Friday afternoons at Polaris are something special. Students have the opportunity to choose 2 different one-hour electives each quarter. It's a great chance for students to get a taste of new subjects, art, sports, languages, etc.  Each quarter and year is unique as the elective classes are taught not only by the teachers but also by volunteers and parents who step forward to share their skills.

To get involved with electives contact Sherry Beardshear.


1st Quarter Electives 2009-2010

 

Grade - Grade Class  Class Description
1 - 2 Come Back to Kindergarten    Do you ever miss the carefree days of kindergarten?  Come to Miss Eileen's class and have that fun again. You can build, play games, do puzzles, create art, and visit with the animals. Best of all, Kindergarten always has snack!
1 - 5 Pokemon Battle Frontier Put your Pokemon skills to the test!  You'll learn how to put decks together and battle your friends in the Pokemon Battle Frontier.  Bring your own cards or borrow ours.  NO TRADING!  
1 - 5 Weaving                Come to Weaving Class with Mrs. Quinby. We will be using yarn, raffia, sticks, feathers, beads and more to beautify your weavings.
1 -  5 Kept in Stitches            Want to learn to knit or keep going in your knitting knowledge?  This class is guaranteed to "Keep You in Stitches"! This class is for both beginning and continuing knitters.  Students will be expected to bring knitting needles or purchase a pair for the class.
2 - 4 Beginning Italian Join Italian-language major Nadia Kouri from the University of Denver as she takes you to Italy via the language, history, art, and culture.  You'll be singing and doing arts and crafts on your way to Venice, Milan, and Florence!  You'll learn how to introduce yourself (your name, age, where you live, phone number, nationality, describe your features), learn your colors, and much more while having so much fun doing it!  Andiamo!
2 - 5 Fencing for Fun Fun with swords.  Learn to fence.  Learn how to score on your opponent with footwork and bladework.  A lot more fun than X-box, do it for real.  
2 - 5 Book Lovers Club Do you ever feel that there is not enough time during the day to read?  Would you love an hour to wander through the library books and magazines at your leisure?  If you love to read and relax, then this is the elective for you.  Come join Mrs. Axt in the library with your own book or sit and enjoy what our library has to offer.  
3 - 5 Legos Rock! Did you know that both Lego Building Blocks and Rock Music are almost 70 years old?  Wow.  Come play with these still-cool classics together in this class.  We'll build amazingly engineered creations while listening to rock music from the late 1930's to today! 
3 - 5 Pysanky - Ukranian Eggs Have you ever seen a beautiful Ukranian egg!  In this class you will learn the art of Pysanky and make a beautiful treasure for you to take home.  
3 - 5 Introduction to Photography An introduction to photography that will cover people, plants, and architecture.  We will also be making a class photo album.  
3 - 5 All about Japan Join me in learning things about Japan through calligraphy and Japanese games.  
3 - 5 Hand Drumming Do you like drumming?  If so, this is the class for you.  Come learn various hand-drumming beats and play along to fun music with Mr. Semler on Friday afternoons.  
3 - 5 Embroidery Plus You've all seen the crazy ugly dolls…Now come use your imagination to create your own cast of characters.  Join us, learn basic embroidery stitches, use felt, buttons, and whatever else, and have a fun time.  
3 - 5 Running Do you love field trips?  Come join us as we run through neighborhoods around Polaris.  Get ready to sweat and have fun.  Please wear shoes and clothing appropriate for running.  
