Ignite Course Catalog
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Read full course descriptions below for our current on-site classes at Ignite. Download a Semester 2 2022-23 PDF Course Catalog >>
Content covered in classes with an * address the learning standards and can be counted towards a student's Monthly Progress requirements. This means if your child takes a course with an *, the parent/guardian does not have to provide Monthly Progress during 2nd semester for the content area noted.
- Example: Student enrolls in "Primary Art" which is noted with *art. This means that for 2nd semester, the parent/guardian does not need to report on art for at-home learning on the Monthly Progress form.
Robotics Class Information & Requirements:
- Primary Robotics:
- Grades K-2
- This class is for students who have not taken Primary Robotics before.
- Essentials Robotics:
- Grades 3-5
- First-time robotics users or those with a semester or less of robotics at IFA.
- Students may only sign up for one robotics course.
- Prime Robotics:
- Grades 5-8 (or advanced 4th grade with prior approval by Mrs. Baker)
- 5th graders should only sign up for this class if they previously took Essentials Robotics.
- Students may only sign up for one robotics course.
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade (Semester 2)
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M/W 10 am - Primary Social Skills: Level 1
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 10:00-10:45 am
Course Description: This is a chance for students to meet new friends and have fun together in a positive and supportive environment! This class is for students who have not taken social skills with Mrs. Tingle before. Lessons from the Second Step curriculum will be implemented to teach skills that can help kids in school and in life, such as listening, focusing attention, making friends, conflict resolution, identifying feelings, and problem-solving. The lesson sequence is research-based and meant to positively impact social and emotional learning skills. Students will also have a chance to interact with their peers while practicing those skills during station activities, board games, creative play, team building, crafts, and engaging in cooperative learning games.If a student already took Social Skills with Mrs. Tingle, they are welcome to register, but the content/lessons will be the same or very similar to the prior Social Skills class.
*Social skills is NOT the same as Social Studies and will not count for it on Monthly Progress. If your child takes this class, you will still need to report what your child is learning in social studies each month.
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M/W 11 am - Primary Science: Light, Sound, Forces & Properties of Matter (*science)
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 11:00-11:45 am
Course Description: This class will include four-week blocks of different units focused on the behavior of light, components of sound, forces, and motion, and properties of matter. Students will learn engaging science content while actively participating in experiments and hands-on projects. Students will use science notebooks and
work cooperatively with others to complete scientific investigations. Instruction will be aligned to NGSS and implement STEMscopes and other supported curriculum used in NTPS. -
M/W 1 pm - Primary Art (*art)
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 1:00 pm-1:45 pm
Course Description: Students will have an opportunity to complete fun and engaging art projects using many different mediums, such as crayons, markers, oil pastels, paint, construction paper, clay, and more! Students will develop their own individual art skills and techniques through a variety of projects and activities. We will study the work of different artists and apply what we have learned to our own creations.*Students cannot take both Elementary Art courses as they are the same content/lessons.
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M/W 2 pm - Primary Hands-on STEM & Building (*science)
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 2:00-2:45 pm
Course Description: Students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on STEM activities and challenges while learning the engineering and design process! Students will create structures from a wide variety of manipulatives, learn how to work with others to solve a problem, invent different tools, and so much more!Instruction will be aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and include many of the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs).
*Students cannot take both Primary Hands-On STEM & Building courses as they have the same content/lessons.
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T/Th 10 am - Primary Art (*art)
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 10:00 am-10:45 am
Course Description: Students will have an opportunity to complete fun and engaging art projects using many different mediums, such as crayons, markers, oil pastels, paint, construction paper, clay, and more! Students will develop their own individual art skills and techniques through a variety of projects and activities. We will study the work of different artists and apply what we have learned to our own creations.*Students cannot take both Elementary Art courses as they are the same content/lessons.
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T/Th 11 am - Primary Hands-on STEM & Building (*science)
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 11:00 am-11:45 am
Course Description: Students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on STEM activities and challenges while learning the engineering and design process! Students will create structures from a wide variety of manipulatives, learn how to work with others to solve a problem, invent different tools, and so much more! Instruction will be aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and include many of the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs).*Students cannot take both Primary Hands-On STEM & Building courses as they are the same content/lessons.
