Seinfeld and the Office were undoubtedly the television comedies of their respective generations, and their legacies continue to live on in popular culture. What made these shows work so well? Television is reflective of the people watching it—what is revealed about generational differences when we analyze the evolution from observational to absurdist humor? These topics and more will be discussed in this class. Be prepared to read scripts, watch clips, discuss them, and maybe even write a scene of your own.

Seinfeld and the Office were undoubtedly the television comedies of their respective generations, and their legacies continue to live on in popular culture. What made these shows work so well? Television is reflective of the people watching it—what is revealed about generational differences when we analyze the evolution from observational to absurdist humor? These topics and more will be discussed in this class. Be prepared to read scripts, watch clips, discuss them, and maybe even write a scene of your own.

What's the relationship between seeing and drawing? What makes drawing different from photography as a way to 'capture' what you see? Why don't we all draw as if we were making a photograph? We will start with descriptions of objects, then move to blind contour drawings, then to more complicated maneuvers for thinking about recording visual observations. We will be making a lot of drawings by looking hard at things in the world, trying to make sense of the decisions that get made in the process.

Contemporary culture caricatures jazz as music for old people, intellectuals, and elevators. The film La La Land all but claimed it was dead. This course will analyze the implications of this question, drawing on different ways of looking at jazz, through historical and theoretical lenses. It will explicate the relationship between popular music and jazz, covering jazz’s roots, popular acceptance, decline, institutional preservation, and current state. All are welcome, regardless of musical background or lack thereof.

Mental rigor! Bodily movement! Laughter!
In Brief: Everything you need to become acquainted with the joys of juggling. Instruction. Balloons. A complementary set of juggling balls.

In Philosophyspeak: Too often we pass the days doing, mindlessly, permutations of things we already know how to do. Walking. Talking. Reading. Interacting with our cellular devices. Does this sound familiar? If so, we invite you to break from this cycle by engaging with something completely unfamiliar: the world of juggling. It's a surprisingly meditative experience, sure to test the hardest mental faculties, and, more importantly, to give you the tools to introduce spontaneity and fun wherever you go.

Superheros. They walk among us. Or, at least they do in the movies! Come explore the history of Superhero films, from the 1930s to today!


Prerequisites
None

Dzana is Yale's first and only African dance team founded in 2013. With our incorporation of popular African dance moves along with our love of Afrobeats, we create fun dances that highlight aspects of the African culture.

Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. Singin' in the Rain, and Anchors Aweigh. What do all of these have in common? Tap Dance! Many consider (rather incorrectly) that tap dance is a dying art form, and one that only appeared on stage and in film in the early 1900s. But did you know that tap has an over 400 year history that began when enslaved Africans were brought over to America? Or that it has influences from the Americas, Europe, and Africa? Or that aside from jazz, it's the sole truly American art form?

In this class, we will trace the origins of tap dance through an African and African American perspective, watching clips of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (aka the "Mayor of Harlem"), John Bubbles, the Nicholas Brothers, Honi Coles, Buster Brown, Chuck Green, and Gregory Hines. We'll "tap" into the resurgence of tap that began in the 1980s, looking at the American Tap Dance Orchestra, Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker, Sam Weber, and Savion Glover. We'll take a detour to Broadway to see Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, we'll look at the first ever youth tap ensembles, see how South African gumboot, American step traditions, and West African drumming mesh with tap's percussive elements, and catch a glimpse of the most cutting-edge tap that's out there (honing in on Dorrance Dance and the Syncopated Ladies).

You will emerge as a walking, talking percussive instrument (what, you thought we wouldn't teach you a step?!) and with a better understanding of American arts and culture. Come shuffle with us! Guaranteed to leave with some radical, rhythmical skills.


Prerequisites
A willingness to watch clips of dance on film and an open mind to learn to tap dance!

Have you ever listened to a song and felt inspired to move, but couldn’t find your groove? As the chef from Ratatouille would say, “Anybody can dance!” We will teach you some basic movements, exercises, and skills to help you channel your inner dance and choreographing superstar! Get ready for an hour of jamming to hit songs- this will be a crash course in body confidence, self-expression, rhythm, and groove!


Prerequisites
None

Superheros. They walk among us. Or, at least they do in the movies! Come explore the history of Superhero films, from the 1930s to today! (For 7th and 8th Graders)


Prerequisites
none

Come to learn about expressive arts therapy and be part of a community project to increase hope and share your creativity!
Hope Made Visible is an international initiative inspired by the traditions of Tibetan and Nepalese flags. All around the world, people have created flags as kinetic journals of hope and resilience. These flags serve to spread blessings of peace, strength, and wisdom, uplifting and connecting all people. Over a thousand flags have been made and exhibited internationally, from Guatemala to Germany.

Last year, over 500 patients and caregivers at Yale New Haven Hospital created flags as part of the project HOPE MADE VISIBLE –Together, We Heal. Learn more about the history and practice of art therapy and create a flag for our installation which will then be gifted to the Hope Made Visible team and continue to inspire at various exhibitions both at Yale and around the world!


Prerequisites
none

Are you a musician? Are you interested in band, chorus, or orchestra? Do you want to learn how to conduct different musical styles and time signatures? This class is for you! I'm an experienced band conductor and this class will give you the basics of conducting technique (as well as some cool tricks to spice up your performance!). Come see why conducting is a superpower!


Prerequisites
A background in basic music fundamentals (rhythm, style, tempo) will certainly help, but is not required!

I reckon this course will be absolutely bonza - fair dinkum! If you didn't understand a word of that sentence - great! This course will be perfect for you. You will learn the basics of Australian slang so that you can impress (or confuse!) your mates with a weird-and-wonderful new set of vocabulary. This will be a fun and practical class, so you can expect to make some new mates!

This class will offer fun and new ways to learn how to express oneself. These ways will be through various forms of writing such as narratives, poems, and short stories.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of English and Reading Skills

Ever wondered how music is made without acoustic instruments? Want to learn more about the production techniques that drive so much of today's music? In this class, we'll explore topics like synthesis, sampling, beat-making, and instrumentation to better understand the elements that shape electronic music. Whether you're an EDM enthusiast or work nights as a future bass DJ, come join the fun!


Prerequisites
Basic familiarity with music/music notation helpful but not required!

An overview of sample-based hip hop as an art form. The class will begin with a brief history of sampling and hip-hop, followed by an exploration of the techniques and technology of sampling. We will then make a beat together as a class. Finally, we will end with a more philosophical discussion of the ethics, aesthetics, and politics of sampling in order to answer the question: Is sampling a legitimate art form?

Have you ever wanted to learn the *right* way to dance to Marc Anthony's music?Now's your chance! We will be learning the basics of Salsa and Bachata (including fancy spins and styling to make your dance attractive). No prior experience required at all! Be prepared to move, groove, and listen to some great music.


Prerequisites
A positive attitude and two feet (both left feet are absolutely welcome!)

In this writing and spoken word workshop, we will examine pieces and spoken word performances by people of color and/or with an immigrant background. We will then do some writing of our own -- prose, poetry, and genre-defying works -- and exchange feedback. This workshop is open to students of all races and ethnicities!


