More than a classroom experience

Astronomy

World History

American History

Archaeology

PALEONTOLOGY | 1st Grade & up

• Introduction to Dinosaurs: There are thousands of dinosaur species known to science. In this class, we will look at the five major groups of dinosaurs – Theropoda (usually predatory dinosaurs), Sauropodomorpha (long-necked dinosaurs), Ornithopoda (Iguanodonts and “duck-billed” dinosaurs), Marginocephalia (horned dinosaurs), and Thyreophora (armored dinosaurs) – and what defines them.

 

• 10 Methods of fossilization-How fossils form: Most people know the fundamentals of fossilization, but this class will look at the many subdivisions that are taught in college courses – from imprints, cast, molds, recrystallization, petrification, pyritization, permineralization, and trace fossils like coprolites (fossil droppings) and tracks. 

 

• Paleontology 101: An Introduction to Paleontology & Fossils covers specimens from the earliest invertebrates in prehistoric seas to the dinosaur right up to the end of the last “Ice age”. This class will focus on the origins of the fossil record as well as the various methods of fossilization. To complete your student’s understanding of the topics covered, they will be encouraged to touch and examine a variety of actual fossils and the real tools of paleontology.

 

• What is a Dinosaurs? The objective of this classis to learn the fundamental anatomical features that classify dinosaurs from all other prehistoric life. The class includes real fossils, 3D prints, and models.

 

• Before the Dinosaurs – Life in the Precambrian and Paleozoic: Before Dinosaurs is a genral introduction, in this class is a detailed look at the earliest life on Earth and how they adapted to an ever-changing world. Bacteria, sponges, corals, Mollusca (clams, snails, and squid), Arthropods (bugs), Echinoderms (sea stars and sand dollars), and vertebrates(fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals) are all life forms that began during this time. These time periods culminated in the greatest extinction known to life on Earth, about 186 million years before the more well-known dinosaur extinction.

 

• The Age of Dinosaurs – Life in the Mesozoic: The Age of Reptiles is a general introduction, in this is the time dinosaurs walked the Earth, but they were not alone. Flying above their heads were winged reptiles, and the oceans were filled with gigantic marine reptiles the likes of which could only be reimagined in Hollywood movies. And while these life forms dominated the world stage, mammals, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, legless snakes, bees, ants, and flowering plants acted as a supporting cast of characters.

• After Dinosaurs – The Cenozoic, recovery from dinosaur extinction to today: After dinosaurs is a general introductio, in this class focuses on the fact that the 66-million- year-old dinosaur extinction event did not lead straight into the Ice age. There was a mammal renaissance in which bats took flight and whales evolved from land mammals, while tree-loving primates began to walk upright. Here we see the story of us, mammals, the heirs to the dinosaurs.

 

• Prehistoric Animal Diets – Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores, oh my: The focus of this classis to study the dentition (teeth) of dinosaurs and other prehistoric life. Determining how and what these prehistoric animals ate is easily derived from modern analogous and morphology of the tooth. 

 

• Prehistoric Defense – Teeth, claws, run, or hide: When people imagine dinosaurs, they often see them fighting for food, territory, mates, or just because! This class will study the teeth, hones, and claws used to execute these actions while referencing actual fossil finds from all over the world as evidence.

• The Permian Period: In this dep dive review, we will look at the geography, tectonics, climates, flora (plants), and fauna (animals) from the early and late Permian Period. This is the time of the sailed back Dimetrodon, giant amphibians, and gorgons. The class will culminate in the greatest mass extinction of all time seeing 95% of life in the ocean and about 70% of life on land.

• The Triassic Period: In this deep dive review, we will look at life’s recovery after the “great dying” of the Permian/Triassic extinction event. This is the time of the first dinosaurs and large crocodilian reptiles that ruled over them.

• The Jurassic Period: In this deep dive review, we will look at the geologic events that mark the break up of Pangaea. In this period we will witness how the dinosaurs became the dominant vertebrates in all of Earth’s terrestrial environments after recovering from the Triassic/Jurassic extinction event. This is the time of Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Brontosaurus, Camarasaurus, Ceratosaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus.

• The Cretaceous Period: In this deep dive review the largest time perios of the Phanerozoic (eon of visible life). This is the time of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, and the great marine reptile Mosasaurus.