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T/Th 1 pm - Primary Social Skills: Level 2
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 1:00-1:45 pm
Course Description: This class is designed for students that have already taken a social skills class with Mrs. Tingle. This class will build on the skills and strategies learned in the Level 1 class. If a student has not taken social skills yet, this class could be an option.This class will focus on the next level of lessons from the Second Step curriculum to help teach skills that can help kids in school and in life, such as listening, focusing attention, making friends, conflict resolution, identifying feelings, and problem-solving. Students will also have a chance to interact with their peers while practicing those skills during station activities, board games, creative play, team building, crafts, and engaging in cooperative learning games. Students will also learn how to have a growth mindset and learn from challenging situations.
*Social skills is not the same as Social Studies and will not count for it on Monthly Progress. If your child takes this class, you will still need to report what your child is learning in social studies each month.
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T/Th 2 pm - Primary Robotics: Level 1
Teacher: Katie Tingle
Grades: K-2
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 2:00 pm-2:45 pm
Course Description: This introduction to robotics will give students the opportunity to learn fundamental coding concepts, work with Dash Robots, complete challenges and puzzles, and use technology in a whole new way!*This class is for students who have not taken Primary Robotics before.
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T/Th 1 pm - Primary Social Studies (*social studies)
Teacher: Nicky Drago
Grades: K-2
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 1:00 pm-1:45 pm
Course Description: Students will embark on a grand trip through their communities, exploring how history has impacted us and their own civic responsibilities. They will engage in activities enforcing and mastering the standards of social studies for grades K-2 and will learn how we can make history together. -
T/Th 2 pm - The "Art" of Storytelling
Teacher: Nicky Drago
Grades: K-2
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 2:00-2:45 pm
Course Description: Come and live the story! Students will find themselves traveling through different tales, following their journey through reading a favorite story, illustrating with hands-on crafting elements, and writing their own literary wonder.*While this class will not cover enough content for Monthly Progress, students enrolled in this class will be taught from some of the writing standards and that will be reflected on the Monthly Progress Reporting form.
3rd - 5th Grade (Semester 2)
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M/W 10 am - Elementary Art Masters (*art)
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 3-5
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 1 :00 am-10:50 am
Course Description: In this engaging "Art History 101" class for the elementary level, students will study famous works from important art movements. They will then create pieces inspired by different artists using chalk, paint, collage, and oil pastels. New and returning students can enroll in this class; we have new projects! -
M/W 11 am - Elementary Science: Energy (*science)
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 3-5
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 11:00 am-11:50 am
Course Description: In this course, students will explore energy sources through investigation and experimentation. What is stored energy vs. motion energy? How will tennis balls and marbles show us the difference? Does the sun change the temperature of the ground? How does stored energy move around? Can we direct the flow? Can we get energy from wind, water, or the sun? By the end of this course, students will be able to use what they have learned to design and build their own energy experiments. -
M/W 1 pm - Essentials Robotics
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 3-5
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 1:00 pm-1:50 pm
Course Description: Students work with partners while building and programming Lego SPIKE Essentials robots to solve various problems related to real-world challenges, ranging from detecting alligators to creating fast race cars. Students will develop computational thinking skills as they learn basic engineering concepts and programming skills using drag-and-drop block-based code.*Both current and new students are welcome to sign up for this class.
**Students cannot take both Essentials Robotics courses as they are the same content/lessons.
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M/W 2 pm - Elementary Writing (*writing)
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 3-5
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 2:00-2:50 pm
Course Description: In this class, 3rd-5th graders will stretch their skills as informational and narrative writers. They will practice research and learn how authors use sources to inform their essays and guide their stories. New and returning students are welcome! -
T/Th 10 am - Essentials Robotics
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 3-5
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 10:00-10:45 am
Course Description: Students work with partners while building and programming Lego SPIKE Essentials robots to solve various problems related to real-world challenges, ranging from detecting alligators to creating fast race cars. Students will develop computational thinking skills as they learn basic engineering concepts and programming skills using drag-and-drop block-based code.*Both current and new students are welcome to sign up for this class.
**Students cannot take both Essentials Robotics courses as they are the same content/lessons.
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T/Th 11 am - Elementary Math Games
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 3-5
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 11:00-11:50 am
Course Description: Students will review important math standards, be challenged to learn new ones, and play hands-on games as a class and in small groups. This is an excellent way to provide new activities to enforce and master the major standards being taught at home. New and returning students are welcome! -
T/Th 1 pm - Elementary Science: Plant & Animal Structures (*science)
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 3-5
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 1:00-1:50 pm
Course Description: Plant and Animal Structures provides hands-on, inquiry-based investigations focused on phenomena and concepts related to adaptations. Students examine plants and animals to draw comparisons between organisms and explain how body parts and behavior allow for each organism’s survival. -
T/Th 2 pm - Elementary Art (*art)
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 3-5
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 2:00-2:50 pm
Course Description: Students will learn about the elements of art and principles of design while creating pieces using a variety of mediums. They will experiment with printmaking, weaving, painting and more! New and returning students can enroll, we have new projects!
