+ How do we teach science?

We think everyone can understand complexity.

• We guide young kids into a clear understanding of biology, chemistry, and physics.
• Kids learn deeply from hands-on, brains-on exploration of things that seem perfectly ordinary.
• We shape the science curriculum through input from working scientists. This lets us go very, very deep. A lesson on (for example) bananas might delve into the physiology of plants, the physics of sunlight, the biochemistry of chlorophyll and antioxidants, and the (very strange) co-evolution of fruit, humans, and monkeys.
• We tell the stories of how scientists first uncovered these ideas.

+ How do we teach history?

We think everyone can tell the stories that shaped the world.

• We tell the compelling stories of the ancient world (from the Big Bang to 1 CE).
• We expose kids to the real world, including religions, philosophies, politics, and daily life (and going beyond just Western history).
• Our scope spans the world — including stories like those of the Mayan and Ojibwe creation tales, the Buddha, Abraham, David, Confucius, the Odyssey, Socrates, and Julius Caesar.
• Kids make the stories their own by learning to tell them to others.
• By the end of the year, kids can tell a compelling history of the ancient world.

+ How do we teach math?

We think everyone can reason logically and creatively.

• We help kids construct a mastery of the grade school curriculum through cycles of tiny stretches and feedback.
• We use a micro-scaffolded curriculum: JUMP Math, taught to each student's level of understanding.
• We help kids cultivate Deep Practice Books in order to make regular creative breakthroughs on super-challenging math problems.
• We teach the secret origin stories of math symbols and ideas.

+ How do we teach writing?

We think everyone can express themselves elegantly.

• We give kids step-by-step practice (adapted from [The Brave Writer]9).
• Great writers are passionate readers: we help kids become passionate readers.
• Kids savor great instances of writing through our poem of the week and our song of the week.
• We fill the day with authentic writing experiences.

+ How do we teach cooking?

We think everyone can create scrumptious meals — for themselves and others.

• Each day, kids cook and serve each other delicious, nutritious, simple lunches, from scratch.
• Kids become masters of cooking soups and breads.
• We guide kids through the fundamental kitchen skills: knife use, measuring, scaling recipes, and so on.

+ How do we teach drawing?

We think everyone can draw what they see.

• We help kids draw realistically, in the classical style.
• We provide step-by-step lessons (adapted from Drawing with Children and Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain), given by a professional artist.
• Kids savor good art through our painting of the week and our comic of the day.

+ Our 2017–18 schedule

Leonardo meets Mondays & Wednesdays.

• First Quarter: September 6 – November 1
• Second Quarter: November 6 – January 31
• Third Quarter: February 5 – April 4
• Fourth Quarter: April 16 – June 20

+ Holidays

• November 10 (Veteran's Day)
• November 23–24 (Thanksgiving)
• December 18–January 2 (Holidays break)
• January 15 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
• February 19 (Presidents' Day)
• April 9–13 (Spring break)
• May 28 (Memorial Day)

+ Times

Mondays and Wednesdays:

• 9am–2:30pm. This time may get gently adjusted, to deal with local traffic conditions.

Fridays at Camp Roots:

• 10am–3pm

+ Locations

• Leonardo (Mondays and Wednesdays) will meet at a still-to-be-determined location on Seattle's Eastside (likely Kirkland or Kenmore).
• Camp Roots (Fridays) will meet at St. Edward Park.

+ Costs

• $1250 a quarter
• Tuition for our partnership Friday program with Camp Roots is not included.