WEDNESDAY CLUBS
KINDERGARTEN
Storybook Cooks Whisks, egg beaters, and measuring spoons -- that's only half of the fun. The best part is that our young chefs will get to eat their culinary creations! During prep time and clean-up, children will be entertained by readings from children's literature featuring food. Taught by Magda Kamel, experienced cooking teacher, and PS87 Media Specialist Dawnica Conyette.
Yes, Chess! & Other Great Games Children will learn the elements of chess, and will also explore other fun board games that encourage creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. New players are especially welcome! National Chess Master Joe Lux is an experienced coach in NYC school and afterschool programs; board game instruction led by trained KidzMath teacher Gloria Zwick.
Totally Amazing Toy Factory Let’s see, what does kindergarten teacher Ana Elosequi have in store for visitors to her Totally Amazing Toy Factory? How about a rolling ball that makes ice cream, magic rainbow wands that change colors as the children move about, a fishing game that teaches math? Children will have so much fun playing with inventions in the Totally Amazing Toy Factory -- and designing and building toys and games of their own invention – that they won’t realize they are building science, engineering, and math skills as they go!
GRADES 1 TO 2
Totally Amazing Toy Factory (Gr. K-1) See above.
Chess & Other Strategic Board Games Children will learn the elements of chess, and will also explore other strategic board games. All ability levels, including new players, are welcome; children will be grouped by age and ability after meeting the instructors. National Chess Master Joe Lux is an experienced coach in NYC school and afterschool programs; strategic board game instruction led by trained KidzMath teachers Gloria Zwick and Bernard Zwick.
Salsa Kitchen (Latin Culture/Cooking) Over the course of a year of celebrations all over Latin America, we will enjoy the festivities, stories, and traditions -- but above all, in this lively cooking class, we will revel in the delicious food! We will invite contributions from families and friends as we compile our "one family under the sun" cookbook. Yummy tortillas, Mama's special arroz con pollo, coconut flan -- what will it be? Every day in Salsa Kitchen will be a fiesta, with DI teacher Josephine Mangual leading the way!
Create-a-Play Musical Theatre Caring, dynamic teaching artists from this internationally acclaimed children’s theatre organization give students a vibrant fun-packed experience as they work to create an original musical production. In addition to their final production, each student receives a professionally produced CD of the show’s music. Director Stephen Jacobs has worked with hundreds of children in school and summer programs; his Dirty Sock Funtime Band has been featured on Nickelodeon and performed in concerts and festivals across the United States.
GRADES 2 TO 3
Animation & Digital Design Working on computers and in the classroom, children will create flipbooks, thaumatropes and other
optical toys, publish online comic film, and make short stop-motion animated films and other creative media projects. Experienced
"Animation Station" teacher Amey Goerlich has been teaching children's film and theatre classes for more than a decade.
Sew Much Fun (Gr. 2+) Beginning with instruction in hand sewing, students will progress to an introduction of basic skills using sewing machines. Activities will include creative explorations of fabrics and textures, designing simple projects, and creating soft sculptures and simple clothing. Taught by experienced “wearable art” Afterschool teacher Arshea Hall.
Afro-Caribbean Percussion (Drums, Gr. 2+) Small group instruction in percussion, with an experienced master. Accomplished drummer and recording artist Renato Thoms, a finalist in the prestigious international Thelonius Monk jazz competititon and a featured performer in last year's televised Latin Grammy Awards, has performed solo and with acclaimed Latin artists including Eddie Palmieri, Hilton Ruiz, Paquito D’Rivera, and Ricky Martin.
GRADES 3 TO 6
Sew Much Fun (Gr. 2+), see above.
Afro-Caribbean Percussion (Drums, Gr. 2+), see above.
Reel Science (Science of Filmmaking, 2+) "How did they do that?" Now you'll know! This exciting club explores the science of how special effects are achieved in films. Through hands-on lab activities and screening clips from film classics from "The Blob" to "Harry Potter," students delve into topics such as optics, sound and light waves, neuroscience, hydraulics, and chemistry. Imagine Me director Jill Ahrold is an experienced science educator in schools and museums from New York to Hawaii.
Creating Comics! Children will produce their own comics, learning how to create characters, develop story lines, make their adventures come “alive,” and publish their own comics. Curriculum will be modeled from the award-winning Comic Book Project (www.comicbookproject.org), an arts-based literacy initiative at Teachers College, Columbia University. Teachers include experienced Afterschool teacher and comic artist Rafael Velez.
Smart Start (Writing/Study Skills) This class will help build good study and research skills, as well as provide individualized assistance for children who need some guidance as the demands of homework increase in the upper grades. Strengthening research and writing skills will be a focus. Taught by PS87 teachers under the direction of experienced 4th-grade teacher Jura Spencer.
Basketball I (Gr. 3-4)/Basketball II (Gr. 5+) This class will develop sports-specific strategies and skills -- dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, offensive and defensive play -- as well as coaching in the rules of the game. In order to build more individualized skill-building, including team play and sportsmanship, players will use other PS87 program spaces as well as the Gym. Coaches include veteran physical education teacher Mike Vega, and assistant Angelika Rodriguez.