6th - 8th Grade (Semester 2)
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M/W 10 am - Photojournalism: Telling stories with pictures (*art)
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 6-8
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 10:00-10:50 am
Course Description: “A picture is worth 1,000 words.” What does that really mean? How do you tell a story with just pictures? Students will examine these questions as they learn the fundamentals of photojournalism and the art of storytelling. Students will use DSLR cameras as they explore their interests, their sense of place, and the world around them. Students enrolled in this class will be required to write both on paper and on the computer. All equipment – including the cameras – will be provided.*This class is open to all students, regardless of whether they have taken Photography I or not, as its focus is more on storytelling and less on the technical aspects of photography.
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M/W 11 am - Prime Robotics
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 6-8
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 11:00-11:50 am
Course Description: Using the Lego SPIKE Prime robot kit, students will use the design process as they invent robots that entertain others, help people, or even gather data. Students will develop computational thinking skills, basic engineering strategies, and programming concepts while utilizing drag-and-drop block code.*Both current and new middle school students are welcome to sign up for this class.
**Students cannot take both Prime Robotics courses as they are the same content/lessons.
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M/W 1 pm - Middle School Writing
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 6-8
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 1:00-1:50 pm
Course Description: In this class, 6th-8th graders will stretch their skills as informational and narrative writers. They will practice research and learn how authors use sources to inform their essays and guide their stories. New and returning students are welcome!*This class will not cover enough of the standards required for middle school writers. Students taking this class will still need writing practice and lessons at home, and it will need to be reported on the Monthly Progress form.
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M/W 2 pm - Design & Build (*art)
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 6-8
Days: Monday & Wednesday
Time: 2:00-2:50 pm
Course Description: Students will use a variety of tools – ranging from small saws to computer-aided design (CAD) software – to design and build 3D projects. Emphasis will be on the design process and building techniques while students work with paper, cardboard (lots of cardboard!), wood, and even plastic.*Both current and new middle school students are welcome to sign up for this class.
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T/Th 10 am - Middle School Art (*art)
Teacher: Jennifer Todd
Grades: 6-8
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 10:00-10:50 am
Course Description: Students will learn about the elements of art and principles of design while creating pieces using a variety of mediums. They will experiment with printmaking, weaving, painting and more! New and returning students are welcome! -
T/Th 11 am - Coding in Minecraft
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 6-8
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 11:00-11:50 am
Course Description: Calling all Minecraft fans (and non-Minecraft fans who are interested in coding)! In this class, students will work together in the Minecraft for Education program as they learn the fundamentals of Computer Science and coding. Utilizing coding blocks based on JavaScript to program using conditionals, functions, coordinates, and more, students will mod their worlds and control non-player characters while learning about problem-solving, game design, and artificial intelligence. While this is not a “let’s play Minecraft” class, students will have an opportunity to showcase their creations and experience other students’ creative choices.*No prior coding/programming knowledge is required for this class.
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T/Th 1 pm - Middle School Science: Prairie Explorers (*science)
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 6-8
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 1:00-1:50 pm
Course Description: Before we had houses, parking lots, and shopping malls, Lacey and the surrounding areas were covered in prairies. Students will spend the semester learning about those prairies: from their geologic formation to the indigenous populations, plants, and animals that have called them home. Students will fine-tune their observation, description, data collection, and even map-making skills as we explore our senses and learn how to use science journals in the field.*This class will have an optional Friday Field Experience to a local prairie in the spring.
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T/Th 2 pm - Prime Robotics
Teacher: Erica Baker
Grades: 6-8
Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 2:00-2:50 pm
Course Description: Using the Lego SPIKE Prime robot kit, students will use the design process as they invent robots that entertain others, help people, or even gather data. Students will develop computational thinking skills, basic engineering strategies, and programming concepts while utilizing drag-and-drop block code.*Both current and new middle school students are welcome to sign up for this class.
**Students cannot take both Prime Robotics courses as they are the same content/lessons.
