Available Summer 2024!
See schedule at bottom of page.

Grades: 2-4, 7-8, & 9+

In our new summer Novel Study workshop, students will read, discuss, debate, and analyze an entertaining and intellectually challenging novel together (see below) — under the guidance of amazing, PhD-educated instructors! At the end of the workshop, we will have an optional group screening and discussion of the film version of the book (with popcorn!).

In the process of this exciting literary adventure, students will practice the “close reading” skills necessary to get the most out of almost any text — whether for pleasure or academic interest — including how to isolate and analyze literary elements, central themes, and key ideas. Taking the discussion beyond the confines of the classroom, students will also be encouraged to make “real-world connections” to the text (e.g. considering it in light of current news events) and debate its relevance to the modern world and their own lives. Finally, students will have the opportunity to write thoughtful academic responses to literature that will be useful models for success in their English classes.

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This Year’s Novel for Grades 2-4

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

In Katherine Applegate’s Newberry Award winning novel, inspired by a true story, we follow Ivan, a gorilla who has spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall.

Ivan hardly ever thinks of life in the jungle anymore. Instead, he occupies himself with television and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he sees their home, and his art, through new eyes.

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This Year’s Novel for Grades 7-8

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Join us on an exhilarating exploration of survival, trust, and the depths of the human spirit in our novel study of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. We will follow the incredible journey of Pi Patel, a teenager who finds himself set adrift in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by a fierce Bengal tiger. As Pi and his unlikely companion navigate the perils of the open sea, Pi must confront his greatest fears as he survives the perils of being stranded at sea for 277 days.

Will Pi and the tiger overcome the odds and forge an unlikely bond by learning to rely on each other, or will the instinct for self-preservation drive them apart? Prepare to embark on an adventure that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, faith and knowledge, right and wrong!

Students will:

• develop close reading and critical analysis skills under the mentorship of a PhD-educated scholar
• prepare to excel at essay writing, including crafting effective thesis statements
• improve presentation and communication skills
• combat screen time and the negative impacts of ChatGPT

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This Year’s Novel for Grades 9+

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

In this novel study, we will step into the dazzling world of the Roaring 20s through F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby! Amidst the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age, Nick Carraway — a former war veteran and struggling writer — finds himself irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, whose extravagant parties and mysterious past captivate him. As Nick delves deeper into Gatsby’s world, he begins to unravel a web of secrets and intrigue.

Is Gatsby truly the friend he appears to be, or is Nick unwittingly entangled in Gatsby’s scheme to win back the heart of the elusive Daisy Buchanan? Prepare to be swept away by a tale of passion, decadence, betrayal, murder, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Students will:

• hone close reading and critical analysis skills under the mentorship of a PhD-educated scholar
• advance in essay writing skills, including integrating quotations and evidence
• improve presentation and communication skills
• combat screen time and the negative impacts of ChatGPT

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NOVEL STUDY – Schedule

Classes are held in the given timeframes, excluding scheduled holidays.

Email info@brainpower.ca with your child’s/children’s age(s) and area(s) or interests, and we will help get you registered!