Mini Term

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, teachers throughout the school have the freedom to introduce special topics of study.

Every year, the weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas are busy ones.  Throughout mini term, the school community comes together for Advent worship. Middle School students take advantage of special course offerings designed to broaden their experiences.  In the mornings and on some afternoons, middle school students take part in electives of their choice. There are approximately eight courses offerings from which students choose two. The hard part, of course, is choosing. Mini term courses change from year to year.

At the end of the term, Upper School students lead the school in Las Posadas, Mustard Seed's community Christmas celebration.

2010 Upper School Miniterm Overview

What is the Relationship between Structure & Freedom?

• What are some of the characteristics of freedom?
• Where does freedom exist and what do we do with it? 
• When are structures (and rules) good and when are they frustrating? 
• How do we balance freedom and structure if we are to create good lives, work and play well, and fulfill our callings?

These are some of the guiding questions that will be recurring in our December miniterm. Whether in literature, mathematics, or mini-term electives, students will be considering these questions and others in the three weeks to come.

Every year, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are busy ones at Mustard Seed. This year, students will again participate in Carnegie Hall’s Global Encounters Program: Music of India. Then, three weeks later, we end the term with a whole-school celebration led by Upper School students, (including the MSS Chorus) at Las Posadas. In between, daily worship involves the whole school, as we celebrate Advent together; music experiences include a concert at our school, as well as a field trip to Carnegie Hall; service projects will be prominent; and literature will include the reading of significant novel studies. At the same time, teachers will be providing students with the opportunity to take advantage of special course offerings.

Among other things, during the mini-term, students will take part in electives on the mornings of Mondays,Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays.

2010 Upper School Mini Term Course Offerings

Living Well
In this mini term elective, we will address the question, What does it mean to live well? Students will
spend time reflecting on physical, emotional and spiritual well being. This class will include journalling and collage, pilates, jogging, some baking and looking at the food pyramid and healthy eating.

Portraiture
In this session, students will explore paint and pastel, as they create portraits. Christine Cornell, is an artist and teacher who is here to share her art with aspiring painters. This is a great course for students who enjoy spending time with color and brushes and producing an artful product.

Christine Cornell has been one of the nation's most renowned courtroom artists for the last 25 years. She has covered some of the most famous trials of all time, sketching the images of courtroom dramas such as the Leona Helmsley, John Gotti, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Kenneth and Sante Kimes trials.

Japanese Language & Culture
In this elective, students will experience and explore Japanese language, culture, and music! They will listen to traditional and contemporary music from Japan and note the variety of styles and forms that have emerged from Japanese culture. They'll also try out some traditional Japanese clothing, simple conversational language, and, of course, food. If you are interested in broadening your horizons and visiting the land of the rising sun, this course if for you.

Sound Explosion
In this session, we will explore rhythm, sound and soul in everyday life, taking the mundane and
turning it into the marvelous. “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands!” (Psalm 66:1) The instructors for this course are Jared and Noni Mason who met while performing rhythms in the percussion show, STOMP! Jared currently performs on Broadway in the show Million Dollar Quartet.

Engineering Design Squad
Design, build, compete! In this session, each student will be given different engineering challenges each day and will compete with one another to see who has the best design. All challenges are from the PBS show, Design Squad. This session is for students who have a passion for understanding how things work.

Let’s Sing!
This session is music for the soul. Students will listen to Gospel Music, Soul, and R & B and hear
the connections – from the traditional styles of Mahalia Jackson to the contemporary styles of
Hezekiah Walker, from Gospel standards to Holy Hip-Hop. Students will sing too, of course . . . and
will hopefully find themselves singing in Community Worship, as a part of our Advent worship
time

Amigurumi
Learn the art of crochet through making little amigurumi! Amigurumi is the Japanese art
of knitting or crocheting stuffed animals. In this course, students will start by making a mini-baseball
or basketball hacky sack and finish by crocheting a stuffed animal of your choosing. You will
learn basics of crochet, including how to increase, decrease and the single crochet stitch.

Exploring the Graphic Novel
In this class students will create our own graphic novels using whatever styles of writing and art
most appeal to us. They willl look at various examples of graphic novels to generate inspiration
for developing either fictional or non-fiction stories or narratives. Fantasy, biography,
science fiction, adventure, humor and historical fiction will be examined. Students may work
independently or they can collaborate, focusing on either art or writing to construct an original and personal book. Students will concentrate on developing an idea, deciding on an appropriate art style, and laying out the story visually to produce a strong finished result. 

This class will be taught by author/illustrator Jill Kastner.  Jill has illustrated over twenty-five books for children, from pioneers and Native American themes to snakes, bears and acrobatic pigs. Her books have been recognized in "Children's Books of the Year" lists by Bank Street College and Smithsonian Magazine, and have been selected for the American Bookseller Association "Pick of the Lists" and "Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies".

Internships

Shared Space Internship 1/Collage
This Shared Space Internship centers around collage (creating arctic animals and habitats.
(Grades K & 1)

Shared Space Internship 2/Drama
This Shared Space Internship involves drama. This intern must be an actor, ready to stay in character and help younger students to tell a story. Videotaping may also be involved.

Math Tutor - Grade 3
This intern would plan and guide games and activities that spread the love of numbers and make fun a premium. This intern would be involved with homework help and game playing.

Conversationalist/Teacher Assistant - Grade 3
This intern needs to be a gifted communicator, someone who can listen, ask questions, and guide a conversation for 10-15 minutes. That is essentially the role: to talk and to encourage talking every day in small groups! In addition, there will be opportunities to serve as an assistant teacher. For this internship, strong vocabulary, knowledge of grammar, and creative mind must be evident in one’s speech.

Nest Internship/Play
This intern will play! On a daily basis he or she will assist young Nest students (ages 3 and 4) in playing group games and eating snack. If you enjoy the laughter of very young children, this job is for you.

Shared Space Internship 1/Weaving
This Shared Space Internship will center around weaving. The 2nd grade will be learning to weave. They will also actually spin and dye some of the yarn for the weaving themselves.The intern will manage dye, lead spinning, and help second and third graders to plan and
create an Navaho style weaving.

Shared Space Internship 2/Woodworking
This intern will guide wood working, help students use a saw and drill, and assemble wooden masks and buildings (such as a library, police station, etc). The third grade will be building model communities, while the second grade will be studying Native American art and culture.

Nest Internship/Games
This intern will play games. On a daily basis he or she will play board games with Nest students (ages 3 and 4), as well as assist with art projects. Anyone who enjoys talking to very young children is suited for this job.

Other Mini Term Courses from Recent Years