Schedule
Learning must be inspiring, challenging and fun!We believe that by asking more questions, students
will discover exciting new pathways.
2019 Session Four Brochure
Class Descriptions
One-to-One Tutoring
We offer specialized tutoring five days a week in all academic areas. Whether your child needs a boost in reading comprehension, math, or wants to learn a new talent such as music, voice or a foreign language skill, we have the right time and place for them. Don't forget about club time: expand your students loft experience with an extra hour for free!
Session 3, 2019
Available Mondays-Fridays, 8am–4pm
Available Mondays-Fridays, 8am–4pm
Price: $85/per session
Sessions run 50 minutes
Start Date
Open depending on availability
End Date
Open depending on availability
Magic Science -Level 1
Carlos Angeles
This lab will offer exciting experiments focusing mainly on physics and chemistry through magic! We will focus on using real world applications from the day’s lesson - the instructor plans on having students make toys with recycled material. The instructor will also interject Spanish vocabulary and phrases throughout the lab.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 1st-3rd
Science of Space: The Scientific Method -Level 2
Understanding our universe helps us to better understand the world around us. Let's get to know the space outside of our planet's boundaries. We'll explore outer space concepts and rocket science, dip into current NASA missions, and do lots of hands on experiments as we learn about what's going on in our Solar System and beyond. We'll also take space science and apply it to how we learn about our home planet, Earth.<br />
In this session, we will be studying the Scientific Method as it was used in observations and later theories about space. Each session will be a combination of theory and hands on experimentation through practical applications of the Scientific Method.
Jennifer Racusin
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 5th/6th
The Science of Space: The Scientifc Method, Level 3
Understanding our universe helps us to better understand the world around us. Let's get to know the space outside of our planet's boundaries. We'll explore outer space concepts and rocket science, dip into current NASA missions, and do lots of hands on experiments as we learn about what's going on in our Solar System and beyond. We'll also take space science and apply it to how we learn about our home planet, Earth.<br />
In this session, we will be studying the Scientific Method as it was used in observations and later theories about space. Each session will be a combination of theory and hands on experimentation through practical applications of the Scientific Method.
Jennifer Racusin
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target Grades: 6th-8th
Farm to Table- writing and research with math, Level 1, 2
Judy Fukasawa
Have you seen the labels, USDA organic, GMO, non-GMO, no added sugar, no preservatives, on foods? Do you wonder why we have all those labels on food and what they mean? In this class students will learn about nutrition, what nutrients are in foods, understand what all the labels on foods mean, and learn to make healthy delicious meals and deserts.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 1st-3rd
Math Lab- Mega Math Mania
Michelle Charfen
Collaborative math through hands-on group projects based on core concepts for the work journal.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Grades 3rd/4th
Elementary Finance, Level 1, 2
Judy Fukasawa
We will cover key terms associated with earning money (budget, savings, investment, savings, financial goals, interest, and investments), explore ideas for earning money now, explore the costs of using credit cards to make purchases, and identify why having a budget and keeping records of their spending and saving habits helps them to make better financial choices.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Grades: 1, 2
Math Lab - foundational skills II
All math simply begins with counting: addition is counting “up,” subtraction is counting “down,” multiplication is counting “by groups,” and division is “counting out,” like dealing cards. Come and improve numeracy, recall of facts, and hone dexterity with the basic algorithms. Then, as fractions, decimals, percentages, and algebra are introduced, that solid foundation will allow students to really stretch and grow as mathletes.
In this lab a strong focus will be on strengthening foundational math skills. We will use a hybrid combination of Engage NY and Georgia Math curriculum at grade level.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Grades: 3, 4
Math Lab - foundational skills III
Math is a language complete with an alphabet, punctuation, grammar, and syntax. As the concepts become more complicated, like algebra, integers, exponents, and geometry, being “fluent” in that language becomes more and more important for developing confidence and competence. This lab will focus on the fundamentals and developing key skills so that students can speak, read, and write math. Hands-on work with story problems and projects will highlight this dynamic lab.
In this lab a strong focus will be on strengthening foundational math skills. We will use a hybrid combination of Engage NY and Georgia Math curriculum at grade level.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 6th-8th
Lego League, Engineering, Level 1, 2
Lego League labs explore the Engineering Method as students build challenges that require building, testing, and then revising and improving their projects. We will work on developing the soft skills needed to be a successful member of a team and keep engineering journals to document and reflect on our work together.