• The Pleistocene Epoch “The Ice Age”: In this deep dive review we will look at the affects global cooling and glacier formation had on life on Earth. This is the time of Woolly mammoths, Columbian Mammoths, giant ground sloths, saber tooth cats, and giant “terror birds”.

BIOLOGY | 1st Grade & up

• Earliest life: This class we will study what defines Bactria, Protist (plankton and sea weed), Sponges, Cnidarians (corals, sea jellies, sea anemone), and Worms.

• Mollusca: This class will look at what defines the phylum Mollusca and the various classes Bivalves (clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops), Gastropoda (snail, slugs, and abalones), and Cephalopoda, (squids, octopus, and cuttlefish) oh my!

• Arthropoda: In this class we will learn about the largest phylum on Earth, Arthropoda with around 1,170,000 species, but you know them as “bugs”. Members include the ancient fossils of Trilobites, Crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, crayfish, and barnacles), Arachnids (spiders and scorpions), Insecta (ants, bees, butterflies, and ladybugs), and Myriapoda (millipede and centipedes).

• Echinodermata: In this class we will study the “spiny skin” phylum which includes Sea Urchins, Sand Dollar, Crinoids. Whoever said being an advanced animal requires means you have to have eyes, a head, or legs?

• Hemichordata and Fish: From fossil graptolithina and conodonts to the myriad of what we call fish. Chondrichthyans or “cartilage fish” (sharks, ratfish, rays, skates, and sawfish), and Osteichthyes or “bony fish” including everything from tuna, to sea horses, to eels, to lungfish.

• Amphibians: This class will define what makes and amphibian an amphibian, from frogs, salamanders, and caecilians.

• Reptilia: This class will look at what defines a reptile, a group including turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and the lesser known tuataras.

• Aves: This class will focus on what defines birds and the evolutionary advantages and origins of  flight and feathers.

• Mammalia: This class will look at mammals which include mice, bats, whales, elephants, and humans.

MALACOLOGY | 1st Grade & up

These classes will include samples from my vast malacology “seashell” collection seen here: https://jurassicjames.com/sea-shell-specimen-menu/. Your children will have access to sea shell specimen normally reserved for museums.

• Introduction to seashells: This is class will cover all things seashells. If you are a shell collector or just interested in marine life, this is the class for you. We will cover clams, snails, chambered nautilus, sea stars, sea urchins, sand dollars, and more!

• Bivalves: This class will cover a deeper dive in learning about clams, oysters, scallop, and mussels. From the composition of their shells, origins of pearls, and used by humans.

• Gastropods: This class will focus on a myriad of snail shells in this deeper dive. We will also be introduced to the world of shell collecting as well learn to identify the different snail families..

• Cephalopods: This class will cover a deeper dive into the biology of octopus, squids, cuttlefish, and the chambered nautilus. We will also look at their fossil relative ammonites, nautiliods, and belemnites.

GEOLOGY | 1st grade & up

• Introduction to Minerals: This course focuses on the way different minerals form and how they are classified. With an emphasis on industrial and commercial uses, this course is a must for identifying and appreciating minerals in your day-to-day life.

 

• The Rock Cycle: Using a vast collection of rock and specimens (most of which were personally collected by the instructor), this tactile heavy introductory lecture will look at many of Earth’s environments and geologic structures while explaining the rocks they produce.

 

• Sedimentary Rocks and the Environments that Make Them: This class focuses on the effects of weather, erosion, and transportation of the various sedimentary environments that make up the world. Highlights include the formation of the gulf coast, swamps, marshes, bogs, lakes, river features, estuaries, barrier islands, and lagoons.

  

• Igneous Rocks, Volcanoes, Metamorphic Rocks, and Metamorphism: Emphasizing the relationship that volcanoes have with earthquakes and their effects on civilizations past and future, this course continues developing the concepts of the rock cycle, with a focus on the different types of volcanoes all over the world, what conditions create them, and the rocks they produce. The second portion of the lecture will focus on the various types of metamorphism caused by magma deep within the earth and lava at the surface.