Prerequisites
n/a

Jazz is a delightful world of communication, creativity, and smooth. Do you want to practice listening? Do you want to learn about a quintessential American art form? Do you already love jazz? Come appreciate it with us!


Prerequisites
A desire to listen to things carefully and with joy.

Learn about the properties of ink, how it's different from other mediums, and explore multiple techniques for painting with it. We'll make beautiful ink creations of our own!

Are you interested in drawing, illustration, design or animation? Do you ever find yourself doodling in the corner of your notes? In this class we will design and illustrate our own human (or, not quite human if you prefer) characters! Along the way we will learn about some processes and techniques used by character designers and animators, including Robh Ruppel (from Into the Spider-Verse!) and Marika Cowan (from Our Cartoon President). You don't need to be "good" at drawing to take this, just creative and willing to have a go! :)


Prerequisites
No prerequisites but feel free to bring along a sketchbook or favourite pencil if you have one.

How does Israeli soft power manifest in the popularity of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman? Is Disney's Magic Kingdom a cultural Chernobyl? How did Sony and North Korea get so entangled in a cross-border dispute? Can cinema really be used as a diplomatic tool? If you're intrigued by any of these questions, come to Hollywood & Global Culture! Engage in some thought-provoking discussions, and learn about the relevance of film to global politics and culture today!

Are you a fan of Pitch Perfect or Pentatonix? Do you want to learn more about A Cappella? We are Living Water, Christian A Cappella group at Yale! This class would be a super fun workshop for anyone who is interested in A Cappella singing! We will walk you through a few really cool voice techniques, a simulated audition, harmonization and blending exercises, and will then invite you to jam with us on one of the songs in our repertoire-- Be prepared to have fun + win some free CDs!!!


Prerequisites
A curious soul and a musical heart <3

Ever wanted to write fiction but can't quite find time in your schedule to pen the next Great American Novel? Come try out the fun genre of flash fiction. Flash fiction stories are usually only a few hundred words long, making them small but mighty vehicles of storytelling. We'll read some examples of excellent flash fiction before playing around with some prompts and writing our own. If you'd like, there will be a chance to share your work with your peers at an end of class reading.


Prerequisites
A willingness to get outside your comfort zone and be creative!

Queer Visual Arts
When someone says “art history” or “comics”, certain classic images and artists come to mind. However, there’s a lot more to the visual arts than muscle-bound superheroes and portraits of rich ladies from hundreds of years ago!
In this workshop, we will look at art history through a different lens, focusing specifically on the works of queer artists and cartoonists. As we strive to understand the works in relation to their historical and modern contexts and their references to queerness, we’ll consider several questions: What even makes something “queer art”, and how do these works so powerfully depict queer experience?
Artists we will discuss in detail include painters Andy Warhol, Claude Cahun, Gluck, and Mickalene Thomas along with comic creators Alison Bechdel (Fun Home, Are You My Mother?, Dykes to Watch Out For), Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir), Yamaji Ebine (Love My Life, Indigo Blue, Free Soul), and Kamatani Yuuki (Shimanami Tasogare). (And we have other works to recommend as well!)

Before Isaac Newton even coined his theory of gravity, Bach was writing some of the most influential works in the history of music. Classical music packs auditoriums all over the world as people gather to listen to music that is hundreds of years old. But why??

The class will be mostly listening and discussion. We will listen not only to classical music, but also mainstream genres such as pop and rock.

Want to spice up your journal? Or pick up journaling as a hobby? In this class, experiment with new ways to add intrigue, thoughtfulness, and flair to your journals. Get inspiration for your next entry!

Poetry is fun!
Contrary to what we believe, it is less about rhythm and rhyme, and more about truth and happiness.
In this class, we shall examine how you can live your truth through poetic expression and how one can channel happiness through reading and writing poems. We shall watch and discuss a wonderful TED talk about spoken word poetry, read a couple of wonderful poems and finally, write some beautiful poems ourselves!
Not to worry, you don't need to love poetry or know how to write poetry. Come, let's learn together!

All the world's a stage, but there's one stage that rises above the rest: Broadway. In this class, we will learn how a show goes from idea to Tony-award-winning musical. There will be lots of musical appreciation!

I reckon this course will be absolutely bonza - fair dinkum! If you didn't understand a word of that sentence - great! This course will be perfect for you. You will learn the basics of Australian slang so that you can impress (or confuse!) your mates with a weird-and-wonderful new set of vocabulary. This will be a fun and practical class, so you can expect to make some new mates!

Everything you ever wanted to know about the fastest, highest flying, and coolest airplane ever built: the SR-71 Blackbird. Covering topics from how airplanes fly, to the operation of the Blackbird's two J58 RAM jet engines, you will be an expert in all things supersonic. Learn about the incredible stories behind the pilots in the cockpit and the engineers on the ground in this fast paced 1 hour class.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the fastest, highest flying, and coolest airplane ever built: the SR-71 Blackbird. Covering topics from how airplanes fly, to the operation of the Blackbird's two J58 RAM jet engines, you will be an expert in all things supersonic. Learn about the incredible stories behind the pilots in the cockpit and the engineers on the ground in this fast paced 1 hour class.

The cutting edge in robotics is soft, stretchable sensors and actuators. Most of the current research is being dedicated to finding ways to recreate and sense the human body. Come to learn more about soft robotics and the applications in space!

Interested making a worldwide impact with engineering? Come learn about sustainability and design with Yale Engineers Without Borders! Among several activities, students will collaborate to design and build their very own bridge.

This is a hands-on introduction to electronic components and circuit making!
We'll work with a range of components to make things light up, flicker and move. Hopefully we'll also get far enough to introduce the flip-flop and how computers store info!


Prerequisites
Everyone's welcome! NOTE: If you already know what a flip-flop is, this class might be a bit tame for you.

Join us as we explain the inner workings of solar panels! Hands-on engineering problems will be presented, and it's up to you to solve them. No previous experience with solar panels necessary, just an interest in problem solving and solar energy! Basic circuit analysis will be covered in this class.

Is it History or is it Hollywood?

Participants will first analyze their own experiences as patients and consumers in medical media. In doing so, participants will partake in a gallery walk that consists of images of television’s most famous doctors. Then participants will then learn a brief history of the formalization of medical education. After this mini-lecture, participants will be asked to consider both the formalization's immediate and long-term consequences; and discuss whether or not this history has influenced the images of doctors they consume.

You decide!


Prerequisites
N/A

Ever wonder what the vikings did when they weren't busy raiding and pillaging? In Iceland they created a free society of independent people where law, culture, and creativity flourished. Who were these first Icelanders? What was their daily life like? And how did they resolve conflicts in a land with no king or government? We'll answer these questions and many more as we explore the fascinating history of Viking Age Iceland.

Join us as we visit Asgard, home of Norse gods! There we'll meet the mighty warrior, Thor; the sly trickster, Loki; the wise leader, Odin; and all the other goddesses and gods of the Norse pantheon. We'll follow them as they go on adventures, get into trouble, and fight to save the world from the forces of evil. How was the world created? Where did Thor get his hammer? Has anyone ever outsmarted Loki? Who will triumph in the final battle for the fate of the world? Find out as we learn about Norse Mythology!

