Phases of Learning & Classes

Legacy's educational programs are designed around the principle that people grow through distinct stages of development, known in Leadership Education as "Phases of Learning." These phases help us recognize the needs of each student, allowing us to meet them where they are and guide their growth toward discovering their unique genius and purpose.

Each individual moves through the phases at their own pace: Core → Love of Learning → Scholar → Depth → Mission → Impact.

Legacy focuses on supporting students in the Core, Love of Learning, and Scholar phases, while also supporting parents who are living in their Mission phase.

We offer two programs to serve our students:

Our Junior School (from ages 4 to 12-14) supports the Core and Love of Learning Phases. Here we engage in project-based learning within a group setting. Mentors model leadership as they share their passion for learning and encourage students to participate and engage with new ideas, topics, and experiences. In the Junior School we aim to help students understand that learning is fun and joyful! We encourage curiosity and character development.

Our Scholar Program (from ages 12+) supports the Scholar Phase by providing inspiring mentors and a community of peers committed to learning and growth. Through academically focused projects - utilizing a variety of learning environments such as simulations, colloquiums, presentations, and more - students work alongside trained mentors to develop the skills and discipline of true scholars. These experiences prepare them to become lifelong learners, equipped to pursue the life missions God has in mind for them.

Below outlines the general subject matter and objectives of each phase within the Legacy community.

Core Phase Classes

"During Core Phase, we lay the foundation for all learning and service in the child’s life. The “curriculum” is simply: - right and wrong - good and bad - true and false - relationships - family values, especially spiritual culture - family identity, including family history and mission - family routines and responsibilities - accountability - the value and love of work and play."

-Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning, p. 48-50

"The lessons of the Core Phase are best learned through daily experiences in home life, uncomplicated by the secondary goals of academic achievement."

-TJed In Our Home

SPARK 1 & 2

We recognize that even our littlest friends desire community and that families need support. Our SPARK friends study a variety of topics inspired by the interests of the students and passions of the mentors. The focus is on playing with the subjects rather than any academic work. The amount of formal activity time is significantly less than older groups due to younger attention spans. Interspersed within fun learning activities and free play time are moments where mentors can help SPARK friends learn to work together, be kind, and have age appropriate responsibilities.

SPARK students may be combined or split into smaller groups depending on the number of students we have.

SPARK 1: ages 4-6
SPARK 2: ages 6-8

Love of Learning Phase Classes

"During the Love of Learning Phase, the student falls deeply in love with learning, studying, knowing and learning even more."

"These are the years when children dabble with learning, getting to know “what’s out there”. If they have emerged from Core Phase in good order they are usually fearless, feeling like almost everything will be interesting and believing that they will be able to do whatever they set their minds to."

"The use of project learning is an incredible way to encourage the child to venture into new areas of learning. You can start with almost any subject of interest."

"It's okay to just play sometimes!" "Play is one of the chief educational curricula of the Foundational Phases of Core and Love of Learning."

"The key to the whole Leadership Education system is to have students who are absolutely head-over-heels in love with learning."

-Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning, p. 51-56

Three goals of the Love of Learning Phase: "Help children develop a love for learning. Build students' confidence in their ability to learn anything with resources and hard work. Teach strategies and processes for learning."

- Giving Your Child a LOLIPOP Education, p. 35

KINDLE & FORGE

Our goal is to introduce a feast of assorted topics that allows students to kindle a love of learning through play and activities. The focus is exposure to a variety of interesting topics and falling in love with learning, rather than academic mastery. Interest based projects are offered that are targeted toward the stages within Love of Learning: Love of Sampling (KINDLE Class) and Love of Producing (FORGE Class)

Mentors work together leading 4-6 week long projects based on topics mentors and students are interested in. Mentors work with their Mentor Team to plan various activities related to the project topic, showing that learning can happen in a variety of ways and celebrating the joy of learning.

Past projects have included topics such as Space Science, Ancient China, Handcrafts, Oceans, Nature Journaling, Shakespeare, Dinosaurs, Anatomy, Pet & Animal Care, Art Studies, World Religions, Nature Cycles, Animals, Survival Skills, Ancient Greece/Rome, Medieval Times, Ancient Egypt, entreprunuership, Christmas around the world, Christmas Cooking, Traveling around the World, Characters & Storytelling, Living Wax Museum, Mini Science Adventures, Young Inventors & Scientists, Ecosystems Engineers, Nature Explorers, Leadership in Action, and Heroes of Character.

Love of Learning students are typically ages 8-13.

KINDLE: ages 8-10
FORGE: ages 10-12/13

SEEKERS (Optional afternoon class)

SEEKERS (Students Engaged in Exploration, Knowledge, Enrichment, Reading, and Service) is an optional Love of Learning Class held in the afternoon. Students in this class study a variety of topics inspired by classic literature and instruction is tailored to dive a bit deeper. Our SEEKERS engage in fun activities and projects and also include various reading and writing assignments. While they are diving deeper, the focus is still exposure to a variety of interesting topics and falling in love with learning, rather than academic mastery.

