A great fit if they…
love Tolkien's world and want to go further into its maps, peoples and legends.
Writing, Reading & Storytelling · Literature & Myth
Tolkien's Middle-earth
for Ages 11 to 16
For students who love hobbits, elves, dragons and the maps at the front of the book. They explore Middle-earth and the real legends behind it.
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Class size
- 6–8 max
- Format
- Live online · 21 weeks
- Mentor
- Mr. Rob
Show me available times
From $39.71 /week
Course details
Course Overview
Tolkien's Middle-earth at Young Scholars Academy is a live, small-group class for students ages 11 to 16 who love hobbits, elves, dragons and the maps at the front of the book. With Mr. Rob, students explore the world J.R.R. Tolkien built, map it as they go and trace its creatures, names and stories back to the real myths and languages he drew from. They also look at Tolkien's own life and the big themes of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
A world built from real myths
Tolkien built Middle-earth from real myths and languages. Students explore its history, cultures, languages and legendary characters, then trace its creatures, names and stories back to the legends that inspired them.
How Mr. Rob runs it
Mr. Rob loves history and all things folklore, and this class looks at Middle-earth through both. He teaches with visuals, and students map Middle-earth as they go, the same way he maps the stories in his Folklore class. Classes are discussion-based, and every student's take on the stories counts.
The man behind the books
Students look at Tolkien's life, his love of languages and what shaped his writing. They see how his own life shows up in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Big themes, real evidence
Students discuss themes like courage and power using scenes from the stories as evidence. By the end, they see Middle-earth the way a historian and a folklorist would, and bring that eye to every story they read after.
Ages 11 to 16 · Prerequisites · Who it's for
Is this the right class for my kid?
Start here, or take something first?
Start here. For a younger student who loves myths and legends, Mr. Rob's Folklore class is a great first step. There's no placement test.
Can they keep taking it?
Students who want more can keep exploring history and folklore with Mr. Rob in his other classes.
New students
The course is brand new, so everyone starts together with Unit 1: The Man Who Made Middle-earth.
Learning outcomes
What will my kid learn this semester?
Mapping Middle-earth
Map the major regions of Middle-earth and place key events on it.
Peoples of Middle-earth
Describe the peoples of Middle-earth, like elves, dwarves, hobbits and men, and how they differ.
Myths behind the names
Trace a Tolkien creature, name or story back to a real myth or language.
Themes with evidence
Discuss a theme like courage or power using scenes from the stories as evidence.
What's covered
Unit 1
The Man Who Made Middle-earth
Tolkien's life, his love of languages and what shaped his writing.
Unit 2
Mapping Middle-earth
The lands and peoples of his world.
Unit 3
The Myths Behind the Stories
The real legends and languages Tolkien drew from.
Unit 4
Heroes, Rings and Choices
The big themes that run through his stories.
Growth · Progress reports
You'll see the growth every week
What you'll notice at home
They draw their own map of Middle-earth and explain which real myths the dwarves' names came from.
What changes on the inside
They read stories the way a historian and a folklorist would, looking for where the ideas came from.
A write-up every week
A short report from Mr. Rob about your child's actual work: what they made, where they shined, what's next.
Materials Needed
- No materials needed. Students just show up, share their thoughts and join the discussion.
You'll get this list by email when you enroll, then 1 week, 3 days and 1 day before class starts.
Getting started
What happens after you enroll
1. Your welcome email
Zoom link, Google Classroom link and an add-to-calendar button in one place. Forward it to your child: Young Scholars Academy can't email students directly.
2. Google Classroom
Syllabus, the weekly Zoom link and a way to message Mr. Rob.
3. Every week
A short progress report from Mr. Rob about your child's actual work.
Credit · Transcript · Enrichment
For Credit Option
Young Scholars Academy is a WASC-accredited Supplementary Education Center and a UC-registered online publisher, so this course can count toward official credit. Same course, same mentor, same experience in class.
For Enrichment
$39.71 /week up front
Students map, discuss and trace Middle-earth's roots, with a weekly write-up from Mr. Rob.
For Credit
$41.80 /week up front
Students do the same work, graded, and earn credit on a Young Scholars Academy transcript.
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.
Spring 2027 · Schedule · Tuition
At a glance
Key facts
- Provider
- Young Scholars Academy (WASC-accredited virtual school for gifted or 2e students, ages 5-18)
- Course
- Tolkien's Middle-earth
- Mentor
- Mr. Rob
- Ages
- 11-16
- Format
- Live online small-group class on Zoom, 6 to 8 students max per class (average class: 5 students)
- Class length
- 50 minutes, once a week
- Term
- Spring 2027, January 4 to May 28, 2027 (21 weeks)
- Category
- Writing, Reading & Storytelling
- Credit option
- Yes: Enrichment or Credit with Transcript
Spring 2027 sections
| Section | Ages | Day | Time (PT / ET) | Weeks | First class | Mentor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tolkien's Middle-earth, Ages 11-16 | 11-16 | Wednesday | 3:00-3:50 PM PT / 6:00-6:50 PM ET | 21 | January 6, 2027 | Mr. Rob |
All times Pacific, with Eastern alongside.
Tuition (Spring 2027)
- Tolkien's Middle-earth (21 classes): Enrichment Flex Payment Plan $41.80/week ($877.80 total); Enrichment Pay Up Front (save 5%) $39.71/week ($833.91 total); Credit with Transcript Flex Payment Plan $44.00/week ($924.00 total); Credit with Transcript Pay Up Front (save 5%) $41.80/week ($877.80 total).
- New Year All-Access Pass (covers 21-week spring classes; pay in full): Bronze $2,797 (4 live courses + Friendship Social Club), Silver $3,597 (5 live courses + 1 free bonus course), Gold $5,797 (8 live courses + 2 free bonus courses). Class switches allowed during the first month (January 4 to February 3, 2027).
- Guarantee: Try It From The Inside. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Not in love? Switch courses (equal or lesser value) or take a credit. Payment plans can also stop future payments after 30 days. Attendance required.
How to enroll
- Course page and enrollment: https://youngscholarsacademy.org/courses/tolkien-s-middle-earth
- Free Spring Open House: November 11, 2026, 5 PM PT. RSVP: https://youngscholarsacademy.org/spring-open-house
- Questions: support@youngscholarsacademy.org
Meet Your Mentor
Mr. Rob
Mentor
Professional Videographer & Storyteller
- 10+ years videography
- Film, games & storytelling
- Film
- Creative Writing
Tolkien's Middle-earth FAQ
Questions parents ask about Tolkien's Middle-earth
Is this class a fit for a younger student?
For younger kids who love myths and legends, Mr. Rob's Folklore class at Young Scholars Academy is a great place to start.
Will my student draw maps?
Yes. Mapping Middle-earth is part of the class, the same way Mr. Rob maps the stories in Folklore.
Does my student need any experience?
No placement test. Bring a love of Middle-earth.
Which books does the class cover?
The class looks at the stories, themes and mythology behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. No materials are required.
Can my student earn high school credit?
Yes. Young Scholars Academy offers a Credit with Transcript option for this course.
Try It From The Inside Satisfaction Guarantee
The Young Scholars Academy Promise
If you’re not 100% in love with the course, you have options depending on how you enrolled:
Pay In Full Option
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.
Payment Plan Option
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.
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About Young Scholars Academy
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.
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