From super volcanoes and nuclear armageddon to meteor strikes and climate change, we'll cover some of the most likely reasons we might need a new planet to call home. What are the odds? How close have we been before? And what can we do to prevent it? Find out as we cover... The End Of The World!

Meet one the lesser-known heroes of Iceland's Viking Age: Finnbogi the Mighty. Abandoned at birth, Finnbogi survives to become one of the strongest men in Iceland. Follow him on his path to greatness as he wrestles magical monsters, feuds with one of Iceland's most powerful families, and single-handedly reduces the bear population of Norway. Will Finnbogi's feats of superhuman strength earn him the fame and fortune that the saga's author thinks he deserves? Or will the schemes of lesser men bring our hero down? Find out as we cover the Saga of Finnbogi the Mighty!

Every Vote Counts is a voting advocacy and engagement group at Yale. This class will be an overview of American democracy and conversation about voting in 2020, gerrymandering, the electoral college, and voter suppression, as well. Come to talk about the democracy, civic participation, and the 2020 election!


Prerequisites
N/A

In this class, we'll be learning about the perfect crossover between classic literature and children's film. We will have a discussion-style analysis of the Shakespearean themes and references sprinkled throughout some of our favorite Disney movies. Some selected texts: Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lion King, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

This class focuses on the intricate medium through which humans communicate: language. What is the difference between a language and a dialect? Why do some people talk differently than others? We will explore how each of us speak in slightly different ways, called idiolects, and how each one is effective at communicating. Lastly, we will tackle the topic of linguistic prejudice and why some ways of speaking are looked down upon and others raised up. Hopefully everyone will leave a little bit more observant of the world than before!


Prerequisites
None!

Do you or a loved one menstruate? Do you or a loved one wish you knew more or felt less awkward talking about periods, menstrual health, period poverty, period product alternatives, or just love talking about periods? If so, our class is for you! There is so much more to know about periods than how long to keep a tampon in without getting Toxic Shock Syndrome. All over the world, girls face extraordinary struggles whenever they get their period. Imagine not knowing how you would be getting your next box of pads. Or imagine not even knowing what a pad was. Worst of all, imagine not knowing what to call your period or why you bleed for a week each month. Some of us in America are fortunate enough to have answers to all of those questions, but for girls and women around the world many of those questions remain unanswered. If you want to know how you can fight to end period poverty, join the menstrual movement and end the stigma around menstruation, then consider taking this class, and getting involved with PERIOD, a national nonprofit full of young activists dedicated to advancing the menstrual movement.

The Student Body President of Yale will teach you how to win any election you participate in: Student Government, Club Leadership, or even Senior Superlatives.

We will take lessons from both real world politics and the greatest political dramas of our time (Game of Thrones, Avatar the Last Airbender, and so much more) and answer the question: *How to win an election*?

Food interacts with politics in several important spaces including home kitchens, farms, restaurants, school cafeterias. This class asks students to think about these locations with contexts of race, class, gender, and sustainability. We will trace a meal from seed to plate, using a thought exercise to consider the important intersections of politics at each transition. The course is an interactive dialogue, meant to get you excited about starting food conversations in your everyday life.
All students will also get to take seeds and soil home with them, to start their own garden.


Prerequisites
Interest in food and social justice

Do you or a loved one menstruate? Do you or a loved one wish you knew more or felt less awkward talking about periods, menstrual health, period poverty, period product alternatives, or just love talking about periods? If so, our class is for you! There is so much more to know about periods than how long to keep a tampon in without getting Toxic Shock Syndrome. All over the world, girls face extraordinary struggles whenever they get their period. Imagine not knowing how you would be getting your next box of pads. Or imagine not even knowing what a pad was. Worst of all, imagine not knowing what to call your period or why you bleed for a week each month. Some of us in America are fortunate enough to have answers to all of those questions, but for girls and women around the world many of those questions remain unanswered. If you want to know how you can fight to end period poverty, join the menstrual movement and end the stigma around menstruation, then consider taking this class, and getting involved with PERIOD, a national nonprofit full of young activists dedicated to advancing the menstrual movement.

An introduction to the basics of the Arabic alphabet. We will also focus on learning some common words and phrases in either MSA or Egyptian Arabic. Time-permitting, we will delve briefly into some cultural notes on the Middle East.

Who gets to be in our melting pot? What does it mean to be “American” and who is included in American history? This course seeks to empower students to think critically and confront the histories typically presented in the classroom, by introducing vital narratives often erased in the American education system. Through lecture and a variety of interactive group activities, students will learn about alternate and transformative ways of thinking about race and identity.

An introduction to the basics of the Arabic alphabet. We will also focus on learning some common words and phrases in either MSA or Egyptian Arabic. Time-permitting, we will delve briefly into some cultural notes on the Middle East.

Why is the subject of immigration so politically polarized? Why do Americans support policies that restrict the mobility of people who have experienced persecution, war, and other disasters that require safe refuge? In this class, we will read an article written by former Iranian refugee Dina Nayeri to better understand the plight of refugees in American society. This class will also provide techniques in close reading, a skill vital to writing good essays. Using this newfound skill, we will analyze Nayeri’s article and connect it to broader notions of statelessness, displacement, and citizenship.


Prerequisites
Please read Dina Nayeri's "The Ungrateful Refugee" published by the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/dina-nayeri-ungrateful-refugee

Ever find yourself in a position where you can't seem to convince other people of your ideas? This class will explore the art of persuasive speaking, to help you convince others that you're right. We'll talk about how construct a compelling argument, how to respond to someone else's (less compelling) argument, how to ask insightful questions, and how to present your ideas in a clear and well-articulated way. And we'll do it all through a group debate over one of the most important and unanswered questions: What is the right thing to do?

How does language work? What makes it special? In this class, we dive into the world of linguistics: the scientific study of language. We’ll look at how children are able to learn language so quickly, how words came to be, how words come together to make meaning, and how we seem to know the rules of language even if we don’t realize what those rules are. The scientific study of language will teach us how we communicate, how we work, and even how we think. And linguistics is becoming more and more applicable in the world of computers: as Google Translate seeks to convert from any language to any other, and Siri and Alexa try to listen to you and understand what you’re asking, understanding language and how it works is becoming more and more important.

There are few books that shaped the Eurocentric definition of literature as much as Homer's Iliad and Oddyssee. In this class, we will look at passages from the Iliad putting a special emphasis on the womxn of Troy. What was Homer's view on womxnhood or can we say that with regard to its heroines there indeed is "A Silence of the Girls?" (Pat Barker, 2018) in the Iliad?

Have you ever been told to watch what you eat? Well many do so very actively by watching food based entertainment. Anything from cooking competitions, cooking tutorials, travel shows, and even documentaries shape the way we watch and ultimately eat our food. In this class we ask the question, what kind of expectations and norms are created by food based entertainment? And how are we to respond to them? Join me on this trip to flavor town, and lets talk about the entertainment you consume!

Have you ever been told to watch what you eat? Well many do so very actively by watching food based entertainment. Anything from cooking competitions, cooking tutorials, travel shows, and even documentaries shape the way we watch and ultimately eat our food. In this class we ask the question, what kind of expectations and norms are created by food based entertainment? And how are we to respond to them? Join me on this trip to flavor town, and lets talk about the entertainment you consume!

