Thinking Series Super Pack: Terms 1-2

Purchase a full year (32 weeks) of thinking series classes for only $10/session! This includes: 
 
World Religions and the Ethical Care of Planet Earth (4 weeks)
Religion can be a powerful motivator for people of faith to embrace and commit to a critical cause and stay with it. This class will introduce basic teachings of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism (along with a session on American indigenous religions) that persuade believers to embrace the creation and health of our planet and take action to protect it. 
 
We will explore:
basic beliefs of each major faith
its concept of the origin of the Earth
divine involvement in creating and sustaining physical life
imperatives for human care of the planet
examples of that care where we can see faith in action in current world history 
 
Walks in Bamboo Forests: Think Like a Philosopher (6 weeks)
Eastern Philosophy has always had a very similar goal to Western philosophy: that of making us wiser, less agitated, more thoughtful, and prepared to appreciate our beautiful lives. However, the way Eastern philosophers have gone about this has been intriguingly different. 
 
In the East, Philosophy has taught its lessons via tea-drinking ceremonies, contemplations of rivers, flower-arranging sessions, and walks in bamboo forests!
 
Students will learn how to think like a philosopher, compare and draw differences as well as similarities between both halves of our world. A few ideas:
 
Benevolence
Effort
Kintsugi
Chi- State of Meditation
Bamboo as Wisdom
 
Looking Through the Lens: A Study of our World through Film (4 weeks)
Bring your popcorn as we sit down to take a closer look at the odds and ends of film! For this section, we will be taking a look at the film industry as it began and progressed through the mid-century. The class will explore various theoretical, historical, and critical approaches to cinema as an art form and a medium. Our film studies will help us look at film through a theoretical and critical lens. What did we like? What did we not? Asking questions is essential. Students will learn about the film industry, the history of film, the different genres in film, the lessons learned through film, and analyse each film in the broader context of society. Starting off with the original Charlie Chaplin film, “The Kid,” we will then watch a musical, a Jimmy Stewart classic, a Hitchcock mystery, and end with one of the biggest movies ever produced. Don’t forget the snacks!
 
The Kid (1921)
Available on Amazon Prime Video for free
 
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Available on Amazon Prime Video for $3.99
 
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 
Available on Amazon Prime Video for $2.99
 
To Catch a Thief (1955)
Available on Amazon Prime Video for free
 
Ben-Hur (1959)
Available on Amazon Prime Video for $3.99
 
Psychology of Caring (6 weeks)
What would you do?
 
Your Mom and Dad tell you that your godmother has cancer and is in the hospital for treatment and an operation. 
A friend confides in you tearfully that her parents are talking about a divorce. 
Your classmate sends you a message that you are invited to his grandfather's memorial service. 
 
What do you do?  What do you say?
 
This is a class about sharpening your skills as a caring person and learning specific ways to communicate with and give help to a friend or relative going through a crisis.  One of those skills is knowing your own limitations and when a troubled person needs adult help and maybe a professional expert.  But most of the skills are practical and helpful for enriching your relationships with the friends and relatives you care about. 
 
Every Penny Counts (5 weeks)
We focus so much on developing our children- emotionally, socially, spiritually, and intellectually. And now the next level of development- financial responsibility. WIth Ms Emilie, students will learn about budgeting, credit cards, credit scores, interest rates, the stock market, investing, loans, and more. They will have the opportunity to create a mock stock portfolio and “play” the stock market and create their own personal life financial plan. After all, those who fail to plan, plan to fail. It is not too early for students to become financially wise; this class pays big dividends, and it’s lots of fun too!
 
The Creative Genius in You (5 weeks)
You have the recipe for greatness in your soul. Whether it’s expressed with water paints or widgets, you are creative. Feeding your creative side reaps rich long-term rewards—studies show that it correlates with greater professional success later in life, whether or not you pursue a field that is typically thought of as “creative”. Think about Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Einstein- all highly creative people who found success in the sciences. Those with higher creativity skills publish more books, create more artwork, execute more successful ad campaigns, file more patents, and give more lectures. In fact, the correlation between childhood creativity and adult accomplishment is three times as strong as that between childhood IQ and adult accomplishment. 
 
However, like a flame, creativity needs to be fanned, fed, and encouraged. In our world today, creativity is easily squashed; it must be handled with care, like a delicate flower. So, how can you strengthen your creative side? Some answers may surprise you. For example, a solid sleeping routine is necessary (yes, we will encourage your child to go to bed on time!), along with uninterrupted alone time, an element of artistic collaboration, and other powerful habits. Join us as we study the most creative minds of all time, study their habits, develop our own healthy habits, and discuss the science of creativity. Set yourself apart in the world; nourish your creative side and become a creative genius. 
 
Day and Time: Thursdays, 12:45-1:45 PM ET
Bundle Duration: 32 Weeks
Dates: September 14, 2023 - May 30, 2024
Fall Break: November 20 - 24, 2023
Winter Break: December 11, 2023 - January 7, 2024
Spring Break: March 25 - 29, 2024
Recommended for: Ages 13+ / Grades 8-9
Teacher: TTK Faculty
 
See more thinking series classes: thethinkingkid.org/the-thinking-series
See more classes for ages 13+ / grades 8-9: thethinkingkid.org/grades-8-9

Save even more with our Diploma Package! See here