Interested in learning how artists can so quickly sketch out the human form closely resembling the real thing? Want to be able to draw an accurate hand without tracing your own? Come learn some of the history of figure drawing, which dates back to cave paintings as well as learn the basics of drawing the human body. **Materials provided but feel free to bring your own sketchbook and/or drawing utensils. No art experience or anatomical knowledge necessary.

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!

An introduction to pop, rap, and indie music tracks that are topping the charts in Vietnam. Analyze creatively funny, aesthetic, emotional, complex V-pop music videos, learn how to pronounce (even sing?!) Vietnamese lyrics, and discover how V-pop might be taking its inspiration from your favorite American and K-pop artists. We’ll explore the works of The Chillies (Vietnam’s The Beatles), Suboi (an iconic female rapper), UNI5 (an adorable boy band), Son Tung MTP (whose song with Snoop Dogg was trending on Youtube this summer), the soundtracks from Vietnam’s growing film industry, and more! We’ll also take a quick look at some contemporary art, film, photography, and choreography that is defining “Vietnamese” creativity. Perhaps you’ll come away with some new V-pop idols and boy bands to stan!

Arrested Development, which aired on Fox for only 3 seasons, is one of the greatest comedy television shows ever produced. It is well known for its hillarious running gags, masterful punnery, and delightfully obnoxious cast. In the show's short tenure, the producers mastered the art of subtle comedy. In this course, we will study each of the show's hallmarks to understand why it worked so well and why it continues to be refreshing and brilliant on each rewatch.


Prerequisites
Watch a couple episodes of Arrested Development

Let us knock the lofty giant from the pedestal of fame and bring his words onto the stage! In this class students will learn a variety of methods by which Shakespeare's famed- and mildly feared- iambic pentameter can be annotated. After grasping the rhythms of their pieces, students will learn how to translate their annotations into performance.

Ever wanted to sit down and unpack one of the greatest Disney films of all time? Feel like talking about magic, flying carpets, genies, and fabulous storytelling? If so, this crash course on everything you may not know about Aladdin-- but definitely should-- is for you! Join us as we explore the themes and evolution of the tale, from its origin in the Arabian Nights collection, to its adaptations by modern filmmakers.

We will be looking at how sitcoms are structured as a whole and on a scene-level and examine why certain jokes work and others don't. Theoretical analysis will be accompanied by short writing exercises.


Prerequisites
Laptop recommended but not required.

Wanna learn how to paint a cool mural for your room, an old door, a wall, or just as a new medium of art? Learn some techniques and ideas from the best grafitti artists to ever do it, and then students will have a chance to create their own piece, whether in groups or individually, on their own board.

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.

The key to putting on an unforgettable performance is having a whole and complete understanding of each scene. The art of scene study involves taking an in-depth look at the elements of the scene, the given circumstances, the stakes, determining the arc, and charting the progression of both the scene and the characters in it.


Prerequisites
None

Come learn about the art of the ancient world! We will be exploring art from Egypt, Greece, Mesoptamia, Rome and more.


Prerequisites
None! Just bring yourself.

This class focuses on developing singing/acting/movement skills in a variety of musical theatre performing styles. The class will lay the foundation for musical theatre song performance through communicating stories through vocal and physical expression, and learning to develop the character in order to bring the song to life through both singing and acting.

Great companies like Apple have created products that are both easy to use and aesthetically beautiful. Behind all these products are teams of innovative product designers that are tackling problems through human-centered design.

In this course, we'll first look at examples of extraordinary design like the MacBook Air or the Dyson vacuum. We'll then study the process of product design: from user research to rapid prototyping. You'll then get into groups and come up with your own creative designs for a proposed problem.


Prerequisites
None

Interested in learning what goes behind the scenes in art museums? Come learn about how science is used in art conservation and learn about conservation science at Yale.

An introductory course to OpenSCAD, a free and fun code-based 3D computer aided design (CAD) program! Learn how to make really cool objects from basic shapes (cube, sphere, cylinder), and simple transformations. This would be a good course for anyone interested in or looking to learn more about 3D design or programming, or anyone looking for a fun hobby! No programming or 3D design experience is necessary.