Every fantasy genre draws on the myths of the dragon. Large flying serpents that very from wise and intelligent to greedy and evil. Where do these conceptions of Dragons come from and why are they still so popular today? In this class we will explore the origins of Dragons and their role in Literature through the ages. Excerpts from Beowulf, The Shahnameh, and Lewis Carroll among others.

Why do people love to tell stories? Are myths, fables, and fairytales only written for pure enjoyment? In this course, we will explore how narratives and the structure of stories play a role in how we view the world. We will have some time for creative writing and storytelling. This course will be discussion-based rather than a lecture.

A lesson on the importance of empathy across cultures brought to you by Yale UNICEF

How many people in America can say “Hello!” in Turkish? Do you want to become one of them? Do you want to learn more about one of the earliest countries to give women the right to vote? Do you want to learn about the country that bridges the continents of Europe and Asia?
If so, come and learn the basics of Turkish and the country of Turkey!

Socrates said: “The unexamined life is not worth living". We agree. Often, we live our lives in automatic mode, never questioning our actions or our existence. In this course, we hope to ask the questions that may bring more meaning to our lives.

We’ll question commonly-held beliefs and offer different philosophical approaches in an attempt to answer these questions. As co-teachers of the class, we often disagree as to which approach is best. Our aim is not to impose our own truths, but rather to encourage you to think about your own.

We aspire to liberate ourselves from our own mental prisons, to live with purpose and give sense to our existence. These are the questions that we consider have changed our lives and we hope they’ll change yours too.


Prerequisites
None

Experience one of the greatest sagas ever written as we explore the story of Iceland's most famous viking warrior, Egil Skallagrimsson. Follow along as he battles monsters, outsmarts kings, and plunders treasure. Join us as we cover the Saga of Egil Skallagrimsson!

What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress?

This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.

Over the past 230 years, 44 men have held the title of US President. In this class, we will take a look at the job and how it's been shaped and scrutinized over the years. Students will have an opportunity to learn more about an individual president, consider how each president fits into the nation's timeline, and discuss the connection between race, gender, class, power, and the Oval Office.


Prerequisites
A general understanding of US history is encouraged

The course will act as an introduction to methods of understanding technical terms for films as well as analysis of the purposes of certain techniques utilized for the movies. Students will go on to understand how certain editing techniques and camera shots/movements evoke different emotions or increase tension. Additionally, students will also analyze trailers and posters and describe how marketing skews and alters perception of specific films.


Prerequisites
N/A

A brief discussion and analysis on moral philosophy through thought experiments and games.


Prerequisites
A curious disposition!

**May get mildly graphic***This class will give a history of some of the most famous cases of unethical experiments in scientific history including the origins of American medicine, Tuskegee Syphilis experiment, the Yale Milgram experiment, and others. We will also go over what now exists to protect research participants, especially those from marginalized communities.

An academic dive into the inner workings of the European Union, the place of non-E.U. members nations in modern Europe, and how member and non-member nations interact. Will end in a discussion focusing on what European politics will look like in the future and whether the European project will continue to exist or fail in the years to come.


Prerequisites
None!

We'll explore the history of vaccines from their earliest recorded uses across the world, the development of the modern vaccine, and the growing anti-vaccination movement in America. We'll learn the differences between the inoculation and vaccination.

More has been written about Abraham Lincoln than just about everyone except Jesus. But in this class, we'll hear from Honest Abe himself. What is myth about America's 16th president, and what is true? How did Lincoln change over time? By reading some of his key texts, we will explore one of America's most complicated—and important—political characters.

This course will focus on small excerpts from the book "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" by author Ocean Vuong. We will focus on a close reading of passages that specifically focus on the themes of war, memory, and freedom from the book. Our hope is that students will gain skills in close reading and literary analysis. We also hope students get a sense of how an author can convey memories through their text.


Prerequisites
A passion for reading!

This course will give some historical context on the rise of mass incarceration. It will talk about the current carceral state in the United States, as it incarcerates far more individuals than any other country. We will be thinking through excerpts of different fundamental texts in prison abolition as we decide whether or not this is a feasible option the in the 21st century.


Prerequisites
A background in American History is helpful but not necessary

Has your cheap (but cute) Forever21 top ever ripped after only two months of wear? Have your thrifty jeans from H&M ever split because you accidentally wore them in gym class?

Maybe those things have happened to you (or maybe not, I'm speaking from personal experience here), but a better question to ask yourself would be, where are my clothes coming from?

Fast fashion, which is defined today as the process through which garments make their way from fashion shows into people's closets as quickly as possible, draws its roots from flawed and dangerous systems. Your trendy clothes were probably made by an underpaid and overworked sweatshop worker, and when you're done with them, are probably going to end up in a landfill. Does this sound shocking to you?

If yes, come attend this class to find out how you can do your part to dress more ethically and sustainably! In our one hour together, we will go over how you can find other (better) ways to stay stylish than participate in the fast fashion system that harms the planet.

Students will learn about unique and interesting aspects of the brain, the history of psychology, the biopsychosocial approach, look at fascinating case studies in psychology, and much more!

Have you ever wondered why group projects usually have one person that does significantly more than the others?


Prerequisites
None!

Are you interested in being more informed about our government and being a more civically engaged American? Are you curious about what the Federal and State governments can and cannot do to you? What is a right, and which rights are protected by the Constitution? Take this class to read more about the structure and institutions of our very unique government!

What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress?

This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.

In this class, we will examine religious rhetoric surrounding the Civil War. We will discuss how both the Confederate and Union sides used religious ideals traceable to the Colonial American period to justify their actions, and how this permitted them to frame the war as a moral necessity and God-ordained duty. We will delve specifically into Abraham Lincoln’s religious evolution, and how his conceptions of a mysterious—albeit interventionist—God figured into his wartime decisions, especially that of emancipation.

In this course we will go over what anthropology is and how it can be useful in understanding the world around us. We will look at different scholars' definition of anthropology and participate in a mini experiment to understand what it means for ourselves!

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation and the 4th largest populous nation in the world. However, not many in the United States have heard about, or even known about recent tumultuous events in Indonesia that provides insight into larger global politics. In international news, we have heard about the forest fires in Brazil, the student protests in Hong Kong, and state violence in Kashmir. Over the past couple of months, similar trends have also been happening Indonesia, starting from the student protests in Jakarta, Jogjakarta, and Bandung, the attempted cooptation of those protests by conservative religious movements, the controversial revision of the criminal code, the weakening of the anti-corruption commission, independence movements in Papua, as well as forest fires in Riau.This class will give a broad introduction to Indonesian politics and why it might be interesting for us today!

Many ideas and proposals have been put forth to address the most pressing climate issues. Carbon taxes, bans on cows, a Green New Deal, even geo-engineering a giant mirror in the sky to reflect the sun's radiation–the ideas are innovative and limitless. Are they, however, equally as effective? Are there better solutions than others? Is there a "right" way? Through exploring contemporary environmental and climate solutions, students will learn to use a critical lens to analyze unintended consequences, and how they relate to justice, equity, and politics.


Prerequisites
General interest and knowledge of climate issues.

Welcome to Public Speaking and the 2020 Presidential Election! Together, we will gain competency at one of the most important skills today-- confident, clear public speaking. We will talk about tips and tricks to public speaking like a pro!