In this lab a strong focus will be on strengthening foundational math skills. We will use a hybrid combination of Engage NY and Georgia Math curriculum at grade level.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 6th-8th
Geometry, Level 3
Come and explore the vertex of mathematics and the real world with a stand-alone math class dedicated to GEOMETRY. Starting off with the first dimension and measuring distance and location we will explore the coordinate grid and X,Y axis graphing everything from rays and lines to cartoon characters. Then we will add the third dimension and create, measure, compare, and construct with cubes, prisms, pyramids, cylinders, and more.
In this lab a strong focus will be on strengthening foundational math skills. We will use a hybrid combination of Engage NY and Georgia Math curriculum at grade level.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 6th-8th
No Hate, Just Debate
Jennifer Racusin
In this persuasive writing lab, students learn how to persuade others and articulate their ideas and points of view clearly in their writing and speaking. They learn how to use facts and research as well as personal stories to educate and persuade other people. Students learn how to order and structure their writing as well as listen to and respond to another person’s point of view by taking a stance and engaging in friendly debates.
All labs include a snack break and a ten minute transition. Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Grades: 1-4
Culture Club
David Chrzanowski
Students will explore and experience ``culture``: how do we define it? how do we experience it? how and why does it persist? how and why does it change? Students will build a definition of the word together through experience: they will read stories from different countries, cook and eat foods that represent cultural traditions, experience dance and music, and write stories and opinions of their own.
All labs include a snack break and a ten minute transition. Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grades: 4th-7th
Reading/Writing Group: ``The Wishtree``, Level 1
Jennifer Racusin
Please purchase “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate prior to first class. Description: Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .<br />
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood ``wishtree``—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this ``wishtree`` watches over the neighborhood.You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.<br />
Author Katherine Applegate untangles thorny subjects for young readers. In Wishtree, she takes on anti-Muslim bigotry, handling the subject with a light touch, so the treatment doesn't feel heavy. There's sly humor, and fun friendships involving the tree, talking animals, and humans, mixed in with some meaty scientific information about trees and animals. If, like the tree, we're sometimes baffled by angry human behavior and ugly conflict, this story's a balm, promoting acceptance and empathy, and full of quiet wisdom and soothing pleasures.<br />
Jennifer's reading groups include lessons to build vocabulary and spelling skills, deep discussions to fully understand the themes of the literature and writing projects to sharpen communication skills.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 2nd/3rd
The Loft Angeles Times
David Chrzanowski
The LOFT is going to create and edit our very own newspaper! In this class, students will start out by learning about the history of news, explore the Newseum in Washington D.C. online, and learn what goes into making a newspaper, we’ll learn about credible sources, and proper citation, conduct facilitator interviews, report on Loft ‘Happenings’ as we refine our editing process. We will also look at U.S., state, and local news to develop get our investigative reporting skills up and running. An afterschool field trip to the Los Angeles Times is being developed for the springtime!<br />
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See brochure for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grade: 5th/6th
Early Language Skills: Story-time!
David Chrzanowski
Through story-time, puppetry, and drama, our young ones will get exposure to basic story-structure, sight words, and fables. Heavy exposure to hands on projects around simple sentence structure and other fun activities.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See PDF for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Target grades: 1st/2nd
Tiny Stitches, Tiny Worlds, The art of storytelling through sewing, Levels 1, 2, 3
Jennifer Racusin
You’ve got creativity bubbling inside you. Do you like telling stories and making characters, props and sets to go with them? Now you’ve got a space, the materials and the time to make your vision a reality. Let’s explore your ideas, learn the basics of sewing and puppetry, and talk about storytelling as we craft and put together a tiny play to share our tiny worlds.
Our labs are designed to coordinate with Da Vinci work journals and California common core state standards. Upon request our facilitators will fill out student work journals for the day of lab they are participating in, and will provide quality work samples for your student.
See PDF for price, dates, times, and hours lab meets.
Book Club
David Chrzanowski
Book clubs have come back as a popular way for readers to discuss books in an informal setting. Students can enjoy the same kind of community-building experience by meeting with friends to choose, read, and discuss books together. Our book club at the LOFT will come to life with discussions, arts and crafts, and activities around student interest material.<br />
Target grades: 6th-8th
Our Club is a compassionate space for kids to explore and create with their peers. When the need arises, facilitators guide, support, and encourage them to reach their creative potential.
See brochure for prices and class meeting times.
Start Date
On-going
End Date