Ever wondered how the engines on planes work? We'll cover the basics of chemical propulsion systems like turbojets, turbofans, ramjets, and scramjets. No knowledge of math or physics required!

nterested 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 towers.

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.

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.

There will be a breakdown of the candidates, their position on certain policies, and major issues which will decide the 2020 election. This will be an impartial class and will lay out the facts on the potential benefits and downsides to certain policies.

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!

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!

Don't know the purpose of life? Think that you are doomed to failure? We all feel the same way sometimes! But this course may shift your mind! This class explores the ideas of Adolf Adler, who is the founder of individual psychologist. He coined the term "social interest," which means individual’s personal interest in furthering the welfare of others. He contends that satisfying social interest is the life purpose of human. The key to empower oneself to change their lifestyle and contribute to the society is not ability, but courage and willingness. Everyone is capable of change despite their background and experience. This course focuses on how individuals can attain happiness through collaborating and cooperating with others. There will be hands-on activities in class to help students to understand easily the psychological thoughts and practice the actualization of his principles. Hopefully everyone will be a little happier upon leaving the classroom, if not everyday everafter.


Prerequisites
There is no prerequisite! Be open minded and ready to learn and change!

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 two-part lesson, students will learn a brief overview of the history of eugenics and how to be an intersex activist. While participating, students will engage in variety of activities including: group discussions, close text analysis, and watching videos. Students will ultimately learn how the desire "to fix" intersex stems from this fraught and lengthy history of discrimination. Most importantly, they will learn Intersexuality is normal and how to be an Intersex Ally!


Prerequisites
N/A

You can say the same word and make two people hear two different things (think Yanny/Laurel). German speakers can follow a nursery rhyme that baffles English speakers. Language is a funny thing. In this linguistics-themed class, we'll take a look at neat tricks with language and why they work.

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.

We will cover some basic concepts and terminology used in linguistics. We will also uncover some of our implicit linguistic biases. Why are some dialects considered "smart" and others not? What does it mean to speak different dialects, are you then bilingual? How do you represent vernacular language? All of these and more will be covered and discussed!


Prerequisites
None

Imagine visiting Africa -- but you're in France. Or Britain. Or Germany. How is this possible, you might 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'll 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 will be an interactive overview of the Electoral College, the system in which we select our President! We will be discussing how it works, why the founders chose it, and the arguments for and against it in modern times. To do this, we will be playing "270", a Presidential Election simulator game that is great for teaching about the Electoral college and campaigning in general! With the 2020 election around the corner, come find out how we REALLY pick the President!

Yale UNICEF designed class to teach students about Human Rights by discussing empathy and how most Human Rights naturally follow from this simple concept.

Does objective truth exist? Can we arrive at it, and how? We'll explore different views on knowledge, the nature of being, and more. Students are encouraged to share their ideas and contribute to discussion!

How should I live? What should I hope for? What are my responsibilities?

Everyone, everywhere, has different answers to these questions. Often, many people find themselves too busy to think about these questions, but I would argue that these questions are THE most important questions for us to discuss and answer. During this class, we will be analyzing how different religions and philosophies answer these questions, while trying our best to answer these questions for ourselves.

*This course is different from the "Psychology and the Good Life" class I also teach.


Prerequisites
This class will be mostly discussion. If you choose to take this course, be ready to participate and debate!

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

If you think you don't like poems based on what you've read in your classes, think again. Join us for an afternoon of reading and discussing (mostly) contemporary poetry with a focus on young poets, poets of color and queer poets. We will be discussing the poetry as a form (its limitations and possibilities), what makes a poem "good," and how to go about writing your own poems.

content warning: we may read some content that makes mention of racial violence, mental health, and war


Prerequisites
no prerequisites, just an open mind and a love of reading!

This class will be centered on learning about the history and current state of the Rohingya refugee crisis. In addition, the efforts that are currently being made by various international organizations and by a club at Yale itself to address this issue will be discussed. Students will end up having a better understanding of this refugee crisis and will be able to learn what they can do for their part in helping to end it.