We will also explore the 2020 Presidential Election. You will learn about presidential politics, current candidates, and more. At the end, you will take part in a mock Presidential Debate!

Looking forward to meeting you.


Prerequisites
All are welcome! Come join.

So... the Enneagram. Have you ever heard of this before? If you're interested in personality tests that will help you understand yourself and the way you think, come to my class and learn about the Enneagram! It's an intriguing ancient system of "typing" yourself that is based on your fears and motivations, but it isn't just a one-and-done personality definition like other systems. Instead, you learn all about things like your "wings", your "sub-type", you directions of growth and integration and more! In this class you'll begin to talk about a fascinating tool that will equip you with ways of understanding yourself that will be useful for the rest of your life!


Prerequisites
willingness to explore feelings and thoughts

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Implicit Bias, and how they impact our interactions and experiences.

Many ideas and proposals have been put forth to address the most pressing climate issues. Carbon taxes, bans on cows, a Green New Deal, even geo-engineering a giant mirror in the sky to reflect the sun's radiation–the ideas are innovative and limitless. Are they, however, equally as effective? Are there better solutions than others? Is there a "right" way? Through exploring contemporary environmental and climate solutions, students will learn to use a critical lens to analyze unintended consequences, and how they relate to justice, equity, and politics.


Prerequisites
General interest and knowledge of climate issues.

***This class can get graphic***
Are serial killers born or made? Find out the psychology behind serial killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert Fish, and so many more!

A brief overview of theories and manifestations of "soft power" as a way one country influences another beyond mainstream politics. A brief history of Korean Pop music (K-pop), the Hallyu wave, and its role as a source of soft power in East-Southeast Asian affairs.

Over the course of 100 days, 1 million people died in Rwanda. With 10,000 deaths each day, it
must have felt as though everyone had killed at least one person during the Genocide. How did
the newly elected government go about persecuting the hundreds of thousands of accused when
most lawyers fled or died trying? Who determined what was truth or falsehood. How was the
point of view of women considered? Through this seminar, we will learn how the Gacaca
system, a public trial system, aimed to serve justice and how successful it was at doing so. Come
defend how you would have accomplished what many considered an impossible task.


Prerequisites
None

Come explore how queerness is portrayed in literary art forms such as poetry, theater, and film! We will be considering these different genres throughout the workshop in order to examine the types of queer representation exhibited and how these depictions have evolved over time within the contemporary arts scene. Finally, we will reflect on the future of queer literary arts and the kinds of works we hope to see in the future.

Content Warning: Please note that some of the content may contain homophobic/transphobic language or actions.

Do you want to learn more about Chinese culture? Have you ever wanted to learn how to write and speak Chinese? Do you love Chinese food? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this class is perfect for you!

Learn great reasons for thinking God doesn't exist and great reasons for thinking he does! We'll explore classic arguments on each side of this long-standing debate.

In this course, students will get an understanding of what Afrofuturism is and what it aims to do.

Who gets to be an American? We can find one answer in examining American immigration, which relates to who enters the US as well as how these people are treated. Though you might have learned about this in the 1800s or 1900s, far more relevant is the world of immigration today. We discuss this in legal, social, and historical lenses to together explore how America is built.

Imagine visiting Africa -- but you're in France. Or Britain. Or Germany. How is this possible, you may be asking? Did you know that nearly all of Africa was conquered by European powers? This course will be a survey of the colonization of sub-Saharan Africa, from the formation of European colonies to independence. We will focus on individual examples and events that are representative of the larger process of colonization. We'll cover a lot of ground; no prior exposure to African history needed. Even those who have encountered colonial history in a class before can expect to be surprised, horrified, and fascinated. Attend this class and come away with a much deeper understanding of one of the most astonishing tragedies in the history of human existence: the European colonization of Africa.

This hour-long course aims to give students an exposure to the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the factors of the relationship which have continually hindered the diplomatic process. Students will gain an understanding of the peace process and aims of conflict resolution, and will also learn about contemporary proposals for agreements to end the conflict.

Bonjour! Have you ever wanted to learn the language of love? Then this class is for you! No prior exposure to French needed. This class will equip you with basic French skills: the alphabet, counting, and basic vocabulary. Expect a dynamic, immersive environment in which you'll be surrounded by the sounds of one of the most beautiful languages in the world. Venez, donc! Come on, then! Apprenez le français!

Analyzing the concept of disparity in the United States through the lens of education.

Has your cheap (but cute) Forever21 top ever ripped after only two months of wear? Have your thrifty jeans from H&M ever split because you accidentally wore them in gym class?

Maybe those things have happened to you (or maybe not, I'm speaking from personal experience here), but a better question to ask yourself would be, where are my clothes coming from?

Fast fashion, which is defined today as the process through which garments make their way from fashion shows into people's closets as quickly as possible, draws its roots from flawed and dangerous systems. Your trendy clothes were probably made by an underpaid and overworked sweatshop worker, and when you're done with them, are probably going to end up in a landfill. Does this sound shocking to you?

If yes, come attend this class to find out how you can do your part to dress more ethically and sustainably! In our one hour together, we will go over how you can find other (better) ways to stay stylish than participate in the fast fashion system that harms the planet.

How many people in America can say “Hello!” in Turkish? Do you want to become one of them? Do you want to learn more about one of the earliest countries to give women the right to vote? Do you want to learn about the country that bridges the continents of Europe and Asia?
If so, come and learn the basics of Turkish and the country of Turkey!

Directed Studies is a first-year program specific to Yale University where students cover the classics of the Western tradition. One of three required classes, Historical and Political Thought covers the works of Herodotus, Aristotle, and other political philosophers, theorists, and historians. In this seminar, we will focus on Plato’s Republic, one of the most important books in western history that deals with notions of justice and virtue. We will look at the Allegory of the Cave, the most famous scene in the work, and further examine how the theoretical world of philosophy connects to the practical world of politics. This class will teach you how to expand your thinking of the world around you–or will it?


Prerequisites
Read the attached PDF version of the Allegory of the Cave in Book VII of Plato's Republic. Also, feel free to watch this short youtube video to help your understanding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWOpQXTltA

The general YUM workshop which has been taught a lot for Splash in the past!

Movies are great at engrossing us in stories, building our excitement, and making us laugh or cry - but they’re not necessarily always true to reality. Sometimes this is by design (a Sharknado is obviously not an actual thing). Other times movies simply ignore things or get them wrong. Scenarios which we might take for granted in some movies – like the space battles of Star Wars – are actually physically impossible!

This seminar will examine the physical realism of a few classic movie scenarios, from cars jumping draw bridges to time travel. We’ll dive into scenes from sci-fi, action, and other films. Then, drawing on concepts from kinematics, acoustics, relativity, and more (as well as just
simple logic), we will discuss some scenarios which are surprisingly accurate, some which are
physically impossible, and some which involve complications still being researched.


Prerequisites
Some high school physics will be necessary to understand the math we will be doing, but the course is open to everyone! If a significant portion of the class has not been exposed to a particular idea, I will explain it beforehand.

