Towle Institute now offers courses for second to fifth-grade students. The classes are divided into quarters. Each quarter will allow your students to have fun while learning in a group setting. Parents are invited to attend the first session of each quarter with their student(s) and the last session to observe their students’ presentations/projects. When possible, field trips are planned to enrich student learning. Elementary classes are ungraded. Classes are held at Wilmington Community Evangelical Church on Mondays. The cost is $80 per quarter. We reserve the right to cancel a course or portion of a course due to a lack of registration.
Elementary Class Registration Form
2nd & 3rd Grade Earth Science / Creative Writing with Legos
Meets Mondays, 8:10 – 9:10 am
*This course will be taught in a two-year rotation. The alternate year is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
During the first half of the school year, students will engage in this hands-on introduction to Earth Science. Students will experience the four main topics of astronomy, geology, meteorology, and oceanography. In class, the main subject area for that week will be introduced with a brief reading by the teacher, a teacher-led discussion, and a hands-on activity. During the week, students will be assigned age-appropriate books (these books will either be available at the local library or parents will be sent a link where the students can watch someone read them the book) on the main subject, accompanied by YouTube videos (or original content) to reinforce the week’s concepts, as well as worksheets and activities to provide more experience with the topics that are covered each week.
Quarter 1: Astronomy & Meteorology [1]
Quarter 2: Oceanography And Geology [2]
We shift our focus to creative writing for the year’s second half. We understand that writing can be a challenge for early learners, so we’ve designed a course that makes it fun and engaging. In this course, students will use LEGO® bricks to construct story plots. Like their physical creations, every story will be built from the ground up, teaching them the essential elements of a story- a beginning, middle, and end. Students will also learn other story components such as setting, character description, plot, and theme. These elements will be integrated into their weekly builds. Students will keep a journal of their builds to document their progress and write a story based on a classmate’s prompts for their final project.
Quarter 3: Writing Prompts with Lego (Descriptive and Procedural Writing) [3]
Quarter 4: Writing Prompts with Lego (Creative and Fictional Writing) [4]
2nd & 3rd Grade Hands-on World Cultures
Meets Mondays, 9:15 – 10:15 am
*This course will be taught in a two-year rotation. The alternate year will focus on the cultures of South America and Europe
Students will travel worldwide to explore diverse countries and cultures while learning geography. They will experience different cultures through various hands-on activities and games, try traditional foods, make native crafts, listen to ethnic music, and more.
Quarter 1: China, Japan, Thailand[1]
Quarter 2: India, Antarctica, Australia, Morocco[2]
Quarter 3: Russia, Israel, Egypt[3]
Quarter 4: Tanzania, Kenya, and Ghana[4]
4th & 5th Grade Local History/ Kid Congress:
Meets Mondays, 9:15 am – 10:15am
*This course will be taught in a two-year rotation. The alternate year will focus on Early United States History.
Students will explore local state history, government, and notable figures during the first semester and create state-related crafts. During the second half of the year, they will delve into civics by establishing their own state through a project involving creating a country, drafting a constitution, conducting elections, setting laws, and managing various aspects of governance.
Quarter 1 & 2: DE, MD, and PA State History (students will spend five weeks studying each state)[1][2]
Quarter 3: Intro to Civics[3]
Quarter 4: Intro to Economics and Kid’s Congress[4]
4th & 5th Grade Science / Creative Writing:
Meets Mondays, 8:10 am – 9:10 am
*This course will be taught in a two-year rotation. The alternate year will focus on Plant & Animal Science / IEW Writing.
Science:
The course introduces Insect and Spider Studies, covering anatomy, classification, and life cycle, with field trips and a final project. It also introduces Bird Studies, focusing on anatomy, classification, and local bird species of PA and DE, with field trips and a final project presentation on a specific bird.
Quarter 1: Introduction to Insects and Spiders[1]
Quarter 2: Introduction to Birds[2]
4/5 Writing:
The goal of this class will be to help the students begin writing in an encouraging and safe environment. The importance of writing as a form of communication will be reinforced. This course will not be a class on grammar or writing mechanics. The Student’s work will be evaluated, but not graded. Composition Notebooks will be distributed to each student for their writing assignments. Ralph Fletcher’s A Writer’s Notebook will also be referred to throughout this course.
Quarter 3: Writer’s Workshop I [3]
Quarter 4: Writer’s Workshop II[4]
Beginner’s Drama for Grades 2-5:
Meets Mondays, 10:20 am – 11:20 am
Students in grades 2 through 5 are encouraged to showcase their creativity through skits and musical performances. The elementary drama program aims to help students develop an understanding and appreciation of drama. Elements of theater, cooperation skills, and audience etiquette will be taught through playing various theater games, performing various skits and puppet shows, singing songs, making masks, and more. Students will display their work at the end of each semester during a special Monday morning assembly.
Quarter 1: Introduction to Drama – Act 1[1]
Quarter 2: Introduction to Drama – Act 2[2]
Quarter 3: Introduction to Drama – Act 3[3]
Quarter 4: Introduction to Drama – Act 4[4]
[1] Quarter one runs September 9th – October 28th
[2] Quarter two runs November 4th – January 13th
[3] Quarter three runs January 27th – March 17th
[4] Quarter four runs March 24th – May 19th