3 - 5 The World is Flatbread All over the world, people make flatbread from fry bread to scallion pancakes to tortillas.  If you are the type of person who loves to try new, different foods, this is the class for you.  Each week we will make a different type of flatbread.  Prerequisites:  you must have an open mind and follow directions well.  
4 - 5 Stenciling and Tie-Dying your own T-shirts You'll create your own design, make a stencil, and then spray paint your design onto your T-shirt.  For tie-dying, it will be more of a free for all, but I guarantee fun results!!
4 - 5 Crime Scene Investigation A crime has been committed, and I need your help solving it!  Delve into the world of crime scene detection and forensic science.  Become a detective and investigate the scene of a crime through the analysis of evidence by means of handwriting observations, fingerprinting, and casts.  
4 - 5 The Polaris Podcast Join us and learn how to record, edit, and distribute a real podcast!  During this class students will produce and record a short segment on the subject of their choice.  At the end, we'll put all the segments together and publish it on a webpage for others to download and listen.  
5 - 5 DSA Visual Arts Portfolio This class is for 5th grade students who plan on going to Denver School of the Arts in the Visual Arts.  
5 - 5 DSA Stagecraft Portfolio This elective is for students who are planning to audition for DSA's stagecraft elective.  We will design sets and build cubes and more!  
K - 1 Introduction to Basketball If you want to learn how to dribble a basketball, make a lay-up, shoot a jumpshot, and play like a Denver Nugget, you need to join this class and be a part of our team.  
K - 2 Legos are Cool Legos are cool.  Come to our elective and find out why.  Create and build interesting "things" with Legos.  Work by yourself or in groups of two or three.  
K - 2 Tag!  You're it. Tag! You're it. Get together to explore the many forms of a classic game everyone loves.
K - 2 Yoga Attention Yoga Enthusiasts!  Ms. Z is back to help you stretch, breathe, and feel happy and relaxed again!  Don't miss this awesome fitness opportunity! 
K - 2 Soccer Tighten your laces and run with us for an hour, while you hone your soccer skills!  This class is for kids of all ability levels.  
K - 2 Creative Dance This fun class will explore dance concepts and movements.  You will use your imagination to dance like princesses or cowboys, while also learning important concepts for school such as math, reading, and writing!
K - 5 Beginning Chess Have you always wanted to play chess?  This elective teaches you about the pieces, moves, and basic strategies to get you started.  
K - 5 Music Composition for Beginners Would you like to learn how to write your own music?  If so, join us.  Is Do,Re,Mi really the A, B, C's of music?  Come join us to explore music!
K - 5 School Improvement Team - formerly known as Student Council I am looking for students who are dedicated to serving their student body through improvements to our school environment, character trait classroom skits, planning spirit days, fundraising efforts, food/clothing drives, hallway monitoring and demonstrating the Polaris spirit!  If this sounds like fun to you, join the school improvement team and make a difference in your school!
4 - 5 Swimming Swim like a fish.  Float like a butterfly.  Sting like a manta ray.  Come swim with Mr. Chris and Mr. Noah.  We will walk to the Glenarm Recreation Center for a splash in the pool.  To be in this class, you must have a signed permission slip from your parents before going to the pool.  NOTE:  This is a double elective.

