One of the goals at Athens Elementary is to teach students valuable, practical skills that they can use on a day to day basis. We teach these skills through our elective program. These classes are among the most popular at our school. Students enjoy getting to learn skills that they can immediately apply at home. In this article, we’ll discuss four of our students favorite electives: (1) cooking, (2) car maintenance, (3)  handyman skills, and (4) gardening.

Cooking

Learning basic cooking skills has many real world benefits. First of all, you will save money. Buying groceries from the store in bulk is much cheaper in the long run than ordering fast food. Students who learn to plan ahead by creating grocery lists and setting aside time to shop will be able to save lots of money. Secondly, there is nothing better than a home cooked meal. Students will be able to learn how to cook food exactly how they like it, making for much more delicious meals than those at fast food restaurants. Lastly, cooking your own meals is often a healthier option than eating out. Fast food and restaurant meals often have excessive amounts of salt, sugar, and grease. At our cooking classes, students will learn how to cook meals with natural ingredients, resulting in food that is not only delicious, but also a healthier option than other alternatives.

Students can explicit to learn how to operate the various appliances in the kitchen, including the oven, air fryer, and stove. Students will get experience operating mixers and blenders, and will learn how to safely store food in the refrigerator and freezer. By the end of the semester, students will know how to bake bread, create a delicious (and health) fruit smoothy, pan sear a steak, cook a chicken in an instapot, roast a salmon in the air fryer, and much more.

Car Maintenance

Knowing the basics of car maintenance is an extremely valuable skill for students to learn. Taught by Michael Simpson, who worked for years in Richmond VA as a mobile mechanic, this class is an excellent elective for all students to take. Knowing how to fix up your car is an essential life skill. Not only could these skills get you out of a jam, they will also save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Students will not have to take their cars into the shop for most repairs as they will have the ability to fix most issues themselves. After taking our car maintenance class, students will know the most important tools to have on hand in their cars. These tools include jumper cables, a car jack, a wrench set, and extra bottles of various fluids including car oil and antifreeze. Students will learn how to inspect their cars, including checking the oil, ensuring there is a proper amount of antifreeze in the car, and making sure that there is enough brake fluid in the car.

Handyman Skills

In this elective, students will have the opportunity to learn the basics of how to maintain and repair items around a house. Students will get to learn basic plumbing, carpentry, and electronics, among other things. The class will teach students how to fix leaky faucets and clogged drains, repair ceiling fans and electrical wiring, and fix roof leaks and damage to house siding. Like our other electives, this class will help students save lots of money in the long run, as they will no longer have to hire a professional to fix most issues around the house.

Gardening

There are many reasons why it is valuable for students to learn how to grow their own food in a garden. First, naturally grown food is a much healthier option than buying food from the grocery store. Foods sold in stores are often covered in pesticides that are dangerous to human health. Additionally, they are injected with growth hormones that can be unhealthy for people to eat. By growing their own food, students can avoid these potential health hazards. Students will also be able save money. Growing food is a much cheaper way to get groceries than buying from stores. Thirdly, gardening can be an enjoyable hobby. Students will not only learn how to grow fruits and vegetables. They will also be able to grow beautiful plants like flowers and ferns. Some may enjoy the process and take it up as a hobby.

Conclusion

Athens Elementary seeks to provide its students with real world skills through our many elective programs. In this article, we discussed four of our most popular programs. These skills are important for a number of reasons. First of all, they will save money. Being able to cook your own meals, grow your own groceries, and fix your own car and house will keep you from spending extra money on marked up labor and supplies. Additionally, if students are ever unable to access the skills or supplies found at stores and businesses, they will have the knowledge and experience necessary to support themselves.

Interested in having your child enroll in one of our programs? Contact us today!