We will examine various studies related to the principle of linguistic relativity—that is, the notion that a language's structure and vocabulary affect how its speakers perceive the world. Ultimately, we will discuss how linguistic relativity is relevant to modern society.

Please visit: https://www.ryansandler.com/teaching/linguistic-relativity

"It really made me think about language and how it works in a way I didn't know existed. All of the studies were relevant and very interesting, and I left the classroom thinking in a different manner than I had before ... truly a great experience! Made me excited to go to college and take courses similar to this one!"

"The sheer amount of knowledge the instructor possessed on the topic at hand and all of the examples really helped to key into the broad topics which are very complex."

This is an introductory course for any students interested in studying human rights. Beginning with key documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we will engage with the history and language of the human rights framework and explore how “human rights” operates as a legal and theoretical tool. As a group, we will challenge our prior ideas about human rights, identify contemporary applications, and reflect on the strengths and limitations of the human rights framework.

Brief Introduction to the history and structure of the United States Government. We will also discuss non-governmental entities that have an effect on policy. Lastly, we will try to cover major contemporary political issues.

What does it mean to live in the world with 7 billion other humans? How can we best love another person? What should we expect from people, and what can we give them?

In this class, we'll use different philosophical perspectives to examine how we should relate to other people. We'll discuss love and relationships of all kinds – romantic, yes, but also platonic, familial, and more. Students should come prepared to form their own beliefs by engaging with both philosophical texts and their own experiences.

Come learn about the history of psychology, the brain, famous case studies and more!


Prerequisites
None, just bring yourself!

Have you been dropped in France and don't speak any French?! Never fear, this crash course will teach you how to introduce yourself, count, ask for help and more. Come have fun, and be prepared to learn as well!


Prerequisites
None! Bring yourself and joie de vivre

Reading excerpts from "The Prince", this course will deepen students' understanding of the Machiavellian idea that 'the ends justify the means'. We will examine this idea in its historical context and analyze its impact on the politics of the Cvil Rights Movement. By primarily focusing on the political ideologies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., students will discuss what I call the Reformer's Dilemma: is it okay to use immoral means to achieve a moral end?

This class will serve as a fun (yes, Shakespeare can be fun!) workshop for students with little and/or no background in Shakespeare. You will learn about meter, the value of a word and differences in reading Shakespeare as a play vs. reading Shakespeare as a literary text. Focusing on the famous 'To be or not to be' soliloquy, we will discuss Hamlet's philosophical dilemma and its implications in the text and beyond.


Prerequisites
Read the 'To be or not to be' soliloquy (Act III, Scene I)

In this class, we will examine Shelly's "Ozymandias" and Keats' "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles". We will reflect on how these two poets use art and history to touch at big philosophical questions of mortality and beauty.

Have you ever wondered what the heck was going on in the Harry Potter universe? Why does Gringotts literally keep your gold in a locked room? What's up with the plot of the fourth book? We all love Harry, but let's be real, he's pretty naive. In this class we'll look at small details about the Harry Potter universe and how it also reflects on the way we view banking and other "grown-up" things in society.


Prerequisites
It will be difficult to follow the discussion if you have not read the Harry Potter books but there's no need to have them memorized or anything. We'll try to explain all the stuff that people don't remember.

Have you ever wondered what the heck was going on in the Harry Potter universe? Why does Gringotts literally keep your gold in a locked room? What's up with the plot of the fourth book? We all love Harry, but let's be real, he's pretty naive. In this class we'll look at small details about the Harry Potter universe and how it also reflects on the way we view banking and other "grown-up" things in society.


Prerequisites
It will be difficult to follow the discussion if you haven't read the Harry Potter books, but there's no need to have them memorized or anything. We'll try to explain all the stuff that people don't remember.

This class would teach students how to construct an interesting protagonist/antagonist. There will be writing exercises done in the class.

What is the Fourth Amendment? What is privacy? How should the US government interact with issues of privacy and agency in its citizens' lives in the digital age? How do issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation intersect with concerns of privacy and policing in the real world? Take this discussion-based class in order to learn some background on the evolution of the Fourth Amendment over time, think critically about the role that policing and governance play in the US, and have a fun and relevant introduction to one small aspect of constitutional law!