Computers can now beat the world’s best chess players and the world’s best Jeopardy players. They can diagnose some diseases more accurately than doctors. They can drive cars. And they can predict what product you should buy next on Amazon, what TV show you should watch next on Netflix, and more. How did computers learn to do all this? In this class, we’ll explore the domains of artificial intelligence and machine learning. We’ll look at strategies we use to teach computers how to teach themselves, and we’ll talk about what lies in the future in this fast-growing world of machine intelligence. No prior computer science experience required!

What is the stock market? Why should I learn about investing? Want to learn to to earn more than average by retirement age? Join this class to learn more about the world of investing stocks!


Prerequisites
Some investing knowledge recommended

We will take a look at some interesting properties of polar plots of prime numbers (Spoiler - they form pretty spirals) and what these plots tell us about their properties!


Prerequisites
Nothing - except basic addition and subtraction skills.

Come learn about what is being called "The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century". Who are the people developing algorithms at Netflix and Amazon to recommend your next TV show or purchase? We'll learn about the role of a data scientist and how to become one. We'll also introduce examples of how data science is used in the real-world.


Prerequisites
Nothing! No math or computer science will be used in this course.

How do we learn? The brain has fascinated both psychologists and mathematicians since the age of man. Come explore learning with ideas from both cognitive scientists and mathematicians throughout history!
We will explore games such as tic-tac-toe, chess, and cards. Even better, you'll have your own chance to come up with your own strategy to test how well you "learn".

Topics explored: Psychology & Cognitive Science, Statistics, Machine Learning


Prerequisites
Comfortable with basic arithmetic (roughly algebra I or II)

I taught this at Sprout, and I'm teaching it again here. Probably don't take it twice?

This course studies about half the things that exist. Half of nature approximately follows the rule that $$\ddot{x}\approx -kx$$ and the other half that $$\ddot{x}\approx kx$$, for positive $$k$$. This course is about the first one.

We will also study driving, which is how you get home from the pool, and damping, which is what happens to the car seat when you do so.

(I wish I didn't have to add this, but that's a joke. Damping and driving are interesting force situations.)


Prerequisites
Can you solve an equation which only has variables? Do you know what force is? Do you know what a derivative is? Have you heard the word "integral" with the stress on the first syllable? If no to any of these, please don't take the course. Otherwise, you're welcome.

Modeled off the most popular class in Yale history, this class will explore how to use psychology to live the happiest life possible. We will discuss how our mind lies to us about what makes us happy, and we will discover what we can actually do to live our happiest lives.

Student Reviews:
"Thank you for such an awesome and impactful class! It has definitely increased my happiness/well-being:)"

"This class by FAR was my favorite class and it definitely had a HUGE impact on me. Inspirational."

Learn more about why high blood pressure (hypertension) is known as the "silent killer" in a hands-on workshop that teaches YOU how to manually measure blood pressure using a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer cuff!

In this course, we will go over some basics of the microscope, and then we will make our very own paper microscopes! We will have the chance to use this microscope to view some interesting microscopic things!


Prerequisites
none

Stone tools have been used by hominins for 2 million years. Learn to make some of them yourself!

Have you ever wondered what makes living things different from nonliving things? At what point does something stop being alive and become dead? This class will primarily focus on discussion of examples that reveal the ambiguity behind the seemingly obvious categories of alive and not alive. Examples will primarily be drawn from biology, especially microbiology.

The goal of this class is to allow students to think critically about the way categories are defined and what gets ignored during classification. Additionally, students will learn about some cool bacteria and viruses.

What is a bloodborne disease? How do we get them? How do we protect ourselves from them? Answer all these questions and more as you learn how to correctly clean small wounds. If time permits, we'll discuss the history and science of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

This course will be a basic introduction to the field of neuroscience! We will cover how the brain functions, parts of the brain and what they do, ways we study the brain, and weird things that can happen with brain damage.

Are humans rational beings? At one point in time, this was a dominant assumption in economics research, but now we tend to think the opposite. This class will tackle the question by giving students firsthand experience of how our minds can fail us and then revisiting these failures to see if, perhaps, they make sense after all.

An introduction to the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth and in the Universe, with methods and strategies for locating and identifying extraterrestrial life.

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding stopping climate change and reducing our carbon footprint. Yet, many people do not know that one of the most impactful ways you can help the cause is by reducing your meat consumption! In this class, we will analyze the effects of animal agriculture on the environment, animal cruelty, and global poverty. We will also look at companies and initiatives trying to tackle this problem and how they will affect the future.

Thousands of bird species migrate every year, often across entire continents or hemispheres. Why and how do they do it? We'll discuss many amazing examples, including species that pass through Connecticut.

Why do we grow old? Do we suffer from certain conditions like allergy, asthma, or cancer more than our ancestors did? We'll talk about how modern civilization has changed the kinds of health problems we face, as well as our deep past and potential future evolution with respect to disease. Cutting-edge research at Yale is using insight from evolution to design smarter treatments for the most deadly diseases.


Prerequisites
high school biology is helpful

The country: Australia. The year: 1932. Armed with modern technology, thousands of Depression-era Australian settlers faced off against their most formidable foe yet: the dreaded emu. Despite their guns, the humans arguably lost this war. To this very day, emus damage Australian crops. What does it mean for farmers to fight against wildlife? What happens when new animals and plants interact with existing ecosystems? Why is Australian wildlife so cool? How do we consider species to be "pests," and how do we consider them valuable to the environment or the economy?


Prerequisites
A willingness to participate in class and bring your own ideas to our discussion! (but not in a scary way, of course)

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding stopping climate change and reducing our carbon footprint. Yet, many people do not know that one of the most impactful ways you can help the cause is by reducing your meat consumption! In this class, we will analyze the effects of animal agriculture on the environment, animal cruelty, and global poverty. We will also look at companies and initiatives trying to tackle this problem and how they will affect the future.

Have you ever had to get stitches? In the surgical world, "stitches" are called sutures. Learn various basic suturing patterns, when they are necessary in survival situations, and when they are used in the operating room. If you are interested in a career in medicine or are an avid outdoor-enthusiast who could benefit from some survival safety training, this class is for you!

Have you ever had to get stitches? In the surgical world, "stitches" are called sutures. Learn various basic suturing patterns, when they are necessary in survival situations, and when they are used in the operating room. If you are interested in a career in medicine or are an avid outdoor-enthusiast who could benefit from some survival safety training, this class is for you!

Thousands of bird species migrate every year, often across entire continents or hemispheres. Why and how do they do it? We'll discuss many amazing examples, including species that pass through Connecticut.

Have you ever wondered why rockets have "launch windows," how some satellites always stay directly overhead, why rovers are only sent to Mars every 26 months, or how scientists detect exoplanets thousands of light-years away? What if I told you that for a capsule to catch up to the International Space Station, it actually has to slow down? The physics of orbiting objects can be strange, but we'll explore all these topics (and more), predict some upcoming astronomical events, and maybe even plan an interplanetary mission of our own!


Prerequisites
This class is light on math, but heavy on physics concepts and intuition. Exposure to Newton's laws of motion and gravitation recommended.

Have you ever wondered how exactly vaccines work? Or why it's said that you can't "catch the same cold twice"? In this class we will discuss how the specialized cells of the adaptive immune system manage to recognize the wide range of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can threaten our health, and then how these cells form memory to be more effective at fighting them off in the future.