 

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 - 3 French Fun Jouez (play), dansez (dance), chantez (sing), designez (draw) -- in French.  Many people think French is the world's most beautiful language.  Come see what you think!
1 - 4 Karaoke Dance Party Revolution! Step up to the microphone and sing a favorite song!  From the hustle to the macarena to the cha cha slide, we'll learn a new line dance every week!  We'll have a great time!
1 - 5 Kickball, Tag, Dodgeball, and other Old-School Playground Games Wear your gym shoes, and let's go outside while the weather is still nice!  We'll play great games like kickball, tag, and dodgeball, and some you may not even know yet, like Red Rover and Spud.  
2 - 4 Mexican Adventures Enjoy Mexico using all your senses.  We will learn about Mexico as we read books, cook, sing, and learn Spanish.  
2 - 5 Play Hacky Sack and Drink Lemonade Learn the brief history, rules, and basic rules of Hacky Sack (aka foot bag).  It is a game of coordination and balance; these skills will help you improve other sports you enjoy.  Join us for the fun, it's a real "kick"!
2 - 5 Honor Choir End every week on a great note!  Come sing fun songs and make beautiful music with Mrs. Kielmeyer.  We will perform a great concert and maybe sing the National Anthem at a Rockies game this spring. You must audition with Mrs. Kielmeyer and must have prior approval to be in this class.  You must stay in choir for at least two quarters in a row.
3 - 4 Basketball             Dribble…pass…shoot…score!  Veterans and rookies welcome.  Let's have fun on the court.  
3 - 5 Hip Hop Hip Hop explores street-style dancing, such as popping, locking, and break dancing.  You will study the history and learn the terminology of this dancing style!  You will read a book on Hip Hop dancing and present your findings to your classmates!  Also, be ready to dance Hip Hop and improve your math, reading, and writing skills.
3 - 5 Cartoon Club Come and enjoy the fun at Cartooning Class--Coach D will lead you through a variety of basic cartooning skills, and you will get a chance to draw and share drawings during the sessions.  
3 - 5 Legos Rock! Did you know that both Lego Building Blocks and Rock Music are almost 70 years old?  Wow.  Come play with these still-cool classics together in this class.  We'll build amazingly engineered creations while listening to rock music from the late 1930's to today! 
3 - 5 Volleyball Bump, set, spike!!  Come learn how to play volleyball, improve your skills, and have a great time outdoors at the park.
3 - 5 For the Love of the Arts The Polaris Program community has many amazing artists.  Come explore and experience art from a different artist each week.
3 -  5 Science Is Cool There are many great scientists in our midst at Ebert.  This class will feature a different teacher teaching a different branch of science each time.  This is a very interesting class and has many new teachers and subjects this quarter.  If you have taken it before, take it AGAIN! Very cool! 
3 - 5 Soccer Tighten your laces and run with us for an hour, while you hone your soccer skills!  This class is for kids of all ability levels.  Meet on the field.
3 - 5 Organize the Jog-A-Thon Help plan and organize the Jog-A-Thon.  Create posters and recruit students/families.  Learn how to run a big clock, operate a timer, and measure the course.  Plan the music and announcements for the sound system.  Put it all together on October 9th. 
3 - 5 Pysanky - Ukranian Eggs Have you ever seen a beautiful Ukranian egg!  In this class you will learn the art of Pysanky and make a beautiful treasure for you to take home.  
4 - 5 Girls Group Girls rule!  Come hang out with your girlfriends and make new friends in a place just for you!  We will have workshops and rap sessions about the different issues going on in your everyday lives and have a blast doing it!
K - 1 Girls Run, Kick and Throw with Kickball Run, kick and throw!  Come practice the skills you need for soccer and kickball and play a game.   For girls only.  Let's have fun!
K - 2 Cooking Cookies and Desserts Do you have a sweet tooth?  Do you like dessert?  Want to learn to make cookies?  If so, this is the class for you!
K - 2 Save the World! Join us to help.  Help people:  homeless people, firemen, children -- you choose!  We can help animals.  Help Mother Nature.  Help save the world.   Like the penny harvest, we will find projects to do together to help someone!  Then, we'll eat cookies.   
K - 2 Beading Beads are not just for jewelry.  Come create new projects for yourself or someone special.  
K - 5 Intermediate Chess Want to sharpen your game?  Learn new strategies and play other intermediate players.  
K - 5 Bread Making           Breadmaking:  Put on your chef's hat and come make bread dough that you can take home to bake and eat!  Yum! 
K - 5 Polaris Farmers Grow your own food!  We will plant our very own Polaris Veggie Patch, even in the winter/early spring, in our all-season growing structure on the playground.  We'll fill it with compost that we will make, and plant a salad to eat!  This quarter we will build a Polaris composting bin.  
4 - 5 Swimming Swim like a fish.  Float like a butterfly.  Sting like a manta ray.  Come swim with Mr. Chris and Mr. Noah.  We will walk to the Glenarm Recreation Center for a splash in the pool.  To be in this class, you must have a signed permission slip from your parents before going to the pool.  NOTE:  This is a double elective.