Please note that this class may examine some content that contains some strong language.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of US government

This class will be a brief history of the Troubles, the conflict that gripped Northern Ireland for the last 30 years of the twentieth century. The Troubles are a story of oppression, violence, destruction, passion, and hope -- an endlessly fascinating period of history. Take this class and walk away with a much deeper understanding of why violence rocked Ireland for so long and how that violence came to an end.

What does it mean to be a person? We will be examining the boundaries of personhood through the cases of non-human animals, disabled people, and black people. How has the category of personhood been used as a tool of exclusion and oppression? Is interspecies solidarity between humans and non-human animals possible, or even desirable? This is an elementary philosophy course, drawing from Peter Singer, Sunaura Taylor, and Bénédicte Boisseron.

Is it wrong to eat your dog? What about talking about a friend behind their back, even if you knew for sure they wouldn't find out? We will examine the psychological foundations that underlie moral judgements like these, and look at what they mean for how we relate to each other politically.

Students will learn indepth how artificial intelligence, software, and breakthrough innovations have changed their lives. Not only will they learn about this technology, they'll have the opportunity to understand how it works and see useful examples. Also, career paths and ways the students can pursue technological pursuits will be explored.

We might think of computers as unintelligent pieces of machinery, capable of doing only exactly what we command. However, recent advances in artificial intelligence have allowed computers to perform tasks completely on their own, from working assembly lines to driving cars - even playing video games. In fact, AIs developed to play games such as Chess, Go, and Dota 2 have already surpassed even the most skilled professional players.

We will briefly examine the ways in which artificial intelligence software has evolved over the past couple of decades, allowing computers to learn how to play video games even better than we can. We will analyze and implement some popular machine learning models, allowing us to create our own AI for simple video games. Finally, we will address the age-old question: are computers going to take over the world?


Prerequisites
None.

Want to learn why animals behave how they do? Why retribution is such a primal desire? Why we stop trusting people when they betray us? Want to learn why it's hard to decide whether you should take an umbrella? Want to learn why we sit precariously on the precipice of nuclear apocalypse, and yet somehow have never fallen? Learn all this and more, using rectangles, numbers, and not-quite-math but definitely not any other discipline.


Prerequisites
Good knowledge of algebra. Also, if enough of you know how to do matrix mathematics and/or differential calculus, there are topics I can add to the course based on that, and I will plan accordingly. There's definitely enough fun stuff to do without that, though, so don't worry!

How can you tell if 84537 is divisible by 9? Why does this rule work? Can you determine what the units digit of $$3^{371}$$ is in under 5 seconds? Why can prime factorization be useful? By definition, number theory is the study integers. This may sound simple, but many of the unsolved problems in mathematics are related to number theory. Carl Friedrich Gauss, one of the greatest mathematicians in history, once said, "Mathematics is the queen of the sciences—and number theory is the queen of mathematics." In this class, we hope to give you a glimpse into the fascinating field of number theory.


Prerequisites
Students should be comfortable with techniques learned in a typical high-school Algebra I course

Do you wonder about infinity? Has anyone ever told you that infinity is a number, not a concept? Do your math teachers tell you that you can't divide by zero (hate to break it to you, but you can)? How do we differentiate between types of infinity?

In this class, we will discuss infinity, its history, and its related mathematical concepts.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of sets and number systems, sequences, *possibly* some trigonometry

An introduction to the core concepts of computer science, including computer architecture, conditional loops, data allocation, and algorithms. Class intended for students with a curiosity, but no previous experience, in computer science.

Programming is increasingly an increasingly valuable skill, but starting can be intimidating. Python is an approachable programming language with a wide user base and robust support. Students will be introduced to some basics of programming (printing to the console, looping, if/else) on the beginner friendly raspberry pi zero w.

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

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."

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. We'll be starting from the basics but quickly building up to the current state of the field (including organoid modeling, CRISPR screening, and more), so students with or without prior experience should come away having learned something new.


Prerequisites
Knowing a little about basic biology is probably required. Having taken some high school bio will definitely help, but isn't strictly necessary to follow along.

