Week of January 12: Kitsune
Week of January 19: Centaur
Week of January 26: Hippocamp
Week of February 2: Phoenix
Week of February 9:  Caticorn
Week of February 16: Wizard
Week of February 23: Yeti
Week of March 2: Magic Pets and Familiars

Future themes will be updated in the listing and in the weekly classroom.  This class rotates a full year of themes annually.  All themes are subject to change based on teacher preference and student input.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the target age of this club, it is recommended that parents or caregivers remain close be to provide assistance and support as needed, especially with our 4-5 year old learners.  OS policy requests that adults remain off camera as much as possible, but it is important to stay close to help with technical difficulties, emotional needs, teacher/student communication clarification, and helping hands when needed.  I find that having a grown-up nearby creates the best experience for these younger learners.

ALSO:  Access to a color printer is required for this class, as well as a blank notebook or sketchbook.  The teacher will provide a recommendation as to what type of notebook works best upon request.  All other supplies will be easy to find, common household or office supplies, and will be noted in the classroom prior to each weekly meeting (as well as in the "Supplies" section of this class listing).