Edison Classes

The beginner level class is for those completely new to the game of chess, and those who may have been introduced at home or elsewhere, but don't have a solid grasp of the fundamentals. The post-beginner/intermediate level class is for those with a solid grasp of chess fundamentals.

Topics to be covered include: chessboard terminology and square identification; how the various pieces move and capture, plus their relative values; pawn promotion; the very crucial concepts of check, checkmate, and stalemate; the special move of castling; opening goals and principles; basic endgame checkmates using major pieces; and last, but not least, good chess etiquette.

The advanced students are expected to already know: chessboard terminology and square identification; how the various pieces move and capture, plus their relative values; pawn promotion; the very crucial concepts of check, checkmate, and stalemate; the special move of castling; opening goals and principles; basic endgame checkmates using major pieces; and last, but not least, good chess etiquette.

AEF/ACC afterschool chess classes are divided (roughly in half) timewise between instruction and supervised play. Instruction will focus on learning tactics and strategy through the explanation of games and positions from historical players and events, and/or current top-level competitions. The instructor will organize and run an unofficial tournament during the last 4-5 weeks of this level course, with labeled medals as awards for all participants upon completion.

All enrolled students earn and accumulate points towards ACC's Royalty Loyalty Program (RLP) rewards by participating in the instruction half of class and playing with good chess etiquette afterwards. RLP rewards consist of chess-related items, including chess puzzle books and equipment.

What connects Alameda to Australia, Antarctica and Alaska? Where did life begin, and where does the largest animal ever to live on earth still live? What is huger than you can imagine, but needs your protection? The ocean is all that and more. Guided by a real oceanographer, we will explore the ocean with stories, art and a lot of hands-on science. Cynthia Cudaback PhD (a.k.a. Dr C) is an Oakland native and UC Berkeley graduate with a deep love for the ocean environment. She has piloted large research vessels across the Pacific Ocean and studied estuarine and coastal areas from Washington State to North Carolina. She has taught students from ages four through 104 about the ocean and its wonderful inhabitants.

Aloha Ukulele takes students on a musical journey through the beautiful islands of Hawaii. The keiki, meaning “little ones,” will learn how to play songs on their ukulele while also learning the art, language and traditions of Hawaii. In addition to musical activities, students will have the opportunity to create flower lei, bead art, and other creative projects.

This class uses Teaching with Comprehensible Input (TCI), a methodology that is proven to be effective, based on Second Language Acquisition research from the last four decades. The students will ACQUIRE the Spanish Language rather than learning about it. "We acquire language when we understand messages; when we understand what people tell us and when we understand what we read.”—Dr. Stephen Krashen
YOUR CHILD WILL: Read in Spanish ● Listen in Spanish ● Respond as able using signals at first, then words in Spanish, then phrases ● communicate through meaningful interactions.
YOUR CHILD WILL NOT: Memorize vocabulary lists ● Practice verb conjugations ● Learn about Spanish in English

Proficiency is the Goal: Proficient learners can communicate about something appropriately and accurately for a purpose. We listen, read, write, and speak in Spanish. We use the language to explore our cultures, Spanish speaking cultures, world cultures, and ancient cultures. We use useful language in the class so that we are prepared to communicate in the real world. We center our interactions on what each student needs, knows and can do now and what each student needs in order to move forward.

Have fun and let creativity flow with this adventure in color! Art can truly provide an outlet for self expression and discovery. In fact, it is well known that an artistic activity like painting can inspire creativity, problem solving and focus into other spheres of life. Early exposure to arts can develop into a lifelong pursuit of joy and well-being. In this series of classes, Mandar, an award winning artist based in Alameda, will provide an immersion in the key fundamentals of drawing, sketching & painting using his hands on approach. He will do demos in all his classes and encourage individuality and inspired action. The class will paint many exciting subjects including pokemon, super heroes, ninjas, dinosaurs and magical creatures. See Mandar’s art and testimonials at www.mandarfineart.com

All the fun happens while we are immersed in Mandarin! Our creative Chinese classes are engaging and educational lessons. We combine Chinese language learning with hands-on activities. We believe in learning language through meaningful content. Our storybooks are not only entertaining, but also serve as an excellent platform to reinforce vocabulary, sentence structure, overall comprehension, and listening skills. The students actively participate in discussions related to the story.

Each week we read a theme-based storybook, and do worksheets and activities based on them, like singing songs, acting, playing games, doing arts and crafts, cooking, and writing. The activities are not only incredibly fun but also allow the students to apply their language skills in a practical context.

Our students develop lifelong interests in Mandarin Chinese, and continue to show enthusiasm and dedication to learning, which is truly valuable. See April’s programs and testimonials at EnjoyChineseLA.com.

Unlock musical abilities through classes designed to make practice enjoyable and effective. Our gamified approach lets kids progress at their own pace through personalized exercises tailored to their needs. From the first class, students are jamming to enjoyable songs, reading sheet music, and playing the piano — ensuring they’re engaged in each lesson while also building a solid musical foundation to further pursue their passion with confidence.

Welcome to the magical world of Encanto! In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of coding while creating animations and projects with their favorite characters from Encanto. Every class is a new adventure and opportunity to put coding fundamentals into action! From finding Bruno to helping Mirabel find her door, kids will have a blast learning about loops, variables, and more while creating their own magical journey!