 

• Geology of and Paleontology of Texas: Most geology classes focus on global trends. This class is based solely on the rocks and fossils of the Lone Star State. Using materials personally collected by the instructor from every corner of the state. The story starts from the Precambrian a time before multicellular life and one of the oldest rocks you will ever touch to the last ice age’s sediments and mammal bones.

 

• Rocks and Minerals of Ancient Americas: Have you ever wondered why some cultures leave pyramids and others do not? In this class, we will take a brief look at Granite, Scoria, Obsidian, Limestone, Sandstone, Gneiss, and more with the express emphasis on how the ancient peoples of the Americas used these materials to build their worlds. We will look at the different civilizations represented, with a focus on the specific geologic conditions that gave America’s human inhabitants the building materials to create the megastructures, mythologies, and wealth of the Americas before the arrival of the old-world inhabitants. This course will show you how to tell the difference between Egyptian, Aztec, and Mayan pyramids, and much more!

 

• Rocks and Minerals of Ancient Egypt: This class provides a look at Granite, Scoria, Obsidian, Limestone, Sandstone, and Gneiss and how the ancient peoples of Egypt used these materials to build their worlds. The Ancient Egyptians are one of the most revered and researched ancient cultures. So, what more can we add to this grand story? Well, the simple question of how did they do it? We will focus on the specific geologic conditions that gave them the building materials to create their megastructures and mythologies. From a geologic standpoint, a majority of human history is a drive for resources, and the Egyptians were just downright lucky!

 

 

GEOLOGY | 6th – 12th grade

• The 10 Evidences of Plate Tectonics: The idea of moving continents was first proposed a little over a century ago with Alfred Wegner’s Theory of Continental Drift. The Theory of Plate Tectonics did not completely form until the late 1960s.

Astronomy| 1st grade & up

• The Solar System – Planets and Dwarf Plants: In this class we will learn what defines planets and dwarf planets. The activity will will include learning the size and colors of each planet and make a paper model of the solar system.

• The Solar System – Moons, asteroids, meteors, meteorites, and comets: In this class we will learn what defines moons, asteroids, meteors, meteorites, and comets. The activity will will include learning the size and colors of each planet and make a paper model of the solar system.

World History| 1st Grade & up

• Ancient Egyptian Culture, Pharaohs, Gods, and Pyramids: This is an anthropological look at the one of the most famous ancient cultures. We will look at the the structure of their society as well as the engineering of their world. In this class I will bring replica artifacts and models of pyramids and temples to explore this.

 

• Ancient Egyptian Gods: Of all the ancient religions, why are the gods of ancient Egypt so famous? This class will explain the origins, powers, and responsibilities of the deities as well as the observations the Egyptians made to support their beliefs. I will bring replica artifacts the kids can touch as well as an activity.

 

• Ancient Greek Gods: This class will look at the origin of the ancient Greek gods and the stories and myths surrounding them. Like many of the ancient world deities, the gods of ancient Greece were made as a response of natural observations, a way to make since of the world. 

 

• The Ancient Romans: From Kings, to Republic, to Empire: This class is an overview of the history of Rome and its different government systems. There will be a focus on the lives of the average roman citizen and some of the major events that shaped their world.

 

• North America’s Indigenous peoples: This class will give an overview of the original peoples of the Americas. From the Innuits, Northwest tribes, Southwest tribes, Plains cultures,  Southeast peoples, Aztecs, Mayan, Incan, and Amazonia. The class will include replica artifacts and activities designed to highlight many of these cultures. 

• Kings, Lords, Knights, and Castles: In this class we will learn about the origin and practices of European feudalism where the king owned everything. We will discuss the rules that true knights lived by and the importance of castles in this world.  

• The real World of Disney Princesses: In this class we will look at the different princess of the Disney franchise, their origin, and he real world cultures and practices that they would have experienced. This class includes geography, and a study of ancient and medieval societies.

 

• The Kings and Queens or England – The Normans: When King Edward the Confessor dies without a biological heir, the future of England is in the balance. From Harrod I to the battle of Hastings in 1066 that changed the way England is governed forever. Kings William (I) the Conqueror, William II, Henry I, Stephen, Matilda, and a young Henry II.

