Elementary School Electives Courses
Laurel Springs offers a range of elective courses for elementary school students. These courses provide students with an opportunity to explore and pursue their interests in areas beyond the core curriculum. Courses are designed to be engaging and interactive, incorporating multimedia resources and virtual simulations to enhance learning. Through Laurel Springs’ electives, elementary school students can explore new subjects, develop new skills, and build a foundation for lifelong learning. Overall, Laurel Springs’ elective courses offer an enriching and comprehensive online learning experience for elementary school students that prepares them for future academic and personal growth.
Electives
Introduction to Coding 1 - Semester
Intro to Coding 1 teaches young learners the basics of coding with a progression of gaming challenges. Students enter a world filled with captivating creatures and bright colors as they join a monkey on a mission to collect bananas and unlock treasure chests. All the while, students will explore and learn the basics of code as they use blocks to program a monkey’s journey through the world. Recommended for grades 1, 2, or 3.Introduction to Coding 2 - Semester
Intro to Coding 2 consists of three units. In the first unit students will use block-based coding to help the beaver fix different sections of a dam. In the process they will learn about the programming topics of planning, sequencing, and creating loops which introduce students to fundamental concepts and terms from the world of computers and programming. In the second unit students will learn about conditional loops that repeat based on a certain condition. They will master the use of loops - combination between loops, nested loops, and more. In the third unit, students will learn about conditional statements that can decide whether or not to execute code based on whether a certain condition is true. By the end, students will complement their fundamental algorithmic knowledge with conditional execution. Recommended for grades 2, 3, or 4.Introduction to Coding 3- Semester
Intro to Coding 3 is a game-based environment where students learn to code in CoffeeScript as they help a monkey catch bananas. With fun challenges, cute characters and a unique user experience, this course is a great way to introduce students to the basics of computer science. Recommended for grades 3, 4, 5, or 6.Introduction to Coding 4- Semester
Intro to Coding 4 is a game-based environment where students learn to code in CoffeeScript as they help a monkey catch bananas. With fun challenges, cute characters and a unique user experience, this course is a great way to introduce students to the basics of computer science. This course picks up right where the Intro to Coding 3 course ends. Recommended for grades 3, 4, 5, or 6.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Intro to Coding 3Introduction to Coding 5- Semester
Intro to Coding 5 is a game-based environment where students learn to code in CoffeeScript as they help a monkey catch bananas. With fun challenges, cute characters and a unique user experience, this course is a great way to introduce students to the basics of computer science. This course picks up right where the Intro to Coding 4 course ends. Recommended for grades 4, 5, or 6.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Intro to Coding 4Introduction to Coding with Math- Semester
Intro to Coding with Math has highly engaging challenges that offer students a memorable way to practice math as they code in CoffeeScript. In each challenge, students need to help the dodo get her eggs by utilizing real-world coding and math skills. The first unit, Distances, enables students to practice their measuring skills alongside their addition and subtraction skills. The second unit, Angles, helps students practice adding, subtracting and measuring angles. The last unit, Multiplication, enables students to practice their multiplication skills. All three units consist of challenges where students help the dodo pick up all of the eggs that went missing by using 2nd - 4th grade math concepts.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Intro to Coding 3; Corequisite: 4th Grade MathElementary Coding- Semester
In Elementary Coding, students use Coding Adventure, an educational game-based environment where students learn to code in a real programming language. Using CoffeeScript, a real-world programming language, the students learn how to develop and generate unique and personalized apps and websites. Coding Adventure fosters the development of executive functioning skills, such as problem solving and planning as well as geometric and mathematical thinking. Throughout the CodeMonkey program, students learn concepts such as statements & arguments, objects, loops, variables, arrays, functions, conditions and boolean logic. Coding Adventure provides an easy entry into text-based coding, paving the way for students to proceed to learning advanced subjects in Computer Science, such as game design, algorithms, and data structures.
4th & 5th Grade Only
Art Adventures- Semester
NOTE: K-2 Students will need the assistance of a Learning Coach for the art projects if they choose to take this course.
This course provides many opportunities for students to dive into the joys of art. In each lesson, our budding artists will analyze and compare works of art, learn about famous artists and the techniques they are known for, and then explore the different artistic methods as they create their own pieces of artwork. We encourage students to experiment, try new things, and have fun while learning various ways to produce art.
