Rolling enrollment open. Courses prorated.
Explore now.Does your child know more about mythological creatures than most adults? Can they tell you the difference between a griffin and a hippogriff without blinking? In Mythology: Fantastic Beasts, your young scholar dives into the legends, cultures, and stories behind the world's most fascinating creatures, from ancient civilizations to modern fantasy. They'll finally be in a room full of kids who think dragons are a perfectly serious topic of study.
This course is not currently being offered. Please check back later or explore our other available courses.
Does your child have a passion for ancient gods and goddesses? Do they love monsters, the stars, and mysterious tales? Then this is the course for them. From day one, students dive into captivating myths from around the world, exploring Roman and Greek traditions as well as stories from Latin America, Japan, China, and indigenous America.
This course is a perfect blend of storytelling, art, and engaging discussions, making mythology come alive for your child. Did you know that the Romans believed octopuses could climb trees, similar to the urban legends of pigs in London sewers or alligators in New York sewers? These fascinating tidbits are just the beginning of what your child will uncover.
While the majority of our stories come from the Roman and Greek tradition, we also explore stories from Latin America, Japan, China, and indigenous America. We even delve into stories based on your child's own interests and backgrounds, uncovering the connections between mythology and legends.
Throughout the course, your child will explore diverse myths and gain a broad perspective on ancient tales and their meanings, connect mythology to history and science to see how these stories influence modern traditions, engage in storytelling and art that bring myths to life through creative expression, and participate in thought-provoking discussions where they use what they know to express their own ideas.
Join us on this exciting journey through ancient tales, where mythology isn't just a subject; it's an adventure. Watch your child immerse themselves in the world of gods, goddesses, and legendary creatures, gaining a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of human storytelling.
Mythology is the original storytelling tradition, and mythical creatures are the gateway in. Your child learns about ancient Greek, Norse, Japanese, and other world mythologies through the creatures that make them unforgettable. Parents tell us their kids start recognizing mythological references in books, movies, and games everywhere.
Fantasy is more meaningful when it has roots. Your child discovers that the creatures they love in fiction come from real cultural traditions with real significance. That understanding deepens their appreciation for both the stories they consume and the diverse world they live in.
YSA is a UC-registered online publisher and WASC-accredited Supplementary Education Center, which means our courses can count toward official college credit requirements. State schools can recognize the courses your student takes here, adding real legitimacy to your homeschooling journey or building on top of your student's existing transcript. That opens up two ways to enroll: For Credit -- Your student earns official, accredited credit toward their transcript. For-credit students complete weekly assignments that build toward their transcript grade. Outside-of-class work ranges from 1-2 hours per week. Perfect for families who want documentation that reflects what their child is actually capable of -- to show the world how brilliant they are. For Enrichment -- Your student takes the very same course purely for the love of learning. No grades, no outside-of-class work, no credit attached. Just the content, the community, and the growth. Same course. Same mentor. Same experience in class. You choose what fits your family.
If you homeschool, this works seamlessly. If your student attends another school full time, we create a report card and transcript that we share with you, and you share with the school. It is up to your primary school to accept it and add it to your student's official transcript.
Explore mythical creatures from cultures around the world, learning the legends and traditions that gave them life 
Build cross-cultural understanding by examining how different civilizations imagined and explained the world through fantastic beasts 
Discuss their favorite mythological creatures with peers who share their fascination with legends and lore 
Develop a richer appreciation for storytelling, culture, and the human imagination across history 
Nicole P, M. Ed. I specialize in fun and sometimes scary history. I love to tell a good story. I love to create a tale in such a way that you are drawn in and you don't necessarily realize that you are sitting in a classroom. I also love to laugh. I love to be creative and design opportunities for students to connect to other students. I am a proud mom, serial entrepreneur, artist, case worker, author, mom, and teacher. Educationally, I have degrees in Sociology, Psychology, philosophy, and criminal justice and I recently completed my Master's in Education program and am getting my history certifications. I have run a domestic violence shelter, worked on mental health in a hospital, and did drop out prevention. I worked in the "field" for over a decade before going into business for myself. A lot of my work with children has involved teaching them how to evaluate, plan, and use logic to understand the world, events, and consequences. Critical thinking is a skill that I encourage and like to build into my classes as well as flexible thinking as both are essential life skills. I am also a published author and have been writing books, poetry, and for newspapers and magazines for over 30 years. I am a certified Common Sense Educator and have training in internet safety and working with students on digital citizenship.
WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING
Parents don't just see happier kids. They see sharper thinking, stronger friendships, and a child who actually wants to log on.
★★★★★
"My daughter has loved gods and monsters since she was tiny, and Nicole finally gave her a course that goes deep into world mythology. She narrates myths to us for hours."
Priscilla D.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Nicole weaves in myths from Japan, China, and Latin America, not just the Greek ones. My son now sees the connections across cultures and it has widened his whole worldview."
Emmanuel T.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My daughter has loved gods and monsters since she was tiny, and Nicole finally gave her a course that goes deep into world mythology. She narrates myths to us for hours."
Priscilla D.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Nicole weaves in myths from Japan, China, and Latin America, not just the Greek ones. My son now sees the connections across cultures and it has widened his whole worldview."
Emmanuel T.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"The mix of storytelling and art is perfect for my 2e daughter. Nicole lets her draw and discuss the creatures, and she is proud of every myth she brings home."
Rosalind K.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son loves the strange trivia, like Romans thinking octopuses climbed trees. Nicole makes mythology feel like a treasure hunt he cannot wait to log on for."