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by social and cognitive challenges. Come learn what social psychology and clinical neuroscience (electroencephalography and eye-tracking) can tell us about the autistic mind, including recent scientific advances made in Yale’s own labs.


Prerequisites
A background in basic neuroscience or psychology will help but is not required; a worksheet of vocab will be sent ahead of time. Eagerness to learn!

This is your brain. Now this is your brain on drugs. How do illicit drugs change the reward pathway in your brain? What are the different neurotransmitters involved, and what are the molecular and biochemical explanations for addiction? Are these changes to your neural network reversible? What about over-the-counter drugs, such as Advil or Tylenol? This course gives an overview of the influence of drugs on your brain and behavior, challenging what you thought you knew about psychoactive drugs.

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.

Everything around us can be studied, quantified, theorized and understood. Physics is a branch of natural science that studies nature! This one-hour class will explore what physics is and how it's intertwined with our daily lives in ways you may not expect. From electricity to lasers to MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) this class will discuss the amazing application of physics in our daily lives. By exploring major discoveries that led to the present age, this class will open up your eyes to the amazing and fascinating world of physics.

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!

This class will build on basic suturing and emergency medicine skills taught in "Introduction to Surgical Techniques: Suturing" at other Splash at Yale programs. Students will have time to practice simple interrupted sutures and will learn new stitches and knots. We will also discuss when each type of suturing technique is necessary in survival situations and 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! Please note: suturing knowledge from "Introduction to Surgical Techniques: Suturing" is required for participation in this class. The basic knot covered in the Intro class will be reviewed but will not be discussed in depth.


Prerequisites
Students must have attended "Introduction to Surgical Techniques: Suturing" earlier in the day or at a previous Splash/Sprout at Yale program

Climate change threatens life on earth as we know it! Are democracies able to tackle this challenge? We will discuss the impact of climate change on our economy and planet, what governments are doing to address the problem and the role of politicians and judges.

This course is a survey into the latest astronomical fields and serves as a crash-course into the most cutting edge research about celestial objects. From understanding contemporary advancements in telescopes and observational technologies, the mysterious nature of dark matter and how astronomers probe its characteristics, supermassive black holes and their gravitational effects on the universe, and to the expedition to search for exoplanets beyond our solar system, this course provides a look into the wonderful world of modern astronomy.


Prerequisites
An appreciation for space!

What is a bamboo? Is it a tree? Is it a grass? Why is there a question mark in the course title? Come learn about the biology and cultural symbolism of one of the most fascinating plants in the world.

In this course, students will receive a historical and biological review of some of the world's most impactful and relevant plagues, including the bubonic plague, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and the 2019 novel coronavirus. Students should expect to leave class with an increased understanding of the biological mechanisms and social implications of global disease. As a class, we will play through an instance of the game Plague Inc. to visualize epidemic development.


Prerequisites
basic understanding of biology

Viruses are everywhere and impact many things. Most notably viruses cause human disease, but there are also many helpful applications of viruses.

We will be answering:
What is a virus?
How does a virus make you sick?
How can viruses be used for good?

What is Love? Why do we love whom we love? Why are we attracted to certain people? And what do rickety bridges have to do with any of this?

In this class, we will be trying to answer these questions by looking at a variety of studies. No prior psychology experience necessary.

Learn about the innovative tool that is revolutionizing the biological world! This course will cover the general idea of genome editing and its history, the mechanisms of how the CRISPR/Cas9 system works, and a discussion about possible future applications.


Prerequisites
Basic molecular biology. No knowledge of CRISPR is required.

A comprehensive introduction to chemistry designed for students with little to no experience in the subject. We will be talking about of atoms, charge, and intermolecular forces with water as a reference and model. By viewing something so well known and widely understood under a hypothetical microscope we can hopefully increase understanding and interest in chemistry.

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.

Learn the chemistry behind batteries and make paper circuits!

Are you interested in becoming a future health professionals, and want to learn more about HOSA - Future Health Professionals, an international organization promoting leadership, service, learning, and innovation for aspiring health professionals? This course is the right one for you, and we will be doing activities such as taking vitals signs including blood pressure.