Prerequisites
Some background in biology would be very helpful, though is not necessary.

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to the pioneers of cancer immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibition - but what do those things mean exactly? And besides that, what exactly is cancer, how does it arise, and why is it often so hard to cure? If you're interested in cancer, the immune system, and how they interact, this is the class for you.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with the basics of cell biology is helpful, but not required.

Someone collapses in front of you - panic?! Or use the basics of emergency medicine to get to action! This class is about the basics of how doctors manage common medical and surgical emergencies in the emergency room. If things like asthma attacks, cardiac arrests, severe allergies, trauma and surgeries gone wrong interest you - then this class is for you!

Are humans rational beings? At one point in time, this was a dominant assumption in economics research, but now we tend to think the opposite. This class will tackle the question by giving students firsthand experience of how our minds can fail us and then revisiting these failures to see if, perhaps, they make sense after all.

Chemistry and science is all around us, and this class will explore this idea further. Some topics of focus will be the environment, our bodies, technology, etc. This class is a great choice for anyone who wants to learn more fun things about Chemistry or science in general.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of Chemistry and Mathematics is recommended but not required.

Have you ever wondered what makes living things different from nonliving things? At what point does something stop being alive and become dead? This class will primarily focus on discussion of examples that reveal the ambiguity behind the seemingly obvious categories of alive and not alive. Examples will primarily be drawn from biology, especially microbiology.

The goal of this class is to allow students to think critically about the way categories are defined and what gets ignored during classification. Additionally, students will learn about some cool bacteria and viruses.

This course will examine how climate change and other human activities are decimating in bird populations right here in New Haven. The class will focusing on the Red Knot, a migratory shorebird that travels 9,000 miles a year, and passes through New Haven on its journey.

This course will have students examine how they can most effectively solve the most pressing current global health crises.

What happens to your brain when you learn something new, or when you listen to your favorite song over and over again? Does your brain remain the same after development of your body stops? Research has shown that your brain changes constantly with every task that you perform through a process called neuroplasticity.

In this course, we are going to investigate what drives plasticity in the brain, and what are the underlying factors that are entailed in brain plasticity. We are going to look into examples of neuroplasticity in everyday life, understand the impact of neuroplasticity on recovering from brain injury. and explore the prospects of plasticity of the brain in tackling neural degeneration.

If you have a passion about the marvels of the brain then this class is for you!

More than just hypnotics, brains, and psychotherapy, psychology is relevant to the world around us. In fact, psychology is almost always surprising and fun! We will be discussing “what is psychology?” and how concepts such as inattentional blindness, heuristics, and critical thinking impact many of us everyday. We will also "think" about our own decision making and how we form judgments about our worlds.


Prerequisites
If you took "Psych in Our World" with me last Splash, there will be many overlaps

Have you ever wondered how different instruments work? How sound is produced, travels through the air, and is heard? In Physics of Music, we'll explore these questions and more using basic physical concepts, primarily simple harmonic motion, through the lens of hearing and creating music.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but experience with trigonometry and/or physics could be useful.

What is cancer? How do we prevent, diagnose, and treat it? Did you know radiation can be harnessed to target tumors? We'll explore the exciting field of oncology and work together through an interactive hands-on activity exploring radiologic anatomy.

Class Description:
Socratic Seminar - this class is about thinking! Be ready to listen, share your thoughts, and challenge the teacher, as well as each other.

What we'll discuss:
-What is Science?
-How does Science relate to Society and vice versa?
-Scientific Lingo
-Semantics (e.g. belief, proof)
-Context: why belief in dragons is reasonable or not
-Certainty, Subjectivity, & Objectivity
-Scientific Method
-Logic & Fallacies
-Science-Public Controversies (may touch on climate change, gluten, GMOs, evolution, vaccines, junk food, designer babies, etc - determined by class interest)


Prerequisites
A willing and desire to think critically and challenge not only others, but the teacher and especially oneself

Many of the commodities of modern society - porcelain china toilets, cardboard boxes, short skirts, shaving safety razors, waxed paper, glass bottles, angled-jet water fountains, educational films, and folding patterns on hotel blankets - are deeply connected to the public health movements of the past. How have they shaped the present? And - in looking to the future - what can we learn from them?

A third of the earth rendered inhabitable. Over a billion people displaced. Outright political chaos. And far worse in store.

The climate crisis is already unfolding. You likely know this. But you probably don't know just how severe it will be, and just how soon the consequences will be felt. Barring drastic and immediate action, the earth is headed for warming levels that have been called "beyond catastrophic." We may reach these levels even within the next half century.

In this class, we'll survey the range of impacts of the climate crisis, seeking to answer that fundamental question:
Will humanity survive?

What is the actual environmental cost of building a wind turbine? Doesn't burning biomass produce more emissions? Is renewable energy the silver bullet when it comes to climate change? Through in-depth discussion, uncover the answers to these questions and more in this class all about renewable energy!

Recent advances in brain-imaging technology spurred speculations about the existence of the “murder gene” and its implications for human free will. Are certain people born with genetic predispositions to violence, illegality and rebellion? How do these biological factors change how they interact with their childhood environment? All of these topics are discussed under the umbrella of neurocriminology, or the study of the neural basis of crime. There is a growing body of evidence that shows genetic and environmental factors can come together to nurture a “criminal brain” with violent tendencies. This class will be an inquiry into these questions, delving into the biological roots of crime and the inevitable ethical questions of accountability and punishment that follow.

The objective of this class is to examine the capability of health services in Latin American countries in order to better prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. We will learn about concepts such as communicable diseases and infectious agents, explore the immune system as it relates to disease, and consider public health implications in disease control and transmission.


Prerequisites
None

Have you ever forgotten where you put something? Want an easy way to remember dates, birthdays, lists, and long numbers? Want to have fun and be challenged? Feel like unlocking the potential of your LIMITLESS memory? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this class is the class for you!

In this course, we will learn about the history of aromatherapy, and the function/effects of various essential oils. We will also learn about how to use these gifts of nature to improve the overall wellness of life!


Prerequisites
none

During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in concentration camps in the West and South. These Japanese-American prisoners—the vast majority citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen?

In my course, I’ll discuss the stories of my interned relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American internees, and the Japanese-Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s complicated political climate, I’ll also explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society.

Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration.

No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues. Candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future.

If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org. This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are encouraged to join.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites required.

Want to solve fun and hard riddles like the one below? In this class, you will have the opportunity to solve a number of tough riddles, and learn about the different types of riddles. At the end, we will learn about the ways riddles are written, and you will have a chance to write your own.

Riddle: "You have a 3 gallon jug and a 5 gallon jug. Explain how you could measure exactly 4 gallons of water without estimating."


Prerequisites
None, but some of the riddles will be pretty tricky. If problem solving bores or frustrates you, this class may not be the right fit for you!

Our world has problems. A lot of them, in fact. From racism, sexism, LGBTQI discrimination and ableism, to failing education systems, increasing economic inequality and climate change. Too often it feels overwhelming! To make waves in the world we need a shift from individual to systems level thinking. In this class we look at what top researchers have said about strategies of systems-change, including takeaways for anyone interested in taking on social change in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector in your local community. You won't learn how to solve the education system, but it might just make you a better community leader!