Harrison B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"The mix of storytelling and art is perfect for my 2e daughter. Nicole lets her draw and discuss the creatures, and she is proud of every myth she brings home."
Rosalind K.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son loves the strange trivia, like Romans thinking octopuses climbed trees. Nicole makes mythology feel like a treasure hunt he cannot wait to log on for."
Harrison B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Nicole asks what the myths mean and actually listens to my quiet daughter's ideas. Her confidence in discussion has grown so much this semester."
Lucia G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We tried other humanities courses, but Nicole is the one who made my son feel like his imagination belongs. He calls mythology his favorite hour of the week."
Adrian P.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Nicole asks what the myths mean and actually listens to my quiet daughter's ideas. Her confidence in discussion has grown so much this semester."
Lucia G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We tried other humanities courses, but Nicole is the one who made my son feel like his imagination belongs. He calls mythology his favorite hour of the week."
Adrian P.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My daughter has loved gods and monsters since she was tiny, and Nicole finally gave her a course that goes deep into world mythology. She narrates myths to us for hours."
Priscilla D.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Nicole weaves in myths from Japan, China, and Latin America, not just the Greek ones. My son now sees the connections across cultures and it has widened his whole worldview."
Emmanuel T.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"The mix of storytelling and art is perfect for my 2e daughter. Nicole lets her draw and discuss the creatures, and she is proud of every myth she brings home."
Rosalind K.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"My son loves the strange trivia, like Romans thinking octopuses climbed trees. Nicole makes mythology feel like a treasure hunt he cannot wait to log on for."
Harrison B.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"Nicole asks what the myths mean and actually listens to my quiet daughter's ideas. Her confidence in discussion has grown so much this semester."
Lucia G.
YSA parent
★★★★★
"We tried other humanities courses, but Nicole is the one who made my son feel like his imagination belongs. He calls mythology his favorite hour of the week."
Adrian P.
YSA parent
If you’re not 100% in love with the course, you have options depending on how you enrolled:
You can switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit or get a credit to use toward a future course.
You can either get credit toward a future course, switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit, or stop all future payments after a 30-day processing period.
No risk. No stress. Just the learning and belonging you have been looking for.
We can offer this because we know what we do works for thousands of other families. Kids become more self-confident. They find their people. And families tell us this is the place where their student finally feels welcome. We know it will work for your family, too.
All-Access Passes have separate terms and conditions. Please see the All-Access Pass pages.
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway... to qualify for the satisfaction guarantee policy, you have to actually attend the classes. This is not a cancellation policy. It’s a satisfaction guarantee. You can’t be satisfied or dissatisfied if you don’t attend.
Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that offers one-of-a-kind, engaging enrichment courses and community for 5-18-year-old bright, quirky kids to empower them to develop their strengths, make like-minded friends, cultivate life skills, build confidence, and feel great about themselves under the loving care of expert mentors. description2: >- Picture a place where your child fits in, is celebrated, mentored, and loves learning the unique content their beautiful brain craves. That happens every day at YSA for over 1,200+ families, and it can happen for your family, too.
WASC Accredited · 1,200+ Families · 93% Re-Enroll · 47+ States, 17 Countries, 6 Continents
Learn more about YSAQUESTIONS ABOUT THIS COURSE
Everything you need to know before enrolling your child.
Most online classes put 20-30 kids in a room with a teacher who reads slides. At YSA, your child joins a group of 8 or fewer students who think like they do, led by a mentor who was often once just like them. Cameras are optional. The content is chosen by passion, not grade level. And 93% of families re-enroll - because kids who have never liked school before fight to log on to YSA.
Yes. YSA families join from 47+ states and 17 countries across 6 continents. All you need is an internet connection. We schedule sections across multiple time zones so families worldwide can find a time that works.
Mythology: Fantastic Beasts meets once per week for 50 minutes, every week from August through December. Your child joins the same tight-knit group of up to 8 students and the same mentor all semester long. Same friends, same mentor, a new challenge every week.
Our gifted and 2e students experience such asynchronous development that hard age limits rarely tell the full story. If your student should be aged up or aged down, contact us at support@youngscholarsacademy.org or click the chat in the bottom right corner of the screen. We do this all the time.
Please don't confuse reactive distance learning with what happens at YSA. When a kid is engaged in a course they chose, with a mentor who gets them and peers who share their interests, the screen disappears. They're not on a screen. They're with their people. Parents tell us their children fight to log on to YSA.
If your child isn't loving a course by the end of the first week, swap into a different course. Same semester. No questions. Not the right fit within the first month? We'll stop payments, switch courses, or issue credit toward any future course. The credit never expires. And you keep every bonus you've received. Over 93% of YSA families don't just stay. They add more courses.
No. Cameras are always optional. Always. Many of our students start with cameras off and turn them on when they're comfortable. Our mentors engage every student equally, cameras on or off.
No. If you're here, you're in the right place. We don't require paperwork, evaluations, or labels. Whether your child has been formally identified as gifted or twice-exceptional, whether you suspect it but haven't pursued testing, or whether you just know your kid's brain works differently and nothing else has fit, they're welcome here.
Yes. YSA is an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs including Arizona ESA, Utah Fits All, ClassWallet, My Tech High, Florida Step Up, and others. Enroll directly to secure your child's spot, submit the invoice to your ESA, and your payment method is refunded when funds transfer. Many families pay zero out of pocket.
Click "See Available Times" on this page, pick the section that fits your schedule, and your child's spot is secured immediately. No phone call. No placement test. No prerequisite.
Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a course they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.
Your child is one click from finding out what that feels like.
An internet connection and a can-do attitude!