Prerequisites
None

Do you think dinosaurs are cool? Too bad. Take this class to learn about all of the awesome extinct tetrapod groups that you probably have never heard of. We'll be getting hands-on with fossils!


Prerequisites
None

Love watching Investigation Discovery? Intrigued by Dexter, Bones, or CSI? Take this class to learn about the science behind solving murders and other crimes. We will discuss chemical instrumentation and analytic techniques used by professionals in this enthralling field.

Space and time tend to act weirdly when moving at very high speeds. In this course, will cover the fundamentals of special relativity. If you want to learn how time can move slower, how distances can appear shorter, about the "twin paradox", or why $$E = mc^2$$, then you're in the right place.


Prerequisites
Strong algebra or pre-calculus background.

Want to find out the psychology behind attraction and relationships? This class is for you! In this course we will talk about different ways to apply psychology into the realm of dating. The course will not just be lecture, but also a lot of activities!

Come learn how to make the most out of your personal finances! We'll teach you tips and tricks to ensure that you can maximize your savings and enter post-high-school life on firm financial footing.

In this class, we will critically examine how the growth-based economic logic of capitalism is fundamentally in conflict with atmospheric limits. We also consider the phenomenon of consumerism, as it exacerbates the unsustainable practices of capitalism and leads to the generation of excessive waste that undermines our relationship with the Earth

This class exposes students to zero waste living, by someone who lives zero waste herself! We will have more of an informal conversation on this subject, where students can learn about zero waste practices such as composting, repurposing old items, ditching disposables, and making one’s own products!

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.

Simple calculations of structures dealing with both beams and columns.

During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. 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 incarcerated relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American prisoners, and the Japanese Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s fraught 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.

Students will learn a small array of skills important for survival or recreational outdoorsmanship. Topics covered will include knots, map-reading, and a hands-on portion where you will get to construct a survival shelter.


Prerequisites
Simple finger dexterity

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.

The course will begin with a discussion of the centrality of music in early scientific thought via Pythagoras. The design progression of early instruments will be discussed in terms of the intersection of geometry and aesthetics that arose from a mathematical concept of the natural order. Following the progression of historical designs, we will discuss the standard design of the modern violin and the physical mechanics of bowed sound production. Demonstrations will be given to show how physical principles function as tools for artistic expression. The mechanics and sound of modern instruments will be compared with those of earlier baroque instruments to illustrate the feedback loops between composers, musicians, and craftsman that drove instrument design and innovation.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of physics of oscillating systems is encouraged but not necessary.

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∀

In this course we'll look at the life and work of the little known Edward Bernays, who laid the foundations of the modern PR industry. Among his clients were President Calvin Coolidge, the United Fruit Company, General Electric, the American Tobacco Company, and the CIA. We will review the sort of social engineering that made Bernays so successful, and students will get to try their hand at making use of Bernay's techniques.

This class will be an overview of simple ways to reduce stress from your life and environment with time through journaling prompts. Come if you always journal! Come if you never journal!

(Middle school section)

This class will be an overview of simple ways to reduce stress from your life and environment with time through journaling prompts and topics. Come if you always journal! Come if you never journal!

(High school section)

Blending fundamentals from psychology and economics, Behavioral Economics provides valuable insight into how individuals are not behaving in their own best interests.

We will provide a framework to understand when and why people make errors by exploring normative models (which propose what decision-makers should do) and descriptive models (which aim to describe what decision-makers actually do). We will discuss the topics of System 1 versus System 2 thinking, heuristics, and if given the time, Bayesian thinking.


Prerequisites
This course incorporates perspectives from economics, psychology, philosophy, decision theory, and finance. We will build from the fundamentals so be prepared to learn new formulas and ways of thinking.

In 2002, the United States put on the most expensive war simulation in the history of the world, meant as a flex of its military muscle. Instead, a retired general with an underfunded army turned the rules on their heads and soundly embarrassed the generals representing the Pentagon in just 2 days. In this class, we'll explore just how he did it, what the (simulated) defeat says about the modern American military strategy, and what we can learn about strategy and planning for our own desired ends.