 

• The Kings and Queens or England – The early Plantagenets the “Kings of Robinhood”: Henry II, Henry the young King, Richard (I) The Lion Heart, “Bad: King John, and Henry III. In this class we will learn about the history and politics that led to the famous Kings of the Robinhood and their powerful and angry family.

 

• The Kings and Queens or England – The later Plantagenets the “Kings of Brave Heart and War of the Roses”: Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry IV, Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III, and Henry VII

• The Kings and Queens or England – The Tudors the “most famous royal family in history”: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I

 

• The Kings and Queens or England – The House of Stewards “when Scots ruled England”: James I, Charles I, The Republic, Charles II, James II, William III/Mary II, Anne.

 

• The Kings and Queens or England – The House of Hanover “German kings of Brittan and Queen Victoria”: This class will discuss that happened when Brittan picked their own based on religion. From George I, George II, George III, George IV, William VI, Victoria, and Edward VII.

 

• The Kings and Queens or England – The House of Windsor: “The kings of the twentieth century and today”: This class will finish the series and discuses the reigns of George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth I, Charles III, and the future William V.

United States History| 1st Grade & up

 

 

• Creating the United States of America! The American revolution: In this class we will learn about the condition that lead to Brittan’s American colonist to declare independence and how they won the war. The class will cover the geography (maps) of the events and replica items from that time.

• Creating the Unites States of America! The Articles of Confederation to the Constitutional Convention: This class will look at the first government of the United States, its strengths, weaknesses, and why it was replaced by the constitution we have today. The story of how the young John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton changed their world is very inspiring and considered treasonous at the time.

• Creating the United States of America! The New Republic 1789 to 1800: This class will focus on how the new government formed by the first congress and George Washington’s presidency. The formation of political parties and how certain norms we even see today came to be known.

• The Leadership of George Washington – The first Captain America: The biography of the United State’s first hero and first president. Loosing his father at age 11 and having a poor education, the story of George Washington is a the story of America.

• Let’s Talk About Alexander Hamilton: With the release of the Disney+ Broadway play, Hamilton, this early American figure has had a surge of popularity. This class will separate facts from fiction in the play. There will be replica artifacts and activities to tell his story.

• The Founding Fathers and American Framers: Who are the men that we call the “Founding Fathers”? Although I will cover the “big six”, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Adams, we will also learn about Gouverneur Morris, James Monroe, John Jay, and Robert Morris to name a few.

• The Founding Mothers: This class will take a look at the woman that were instrumental in the making of Americas. From fighting in wars, running businesses, and preserving history. From the supportive Martha Washington, the active Abigail Adams, and the real story of Betsy Ross to name a few.

• History through biography Ulysses S. Grant – Before, during , and after the civil war: This class will focus on the events and outcomes of the American Civil War through the experience of later 18th president Ulysses S. Grant.

• History through biography Theodore Roosevelt – The first modern president: “Teddy” Roosevelt grew up after the civil war listening to the stories from his maternal uncles about the glory of war, and from his father about the great importance of helping people that had less than them. In this class, we will compare the role of the presidency before T.R. and after.

• What does the United States President do?: The U.S. President is arguable the most powerful person in the world since the end of World War II. From article two of the constitution where the job is outlined, to several historical precedence set since the founding of our country, this class will explain “how we got here”.

• Slavery in the Americas: This class will look at the origins of slavery throughout and history and how it was created in the Americas. This family friendly class will explain the economic and social rules of this practice and why it took a civil war to break it.

History through biography series: It is my opinion that history should not be taught as a series of dates and battles, but instead as the story of how people deal with changing circumstances and major events. Although American history is full of interesting heroes and villains, it is best framed by the president of each era.

• United States Presidents – The Founder Presidents: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe.

 

• United States Presidents – Heirs of Founders: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, and Abraham Lincoln.

 

• United States Presidents – Civil War, reconstruction, and the gilded age: Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt.

 

• United States Presidents – The modern Presidency 1901 to the Great War (World War I): Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.

 

• United States Presidents – The “swinging 20’s”, great depression, and World War II: Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman.

 

• United States Presidents –  Post World War II, America the world power, Civil Rights Acts, and the Cold War: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.

 

• United States Presidents – The modern era: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald J. Trump, Joseph R. Biden Jr., and the return to Donald J. Trump.

Archaeology| 1st grade & up

• Coming soon!