Costa Rica: A Virtual Field Trip
SUMMER SCHEDULE IN EFFECT!!
Class starts every Tuesday and ALL lessons are available on that day. You have until the final due date, August 20, to complete all work for the course. This means you have the entire summer semester to complete the course on YOUR schedule!
CLASS DESCRIPTION
This 7 week course will follow your fearless instructor, Mary Middlebrook, during an epic adventure she had while living in Costa Rica during the summer of 2016! A wide variety of topics are presented each week, using an online lesson plan, images, and videos taken on location!
CLASS FORMAT
No live classes—view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both—the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2.
Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and viewing grades/feedback. Read more details about class format.
Week 1: A complete country overview
This week covers geography, language, national symbols, and travel of Costa Rica.
Week 2: Learn all about the reptiles and amphibians of Costa Rica
This week includes a biology lesson and virtual fieldtrip to a herptological park (with a behind the scenes tour of the breeding facilities!)
Week 3: The history of Costa Rica
We take a focused look at the indigenous people of Costa Rica. Virtual field trip to the only UNESCO cultural site in Costa Rica!
Week 4: Jungle Trip!
This was everyone’s favorite lesson last time the class was offered! A virtual field trip deep in the jungle and high up on a mountain to a native Borucan village! Learning all about the culture of the Borucan people, and how they are working to keep that culture alive.
Week 5: An amazing wildlife trip!
We travel down the Sierpe River to study the biodiversity of the rainforest. “See” monkeys (I got a huge surprise!), birds, reptiles, and more. Learn about the river ecosystem, the endangered Scarlet Macaws, and what is being done to save them.
Week 6: Learn how kids CAN make a difference!
We’ll visit Kids Saving the Rainforest- an animal rehabilitation and rainforest preservation facility started by two 9 year old girls!
Week 7: Whales and dolphins!
My degree is in marine biology, so this is a great lesson on the biology of these animals. Plus, come along with me in search of Humpback Whales that migrate through this area every year on a fabulous whale watching adventure!
Next Level Homeschool is a firm believer that not all learning should happen from behind a screen! That's why we give students the freedom to submit their assignments in the way THEY want to! We don't want regurgitation learning here. By allowing students to use their own talents, skills, and passions to complete assignments, they become even more engaged and retain the information. Why? Because now it's literally in their hands! We receive thousands of projects every year from our students: written reports, videos, models, posters, Scratch, Minecraft, Roblox, songs, poems, skits, drawings, sculptures, crafts—we've seen it ALL! And WE LOVE IT!!
Click here to view just a few projects we've received from students who have taken this class and see what YOUR kid could be learning with Next Level Homeschool!
Course Features
- Schedule Summer 2025
- Activities Science
- Lessons 7
- Suggested Ages 9-15 Two Levels
- Time This class is currently closed for enrollments.
