Sunflower Learning Community

POV: Your 5-year old is expected to sit still and learn ABCs but all they want to do is play.

The good news? This is completely developmentally normal. Your kid isn’t broken. Their primary work in the first 6-7 years of life is to play and explore the world with their own five senses.

The even better news? Our play-based early elementary program is designed to align with childhood development, providing a “quiet growing time” in the words of Charlotte Mason. Children ages 4-7 read stories, sing songs, play indoors and outdoors, and build social-emotional skills through real relationships.

We have two spots left for our class on Tuesday and Wednesday!

Visit our website to secure your child's spot today:
bit.ly/sunflowerlearningcommunity

Explore Chinese history and myth with this Percy Jackson-style novel. In each class meeting, students will read excerpts from "Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor” by Xiran Jay Zhao and discuss literary devices, character, development, geography and traditional mythology.

Book summary from the publisher:

“Zachary Ying never had many opportunities to learn about his Chinese heritage. His single mom was busy enough making sure they got by, and his schools never taught anything except Western history and myths. So, Zack is woefully unprepared when he discovers he was born to host the spirit of the First Emperor of China for a vital mission: sealing the leaking portal to the Chinese underworld before the upcoming Ghost Month blows it wide open.

The mission takes an immediate wrong turn when the First Emperor botches his attempt to possess Zack’s body and binds to Zack’s AR gaming headset instead, leading to a battle where Zack’s mom’s soul gets taken by demons. Now, with one of history’s most infamous tyrants yapping in his headset, Zack must journey across China to heist magical artifacts and defeat figures from history and myth, all while learning to wield the emperor’s incredible water dragon powers.

And if Zack can’t finish the mission in time, the spirits of the underworld will flood into the mortal realm, and he could lose his mom forever.”

Program Schedule: Aug. 21-Oct. 9
This class will meet weekly on Fridays from 3-4 p.m.
Recommended Ages: 4th-8th grades

More info and registration: https://learninglab.spaces.nexudus.com/events/1415727016/book-club-zachary-ying-and-the-dragon-emperor

Step into a world of ancient stories, powerful symbols and timeless lessons. Each week of quarter one, students will journey across civilizations from ancient Asia.

Through hands-on activities, creative storytelling, and group discussions, learners will compare myths from different cultures and uncover the shared values, hopes, and lessons hidden within them. Students will see how mythology connects people across time and place through the art of story.

Program Schedule: Aug. 21-Oct. 9
This class will meet weekly on Fridays from 11 a.m.-noon
Recommended Ages: 4th-8th grades

More info and registration: https://learninglab.spaces.nexudus.com/events/1415727837/world-mythology-legends-and-lessons-from-ancient-asia

Photo by shawnie yang on Unsplash

Step into a world of ancient stories, powerful symbols and timeless lessons. Upper elementary school students will travel to ancient civilizations like China, Olmec, India, Canaan and Babylon.

Through hands-on activities, creative storytelling and group discussions, learners will explore daily life in the ancient world, inventions and innovations, myths and the lessons hidden within them, the Silk Road, ancient sports, important figures and more. Blending literature-based studies and unit studies, students will explore ancient civilizations from a variety of angles.

By the end of the course, students will have a broad understanding of the diversity present around the globe during ancient times.

Program Schedule: Aug. 21-Oct. 9
This class will meet weekly on Fridays from 10 -11 a.m.
Recommended Ages: 3rd-5th grades

More information and registration: https://learninglab.spaces.nexudus.com/events/1415726913/time-travelers-ancient-civilizations

Photo by Mubaris Nendukanni on Unsplash

Rooted in Story students work on drawn narrations - retelling a story through pictures. This activity builds comprehension and helps them connect ideas in their mind, as well as supporting fine motor skills needed for writing.

"The children should have the joy of living in far lands, in other persons, in other times -- a delightful double existence; and this joy they will find, for the most part, in their storybooks." (Charlotte Mason)

David Smith writes: "The stories that surround us help to make us what we become. They shape our attitudes to life, form our ideals, and supply our vision. They provide us with identity and ways of living. They furnish us with heroes and antiheroes . . . They are part of the warp and woof of our language and thought, of our whole experience of the world and our way of living."

