Hands on Courses for Non-Traditional Students

Local homeschooled and open-enrolled students are invited to register for one or more hands-on courses at Kimball Area High School. Contact Jay Klein, 320-398-7700 x1320 or jay.klein@kimball.k12.mn.us for more information.

Animal Science, Grades 9-12
This semester course will study traditional and nontraditional agriculture and animals. We will study both large and small animals, animal behavior, animal rights, nutrition, reproduction, animal products, and animal systems. 

Basic Foods, Grades 9-10
Basic Foods is a semester class that explores recipe selection and preparation. Research on nutrition, the role of nutrients and analyzing the data to make recommendations for their own diet is also included based on the food guide pyramid. Microwave cooking is also covered and allows the students to understand the function of the microwave in cooking and reheating foods.

Child Development, Grades 10-12
This semester long course provides an overview of typical and atypical development across cultures, from prenatal through late adulthood, including physical, social, emotional, language, cognitive, aesthetic, and identity/individual development. It integrates developmental theory with appropriate practices in a variety of care-giving and education settings. The class also focuses on safety, health and nutrition related to infants through adulthood.

Computer Applications, Grades 9-12
If you’ve ever wondered how to create exciting, professional and useful items on the computer, this semester class is for you! While fulfilling the computer requirement for graduation, you will create newsletters, movies, presentations, and spreadsheets. This is a requirement for graduation. You will become more familiar with tools in both Microsoft and Google products.

Ceramics, Grades 10-12
This semester course offers the basic techniques of clay forming (hand-building), casting and throwing, the use of slips and glazes, and firing processes.

Creative Cooking, Grades 11-12
Creative Cooking provides an overview of basic nutrition and its relationship to health. Students will gather information on dietary guidelines, menu planning, and the six major nutrients and their relation to maintaining a healthy life. This semester class will also include information about consumer trends related to food, children, adults, and experience dietary patterns based on an individual’s ethnic and cultural background. Furthermore, students will learn about safety, health, and nutrition by studying topics that include: preventing illness and accidents, proper sanitation, handling emergencies, and the food guide pyramid. This course requires labs, research, and practical application of skills learned.

Drawing & Painting, Grades 10-12
This semester course is split into two main areas - drawing and painting. Drawing includes in-class drawing assignments every other day using different papers and drawing media including pencil, charcoal, chalk, ink, crayon, and markers. Painting will begin with a short lesson on color theory using acrylic paints. After that is completed, students will do an acrylic painting, a water-color painting, and will make a print. They will also mat one drawing, painting, or print. After completing the required work, they may work in any drawing or painting field. 

Intro to Engineering & Design, Grades 9-12
In this semester-long course, students will use 3D solid modeling design software to help them design solutions to solve proposed problems. Students will learn how to document their work and communicate solutions to peers and members of the professional community. The major focus of the IED course is to expose students to the design process, research and analysis, teamwork, communication methods, global and human impacts, engineering standards and technical documentation.

Natural Disasters, Grades 9-12
Natural Disasters is a semester long course that will cover many natural disasters including earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and many more. This course will be a project based course. There will be ten (10) projects and graded online discussions throughout the semester. There will be no tests or quizzes and the final will be a project of your own design and imagination. There is an overnight field trip during the school week to investigate volcanic activity in Minnesota.

Personal Finance, Grades 11-12
Personal Finance will teach you how to be financially healthy. This semester course is designed to help the student manage his/her money now and in the future. Topics covered include filing tax forms, managing credit, checking and saving accounts, budgeting, insurance, purchasing an automobile, planning for retirement, and buying a house. This is a useful course for ALL students. Three articulated college credits in Personal Money Management are available in this course.

Sculpture, Grades 10-12
This semester course explores the world of sculpture and three-dimensional design. Projects for the class include research of a sculptor, creation of a relief, additive and subtractive methods, casting and mixed media. Materials for projects are the choice of the student. An artist statement should be included with each work.

Sewing, Grades 9-12
This semester class gives students the opportunity to explore creativity and design principles in relation to constructing sewing projects and quilting through hands-on experiences (basic sewing and quilting skills). Hand stitching, color, design, and measuring skills are all covered (student fees are involved for projects).

Small Engines & Electricity, Grades 9-12
Ever wonder what makes a light shine or what really happens when you flip the switch? Or maybe you wonder if that old lawn mower in your garage can be resurrected. This class will focus one quarter on electricity and electrical wiring including: how electricity works and performing several different wiring practicums. The next quarter students will focus on small engine operation, systems, and maintenance. You will learn how to use special tools to completely disassemble a small engine and then rebuild it.

Spanish I, Year-long, Grades 10-12
The main emphasis of this class will be a base knowledge of the language elements of reading, speaking, listening, and writing. Cultural information is included throughout the year-long course.

Spanish II, Year-long, Grades 11-12
Spanish II has a stronger emphasis on reading and speaking than Spanish I. The grammar concepts of preterit, imperfect, and conditional are presented. An emphasis on the geography, history, and government of Spanish speaking countries is included. Cultural emphasis is intensified through the food unit and exposure to other possible artistic experiences. Spanish II is a year-long course.

Studio Art, Grades 10-12
This is a semester course split into four areas: art history, two-dimensional art and design, three-dimensional art and design, and weekly sketchbook assignments.

Welding, Grades 10-12
This semester course is designed to teach the basic skills required for MIG (wire feed) welding, electric arc welding, gas welding, torch work, and basic plastic and copper plumbing. After the students learn the basics of welding and plumbing, most of the time will be spent in the shop. The class will have class projects to complete. If time allows, individual projects will be allowed.

Woods, Grades 10-12
This semester course is strictly a woodworking course and will cover all woodworking machines, safety, and operations. It will then lead into the production of woodworking furniture. The projects made will require more skill and work on the part of the student and should involve more complex and involved set ups and uses of tools. Students will be introduced to other types of finishes, plastic laminates, veneers, and other more involved procedures. There will be a lab fee to cover supplies. Students will take their completed project home.