First Period (9:15 AM–10:30 AM)

Toxic Gifts: The History of Poison/Poisonous Gas

Theresa Redfern-Hall

• ages 12–19 years
• Tuition: $180 for the 12-week Fall Semester

A history of poison is the history of humanity. This class will look at how poison has been used to both kill and save people. We will look at poison in art and literature and real life. The class will explore famous poisoners, their victims, and how one famous poisoner from thousands of years ago still has an impact on us today. Join us as we move through time and poisons!

Students will need access to Theresa’s website homeschoolingclasses.com in order to access readings and assignments.

Students should bring writing implement and paper to class each week.

Students can expect to spend about an hour weekly on reading and/or research.

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Second Period (10:35 AM–11:50 AM)

LGBTQ+ History

Theresa Redfern-Hall

• ages 12–19 years
• Tuition: $180 for the 12-week Fall Semester

A student-requested class that will take a historical and sociological look at how cultures have embraced, accepted, rejected, or ignored people who were non-heterosexual. We will utilize writings, films, and literature about and by LGBTQ+ people and study individuals who did not live as heterosexuals. We will look at major events in history that have shaped and impacted how society views the LGBTQ+ community and how the LGBTQ+ community sees itself. Some of these recent events may include the Holocaust, Stonewall, AIDS, and the Marriage Equality Movement.

Class will require student input as to specific areas of interest.

Students should bring writing implement and paper to class each week.

Students can expect to spend about an hour weekly on reading and/or research.

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Fourth Period (1:50 PM–3:05 PM)

Ancient World History

Theresa Redfern-Hall

• ages 12–19 years
• Tuition: $180 for the 12-week Fall Semester

Utilizing the approach of looking at world history as a big picture, this class will challenge students to view world history as part of the larger patterns of historical change. From Pharaohs to the Great Wall of China, the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire to William the Conqueror, the black death, the Renaissance, and the great civilizations of South America and everything in between students will dig into world history.

This class will focus on “nine big eras” of historical change and the patterns of Humans and the Environment, Humans and Other Humans, and Humans and Ideas.

The class incorporates primary source documents, a class “time travel” presentation, and in-class activities.

Students will need access to Theresa’s website homeschoolingclasses.com in order to access readings and assignments.

Students should bring a writing implement and paper and/or a laptop to class each week.

Students can expect to spend about an hour weekly on reading, research, and/or working on their project for presentation in class.

This full-year course will be open to new students for spring semester.

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Second Period (10:35 AM–11:50 AM)

Journalism/PHS Newspaper

Rebekah Jorgensen

• ages 10–19 years
• Tuition: $165 for the 12-week Fall Semester

This class will provide students with the opportunity to produce a newspaper for Planet Homeschool. Within each class, students will receive an introduction to journalism topics, such as ethics in reporting, accuracy, professionalism, history tidbits, and more. The majority of the class will be spent creating a newspaper for the Planet Homeschool community. Students are invited to join this class if they have an interest in writing, art, and/or photography.

Students will be expected to complete approximately one hour of homework outside of class, primarily writing, but also including some reading and exploratory videos, and will be provided with additional enrichment activities to extend the learning if desired.

Students may choose to co-create columns or articles using Google Drive or other collaborative methods.

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Third Period (12:30 PM–1:45 PM)

Social and Presentation Skills

Kathy Oaks

• ages 13–19 years
• Tuition: $165 for the 12-week Fall Semester

Learn to present yourself well! Get comfortable with meeting people, remembering names, making eye contact, learning relaxation skills, speaking to individuals, listening to others, making phone calls, reciting poems, presenting your ideas to small and large(r) groups, and making a convincing case for your point of view.

Students must be okay shaking hands with people; we will practice greeting each other weekly.

Optional: Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz, by Diane DiResta

Students can expect to spend approximately half an hour to an hour weekly memorizing poems, writing talks, practicing talks, and practicing making phone calls.

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Second Period (10:35 AM–11:50 AM)

Sign Language for Beginners

Tim Hereid

• ages 10–19 years
• This 28-week (35-hour) full-year course. Tuition is paid in two payments:
  • $233.38 (12-weeks) is due by Sat 2 Sep 2023
  • $310.62 (16-weeks) is due by Sat 6 Jan 2024

This introduction to Sign Language will walk students through the fundamentals of this dynamic and complex form of communication. Taught just like a first-year course in any language, this class will teach grammar, usage, vocabulary, and “survival” sign language to beginning students. Class will be taught simultaneously in English and Sign Language, providing students with a language-intensive environment in which to learn. Students will learn how to negotiate basic social situations in sign language and to talk about themselves, their environment, travel, food, clothing, and everyday tasks, among other topics.

As Tim’s brother-in-law is deaf and Tim’s sister-in-law is a sign-language interpreter, he regularly uses sign language and has been building his fluency over the past ten years.

$40.00 supplies fee covers copies, treats, and other supplies for both semesters.

Students should plan to spend around 5 to 10 minutes practicing daily.

Reference: Lifeprint

This is a full-year course.

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Third Period (12:30 PM–1:45 PM)

Japanese

Suzanne Sensei

• ages 12–19 years
• This 27-week (33¾-hour) full-year course. Tuition is paid in two payments:
  • $195.00 (12-weeks) is due by Sat 26 Aug 2023
  • $243.75 (16-weeks) is due by Sat 23 Dec 2023

This is a synchronous (real-time or live) online course held on Thursdays. Classes will be held via Discord.

This is a 27-week (33¾-hour) full-year class. There will be no class on Thursday 7 March (the eighth week of PHS Spring Semester classes). Tuition has been adjusted to reflect this schedule.

Konnichiwa! Take your interest to the next level and learn Japanese.

You will learn to speak and listen through practical conversation you can use daily as well as fun cultural activities and exploration. We will master the complete set of Hiragana and Katakana through writing and reading material relevant to our conversation and cultural exploration. A few key Kanji will be incorporated with a goal of recognition as well as an entry to writing and reading for those who want to extend their studies. There may be separate classes or learning segments geared toward beginners or returning students as needed.

There will be homework and resources provided to continue to practice throughout the course.

Students should play to spend 30 to 60 minutes per week on practice or assignments.

There will be some group work outside of class time that will be coordinated and done through the class’s Discord server.

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Third Period (12:30 PM–1:45 PM)

Mock Trial

Theresa Redfern-Hall

• ages 12–19 years
• Tuition: $180 for the 12-week Fall Semester
• Supplies: $10 for the 12-week Fall Semester

Have you ever tried to persuade someone to change their mind but were unable to present a good argument for your case? Do you like to solve puzzles or find answers to questions? Have you ever wondered how the legal system works or thought about being an attorney? Would you like to be more comfortable speaking in front of people? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this may be the class for you! Students will learn about the origins of law and the basics of the United States judicial system. The class will look into how laws have been made throughout history and how lawmaking has evolved. We will then explore legal terms, courtroom etiquette, and individual roles involved in legal proceedings and trials. Students will explore and examine several actual court cases and then actively participate in three to four mock trials (time/class-dependent.) Court roles will alternate among students for each mock trial. The cases litigated will increase in complexity as the class term proceeds.

(Students who have taken this class previously can take it again, new court cases will be used.) Students will need access to Theresa’s website homeschoolingclasses.com in order to access readings and assignments.

$10.00 supplies fee covers copies of case information

Some writing is required in and outside of class, practicing trial questions and case building.

Students should bring a writing implement and paper and/or a laptop to class each week.

Students can expect to spend about an hour and a half weekly on reading, research, and trial prep.

Students will need to work together outside of class time to prep for trials and roles.

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