Previous topics and projects they have studied include Entrepreneurship, Geography, Friendship & Kindness, Shakespeare, Logic & Reasoning, Writing, Service Projects, Poetry, Shark Tank Inventions, The Printing Press, Reading Passports, and Personal Finance.

SEEKER students are typically ages 10-13 and exhibit that they are in a Love of Producing stage (are in our FORGE class). These students should be able to read on their own.

Class Fee: $50/year

Scholar Phase Projects

"During this period, the bulk of a person's 'book learning' takes place - at least up to that point in her life."

"During the Scholar years...the young person begins a rigorous, disciplined survey of classic works and real life application."

"Although each person is different and each education should therefore be personalized, there are also some basics that we should all learn...Our place in history and cycles of society...history, science, mathematics, literature...writing, public speaking, business planning, using technology...principles of freedom and prosperity and the type of civilization and culture that perpetuates them..."

Peer involvement and interaction are not only desired by the student, but also desirable for his progress through Scholar Phase. Group discussions of classic works and review of original works by the students are invaluable in expanding the young scholar's horizons."

"The Scholar is still a work in progress and frequent interaction with and accountability to the parent, teacher, and/or mentor are imperative. He still needs nurture and affection as a child, and respect and responsibility as an adult."

-Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning, p. 57-59

Scholar students are students who are ready to dive deeper into their learning and expand their knowledge through self-motivated study and supported by mentors and parents. Each Project is led by 2 mentors who are passionate about the class topics and trained specifically to teach the Scholar course (called "Projects"). A majority of our Scholar level projects are from the Leadership Education Mentoring Institute or LEMI. These projects are designed to expose students to a specific body of knowledge, help them develop skills of learning, and instill within them a greater vision of themselves, ultimately enticing them to ask the question, “What is the purpose of my life?” or “How can I make a difference?” These courses include speaking/presenting, reading, writing, and critical thinking.

Scholar Phase students are typically between the ages of 12-18.

Scholar students usually fall into one of three stages:

Practice Scholar: Students transitioning from Love of Learning into Scholar Phase. They are learning to increase their in responsibilities and flitter between Love of Learning and Scholar Phase. These students are ready to grow in confidence and capacity. (Typically ages 12-14)
Project Scholar: Scholars have moved firmly into scholar phase. They are experiencing and learning what can happen when they are willing to submit to the work of learning. These students are learning to gain a vision for their life. (Typically ages 14-16)
Apprentice Scholar: Scholars who are seeking deeper learning and personal growth. They have fully submitted to the work and joy of learning and believe they can do hard things. These students are ready to work and discover their personal mission and purpose. (Typically ages 16+)

Class Fee: $205/project/year

2026-2027 Scholar Classes (Current Plan; Subject to Change)

Morning Projects

Key of Liberty (Year Long; Practice Scholar)
Quest Traits & Worldview (Year Long; Apprentice Scholar)
NOT BEING OFFERED UNLESS MORE STUDENTS ENROLL
- Sword of Freedom/Hero Project (Year Long; Project Scholar)

Afternoon Optional Project

Shakespeare Conquest (Year Long; appropriate for all scholar stages)

What is LEMI?

LEMI stands for Leadership Education Mentoring Institute. LEMI exists to support Leadership Education communities through training mentors in a wide variety of ways. Over many years they have developed amazing projects for scholar students that include training to help mentors grow in their own education and skills. At Legacy we have recognized that Leadership Education as outlined by Oliver DeMille is amazing and offers beautiful applications and support within the home but does not offer much support within community. LEMI bridges the gap and supports Leadership Education in a community setting. This is why we use LEMI. LEMI is not a way of thinking. It is an organization that supports mentors so they can show up and do what they do best - love our students.

What Projects do you offer from LEMI

To find an in-depth description about what each LEMI course offers, visit: lemihomeschool.com

But here is a brief overview of each project we offer for our Scholar Students (these classes rotate and not every class will be offered every year)

Shakespeare Conquest (Appropriate for all Scholar Phases): Discover that leadership, confidence, and deep understanding of human nature grow through great language and powerful stories. From comedy to tragedy, students explore patterns of human nature while developing a genuine love of language, moving beyond simply reading Shakespeare to truly experiencing it. Through character development, acting, Shakespearean insults (a student favorite), a Shakespeare Fair, and a Spring Production, scholars engage in dynamic, hands-on learning that brings the plays to life. As they progress through the works in a “Royalty Race,” give presentations on Elizabethan culture, and practice writing and speaking with depth and clarity, students grow in both skill and confidence. Shakespeare Conquest is a transformative experience that turns challenging texts into something exciting and accessible—shaping articulate, thoughtful, and courageous young leaders.

