2024-2025 Course Catalog

Art: Get messy and get creative in our art studio! We teach a variety of mediums such as clay, watercolors, acrylics, and colored pencils as they learn the basics of shading, color theory, and basic drawing. At the end of the term, students will enter their best work into our Student Gallery Walk and get to experience the thrill of seeing their pieces on display.

 

Backstage Design: As one of our young learners put it, “Stage crew is the backbone of the theater!” Students will have authentic opportunities to learn the practical side of putting on a show. From stage makeup effects to designing props for use on stage, students will be getting hands-on opportunities in practical skills.

 

Coding: A vital 21st century skill! Every student should learn the basics of coding, and this is a gentle place to begin. One of the most important coding skills is to break a big task into smaller actionable steps. Kids learn and practice programming in many daily life activities and hands-on games as they begin thinking like a coder. Using the VEX-Go Robotics program, students will learn how to build a robot, code that robot and then compete against their fellow classmates.

 

Draw Write Now: Is it an art class, a writing class, or a reading class? It’s all three! Students practice handwriting and copywork, and learn step-by-step drawing techniques that make their stories come to life.This year we will be focusing on Native Americans and the Ancient American Culture. Class may include guest speakers from local Native American tribes.

 

Engineering: Children are natural engineers—expand on their natural curiosity with hands-on and engaging projects. Students will follow the engineering design process of imagine, research, plan, create, test, and improve as they complete challenges.  Our class has a focus on open-ended engineering design challenges. Children learn social skills like empathy as they design for clients and they work on critique and collaboration skills with other students. We strive to design activities that allow students to work independently and in teams.

 

Entrepreneurship/Personal Finance: It is never too early to educate young children in the process of designing, launching and running a new business. Young entrepreneurs will start a business in a safe and nurturing environment. They will begin with the brainstorming process, learn how to do a needs analysis and feasibility studies, learn to write a business plan, then put their idea into motion. Taught by an experienced local entrepreneur, with additional wisdom from visiting local business owners. Class will include guest speakers.

 

Graphic Design: One of our most valuable and practical classes! Graphic design is a project-based course where students will become content creators, not consumers. At the end of the course students will have designed the artwork and marketing materials for the youth shows--a real-world opportunity to be a professional designer! Your student will love the feeling of seeing their artwork on t-shirts, flyers, posters, and social media promotions.

 

Literature/Book Club: Older students will explore great historical literature then read, analyze, and discuss wonderful books with their peers.  This course will encourage readers to discover new books, share stories, explore important topics, and have some bookish fun! From book-themed activities to debates, to creative writing and historical research, your student will find plenty of inspiration for stimulating conversations and an expanded world view. 

 

Makerspace: Time to unleash some creativity! In our fully stocked makerspace, students will have the freedom to build, design and create using a wide variety of materials. They’ll have so much fun that they won’t even realize they’re learning science, technology, engineering, math, art and literacy concepts. Kids are meant to learn through play.

 

Math Games: Help students develop a lifelong love of numbers with our engaging and exciting math games. Learning through play removes the scary from math and helps students make vital connections to the way numbers work. 

 

Physical Education: Get a PE credit right here, perfect for the older kids. Guided PE class to start your morning.

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Reading Skills: Your student will have a blast while strengthening their decoding skills and phonics knowledge. Reading comes alive for students as they play spelling games and complete reading challenges. Let us supplement the instruction they are already getting and reinforce learning in a fun and playful way. 

 

Science: Let us handle all those messy science experiments—we’ve got you! Hands-on learning is the best way to experience science. From chemical reactions to Newton’s Law—your budding scientists will love making and testing hypotheses.

 

Spanish: Hola! The focus of this interactive Spanish class is beginning conversation, taught through role-playing and (of course) lots of music. Younger students will do more songs and nursery rhymes, older students practice conversational skills and learn basic grammar.  Following our theme of Possibilities, we recognize how learning a language is the ultimate in learning what we can achieve, and learn about different cultures and world societies. Class taught by a native speaker through conversation and music.

 

Storytelling (Ancient Cultures and Social Studies): Humans connect with stories—in this exciting class students learn how to tell a gripping and powerful tale. Explore the cultures of the world through their stories and fables, and come to understand the human experience better. Learners will learn a fable from multiple sources, then have one-on-one coaching as they work on their performance. This class is taught by Kristen Clay, who is a professional storyteller.  She will encourage participation in the Storytelling Festival at the end of the semester and is always available for personal coaching for students focused on succeeding at the festival! This class will have a focus in Ancient History, so come learn to tell the stories of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Stonehenge!

 

Theater: Come experience Zig Youth at our best! Students get the opportunity to act in Annie for our fall musical, and Wonderland in the spring.  Required attendance on BOTH days theater classes (Tuesday and Wednesday). Our shows are taught by dedicated professionals and treated with the same care and attention as our mainstage shows. Costumes are provided and students will get to perform on the Ziegfeld Theater stage. 

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Theater-Minis: Introduce your youngest children to the joys of performing in live theater! Includes dance, singing, memorization of lines and performance on the stage at the Ziegfeld Theater in Ogden.

 

Written Word: We know how difficult it can be to motivate children to write–let us supplement your home instruction with our writing class for young learners. Students will practice the mechanics of writing, learn how to write silly stories, play games with parts of speech, and come away with a whole written children’s book of their very own making. Bonus–they will get to practice their typing skills (but handwriting is always an option too)!