*NOTE: this was "Making Waves in the World" at Sprout so it will be a repeat if you did it then :)

During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in concentration camps in the West and South. These Japanese-American prisoners—the vast majority citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen?

In my course, I’ll discuss the stories of my interned relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American internees, and the Japanese-Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s complicated political climate, I’ll also explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society.

Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration.

No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues. Candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future.

If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org. This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are encouraged to join.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites required.

Our world has problems. A lot of them, in fact. From racism, sexism, LGBTQI discrimination and ableism, to failing education systems, increasing economic inequality and climate change. Too often it feels overwhelming! To make waves in the world we need a shift from individual to systems level thinking. In this class we look at what top researchers have said about strategies of systems-change, including takeaways for anyone interested in taking on social change in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector. You won't learn how to solve the education system, but it might just make you a better leader! This class is adapted from my Sprout Grade 9-12 class but not dumbed down, because you don’t need to be older to be a change maker! :)

Most people know that boomerangs exist. Few people have actually seen one in action. Even fewer people know how to throw one properly. In this course, you will learn how to throw a real boomerang so that it returns to you and how to catch it once it does.

This class will be held outside at Scantlebury park, so make sure to dress for outside, and be prepared to be active. Please note that this class will be cancelled in the event of rain so you should select 2-3 alternate classes during these blocks that you might be interested in if this class is cancelled.


Prerequisites
Although not a requirement, be aware that this class will likely be more enjoyable for right-handed throwers. There will be 18 different right-handed boomerangs available, but only 1 left handed boomerang and 1 ambidextrous boomerang available for left-handed throwers. Some general athletic experience in sports that involve throwing (like baseball) will make this class easier but is certainly not required.

Believe investing is only for Wall Street gurus and millionaires? It doesn't have to be! Come learn what a stock market is, why and how you should invest, and what makes a good (or bad) stock. We'll go over some terminology and concepts and then jump into a real world case study.

We'll be discussing what to do when you're feeling down and how to stay positive even in those situations. Exercises include positivity journals, cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation!


Prerequisites
None!

Come relax and destress with beginner Vinyasa flow yoga! The first part of class you will learn about techniques for mindfulness in your daily lives and methods of self-care. No yoga experience needed, this class is for beginners!

Students will explore the concept of stress and get an introduction to mindfulness. By the end of the workshop, students should feel comfortable recognizing when they are experiencing stress, and be familiar with several tools they can employ to manage their stress. They should take away the idea that “Stress is a temporary feeling caused by external factors as well as internal thoughts. Mindfulness helps us

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Big Bad Wolf after he blew all the pigs houses down? Well I have the answer for you! He went on trial. In this class students will learn and carry out the basics of a mock trial court case. The case at hand will be "The Big Bad Wolf vs The Three Little Pigs."

Come relax and destress with beginner Vinyasa flow yoga! The first part of class you will learn about techniques for mindfulness in your daily lives and methods of self-care. No yoga experience needed, this class is for beginners!

In this course, members of the Yale Rotaract club will give a detailed overview of the current Rohingya refugee crisis: the mass migration of the Rohingya ethnic group from Myanmar, escaping a government-organized genocide. Moreover, members will specifically describe the efforts that the Yale Rotaract club is currently undertaking in fundraising and providing medical relief for these refugees, its collaborations with other international clubs/NGOs, and how every one in the class can get involved and make a positive contribution.


Prerequisites

In this course you will learn about chess strategy and tactics. In the second half of the class you will be able to practice your skills by playing against your fellow students (and teacher!).


Prerequisites
Know the basic rules of chess. Other than that, players of all levels are welcome.

This class will explore and teach about various puzzles and games. Students will get a chance to participate in these puzzles and games. From these activities, students will analyze how these activities could benefit people in their everyday life.


Prerequisites
Basic math and English skills.

We live in a society that fetishizes a high-consumption and egocentric lifestyle and is eradicating our environment. The differences of others -- whether that be political alignment, color of skin, or religious convictions -- obstruct us from acknowledging the one thing that we all have in common, which is our humanness. The desire to “fit in” fosters ignorance about the issues that plague our collective home. The social structures that govern us are our principal oppressors.

This course seeks to offer an alternative perspective towards the world and encourage you to reflect on how you operate within it.

Come learn about managing your money to live an exciting life. We'll talk about saving, investing, budgeting, student loans, and more! Basic personal finance concepts and strategies will be introduced as well as examples on how all of this can be used in the real-world.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites!

Impress strangers. Influence friends. Win applause from more than just your mother. In this class, we'll teach you not just to speak—but to be heard.

Join us to learn about the psychology of how people remember our words, how to structure a speech, and how to deliver it. We'll talk about style, mechanics, and delivery, and learn from the best (and worst) speeches in our country's history. And you may just get to try out a speech yourself.

Some may say it's just a lot of hot air—but we say, hot air is on the rise.

You know the feeling: sitting down to start your math homework or beginning to study for your next big exam and realizing just how many other fun things you could be doing with your time. We know, studying sucks. In this class, we’ll be talking about some ways to make studying fun, or at least, a little more enjoyable.

I will teach the students how to create a personal budget, how to build credit and buy a car.


Prerequisites
Just some basic math

The purpose of this class is to teach students the history of the electoral college, how it works, its importance, and the current movement for a national popular vote.

How can you learn languages without any lessons?

In this class, we will do exactly that, exploring language puzzles from the simple to the mind-bendingly complex. You will learn how to take sentences in a foreign language and translate them without knowing any of the words, read words in a writing system you don't know, and discover grammar rules that we don't have in English (for example, in Japanese, different verbs are used to say “wear/put on” depending on where the item is worn). No prior knowledge of languages or linguistics is required — just analytical thinking!

A quick example puzzle: Yaqui is a language indigenous to North America. Here are some sentences in Yaqui:
1. Inepo enchi aniak
2. Aapo enchi vichak
3. Inepo enchi vichak
4. Empo nee aniak

Here are their English translations, in random order:
a. He saw you
b. I saw you
c. You helped me
d. I helped you

Match each sentence with its correct English translation. (Hint: the words don't go in the same order in Yaqui!)

ɔ 'q 'ɐ 'p :sɹǝʍsu∀

What is your endgame? What makes you happy? What are your goals, and what are your priorities? If you were financially set for life, what would you be doing in this instant? Despite the fact that most everybody wants to be happy, nobody ever seems to ask these important questions.

They aren't your everyday inquiries, and they certainly aren't easy, but in this day and age, we don't give ourselves much time to put any thought into them. So, I'd like to ask you again: "What makes you happy"

As the dangers of climate change and unsustainable practices have begun to enter our radar, we must ask ourselves: What am I doing that is contributing to these problems? What can I do differently? This course offers answers to these pressing questions, with hopes to inspire students to become leaders in sustainability and in the climate change fight.

Ancient Rome is known for many things: its military, its emperors, its architecture. But none of this would have been possible without the aqueducts. Every city needs waters and Rome's innovative water system brought the empire to greatness. Come learn how aqueducts work, how they shaped Roman history and why they are important for studying modern water issues.