Key of Liberty (Practice Scholar): Learn to value the principles of liberty by stepping directly into the ideas, debates, and defining moments that shaped the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution. Through immersive historical simulations, students don’t just read about the Constitutional Convention—they experience it, debating, negotiating, compromising, and wrestling with the same hard choices faced by the Founders, discovering firsthand that liberty requires wisdom, courage, and restraint. They grapple with big ideas such as the proper role of government, what defines true leadership, and how ordinary people act heroically in times of crisis, while reading freedom classics, engaging in thoughtful discussions, and participating in a Constitution Bowl—a friendly competition to demonstrate their growing knowledge of our country's founding documents. Key of Liberty is an unforgettable journey that shapes how students think about leadership, responsibility, and their role in preserving freedom.

Georgics (Practice Scholar): Students discover that freedom is built from the ground up through work, stewardship, and the ability to create real value in the world. Through making, growing, raising, harvesting, and selling, students experience tangible, real-world results as they put into practice the 7 Georgic Principles—Providence, Mission, Self-Validation, Ownership, Community Stewardship, Local Interdependence, and Entrepreneurialism. Along the way, Georgics Scholars don’t just study these ideas; they live them, developing habits of responsibility, initiative, and meaningful work as they bring a real product from concept to marketplace. Georgics is a hands-on journey into what it means to be a creator, a contributor, and someone who can build something real from nothing while learning the foundational principles of a meaningful life.

Sword of Freedom/Hero Project (Project Scholar): From the Civil War in Sword of Freedom to World War II in Hero Project, explore the causes, impacts, and principles of war through immersive, experience-based learning. In Sword of Freedom, scholars engage in simulations such as the Battle of Gettysburg and sing songs of the Civil War to better understand the perspectives, tensions, and human realities of the era, while wrestling with questions of allegiance, freedom, and national identity. In Hero Project, students shift their focus to the modern world, studying WWII and the nature of courage and sacrifice while developing a long-term hero project of their own that highlights the power of individual choice and purposeful action. This project is a transformative experience that challenges students to think deeply about conflict, character, and what it means to live with conviction and integrity.

Pyramid Project (Project Scholar): Students are invited to step into the role of real scientists—not by memorizing information, but by actively investigating the world around them through observation, reasoning, and discovery. Students conduct their own scientific research, uncover patterns and natural laws, develop the habits of a scientist, and learn to identify logical fallacies, all while deepening their understanding of the universe and the thinkers who first revealed its hidden order. Through hands-on inquiry, discussion, and exploration of the “Four Cornerstones” of Truth, Logic and Reason, the Habits of a Scientist, and Newtonian Math, students learn to think more clearly, question more deeply, and connect ideas across disciplines. Pyriamid Project is an intellectual adventure that trains students to see the world with curiosity, confidence, and real analytical power.

Classical Acting (Apprentice Scholar): Learn to take your acting to the next level through in-depth study, close reading, and textual analysis of classic dramatic texts—from Greek tragedy to French farce to Shakespeare and modern plays. Students learn how language, rhythm, and structure shape character and meaning, then apply those insights directly through performance, ensemble work, and collaborative production. Through the creation of a student-led process drama based on a Shakespearean tragedy, students move from analysis to embodiment, bringing complex texts to life on stage. Designed as an Apprentice Scholar project to complement QUEST, Classical Acting is a rigorous, creative apprenticeship in discipline, expression, and the art of transforming great literature into powerful live performance.

QUEST-Traits of Virtuous Leaders & Worldviews (Apprentice Scholar): QUEST Traits is beyond traditional civics education. Students explore what it truly means to live as a principled, impactful leader by studying the universal traits that have shaped some of the most influential people in history. Through deep reading, writing, discussion, and analysis, scholars examine how these traits appear in the lives of historical and modern leaders, learning to recognize patterns of character, choice, and consequence across time. Students articulate their beliefs, values, and commitments with clarity and conviction as they write their own personal manifesto. Students engage in structured research, presentations, and service-oriented projects that help them connect these ideas to real life while developing communication skills and intellectual confidence. QUEST Traits is a transformative experience that helps students define who they are becoming and intentionally develop the character needed to positively influence their communities and the world.

QUEST-Principles of Freedom & Jurisprudence (Apprentice Scholar): QUEST Principles is a year-long, mentor-led exploration of the timeless ideas that shape free societies and strong leadership, where students learn that liberty, justice, and personal responsibility are rooted in universal principles that have guided civilizations for millennia. Through immersive study of historical figures, foundational texts, and real-world applications, scholars engage deeply with the “Five Thousand Year Leap” principles, learning to recognize how these ideas appear in government, culture, and daily life. Alongside this, students develop their own character and leadership capacity through the 7 Habits journey, discovering that true freedom begins with personal discipline, integrity, and intentional choice. This is an intellectual and personal formation experience that equips students to think like philosophers, reason like leaders, and articulate truth with clarity and conviction.

A Note About Phases of Learning

You may notice that there is some overlap in the ages of our student groups. No one person is strictly in one phase of learning over another. It is important to understand where your child really is in their learning journey (not where you want them to be) and to appropriately choose the best phase to place your child in. Some students are ready to move forward in their learning journey earlier than others. Some students require a bit more time in a phase before they're ready to move on. Either situation is perfectly acceptable. Our goal is to help inspire each child in their own learning journey and meet them where they are.

I love it all! Let's move forward!

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