Registration is open for Quarter 1, including Rooted in Story and other options for all ages.
https://learninglab.spaces.nexudus.com/events/1415727831/rooted-in-story

“We want to supplement our homeschool instruction, but we don’t feel welcome at faith-based schools or co-ops.”

At Sunflower Learning Community, we CELEBRATE diversity. We strive to be a place where ALL are welcome. Whatever makes you feel “different,” we welcome it.

Our programs are non-sectarian and secular, which means there’s no statement of faith and we won’t advocate for any religious doctrines. (We do explore religious stories as literature and study religion from an objective perspective. We’ll never encourage your child to believe any religious doctrine or participate in religious rituals.) And if your family is religious, you’re welcome too.

Our programs focus on honest and inclusive history - no whitewashing here. We aim to elevate marginalized voices and talk about groups and events that typically get overlooked.

Our programs celebrate the voices and contributions of painters, poets, and composers from a wide variety of backgrounds.

And most importantly, we try our best to live out kindness and compassion to all, every day. Everyone’s welcome and every kid will get instruction tailored to their unique needs.

Learn more about Fall programs on our website:
bit.ly/sunflowerlearningcommunity

Pictured: student illustrations of springtime holidays and creation myths from different cultures

POV: Your 5-year old is expected to sit still and learn ABCs but all they want to do is play.

The good news? This is completely developmentally normal. Your kid isn’t broken. Their primary work in the first 6-7 years of life is to play and explore the world with their own five senses.

The even better news? Our play-based early elementary program is designed to align with childhood development, providing a “quiet growing time” in the words of Charlotte Mason. Children ages 4-7 read stories, sing songs, play indoors and outdoors, and build social-emotional skills through real relationships.

Visit our website to secure your child's spot today:
bit.ly/sunflowerlearningcommunity

Our fall classes are open for registration and we've got lots to tell you about!

Enrichment Programs
In our enrichment programs, learners ages 4-12 join forces in their pursuit of knowledge. Together we will learn about ourselves, the world around us, and our place in it. We will discover the natural world, our language, and people who have come before us. We support one another, persevere through difficulties, and grow every day. Throughout the day, students interact with learners in mixed-age groups, hear rich stories, sing songs, engage their senses, and move their bodies.
Our programs are founded on core principles such as respect for children, the value of good literature, a low-tech environment, short lessons, frequent switching between subjects, and offering children exposure to a wide variety of subjects.

Roots (Ages 4-7)
Preschool and early elementary students enter a world of wonder as they experience timeless stories, songs, and games and explore the natural world - with plenty of time for nature's best teacher - play.
Tuesdays or Wednesdays
Half day (10am-11:30am) or Full day (10am-3:00pm)

Sprouts Guild (Ages 7-12)
Guild (n): a group of people who come together in pursuit of a common interest
Middle and upper elementary students will explore history, nature, literature, and a variety of enrichment subjects.
Morning - literature, history, and nature study
Afternoon - music and art appreciation, foreign language, drawing, geography, math games
Visit our website to learn more about current class topics.
Wednesdays only
Half day (10am-11:30am) or Full day (10am-3:00pm)

Dates & Fees
Quarter 1 is available for registration now!
Dates: August 19 - October 7
Morning Only Fees: $100
Full Day Fees: $300

(For siblings older than 12, reply to this email to ask us about study hall sessions during Roots and Sprouts class time)

We're looking forward to a full and exciting year as our community grows and we'd love for you to be a part of it!

Spots are limited. Secure your child's seat today:
bit.ly/sunflowerlearningcommunity

It's Back! 🤩

Our Quarter 1 Fun Friday stacked classes for K-12th grade students are designed for students to learn hobbies and interests through discovery.

✨ Open to homeschool students and other flexible learners
✨ Hands-on, interactive experiences
✨ A great way to connect with other families
✨ Can select one class or create a full day's schedule

We are SUPER excited about some of this quarter's new offerings (can you say chess?!). See the schedule below, and click the link in comments to register.