Liberal? Progressive? Centrist? Libertarian? Everyone is invited for this special course on the fundamentals of conservatism as a set of ideals and worldview. This class is for you if you want to break away from whatever political bubble you're apart of and learn what, why, and how conservatives think and believe. We'll talk about how faith, reason, work, and morality all shape conservative thought, play games that explore conservative principles and American elections, and explore modern day issues from traditional perspectives. Hope to see you soon!


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of government/civics.

Have you ever wondered what it felt like to be written? To be spoken into an existence that can shake the world? Poetry is not about Shakespeare, and certainly not about old, white people. Poetry is about voice—are you bold enough to use yours? Here, we use our brains and voices to create art that has never left classroom walls. Here, your voice is poetry; you are poetry.


Prerequisites
none

Have you ever seen a problem and thought you might be the person to solve it? Whether it be something like climate change or the fact that your water bottle can only hold one drink at a time - this is the class for you!

We will look at how you can identify problems and then develop solutions in the form of businesses. We will talk about both social and product innovation, and you'll walk away empowered to apply these principles to any problem or solution you may find! If you're at all interested in entrepreneurship, business, leadership, or just problem solving, sign up!

Each class will examine what makes k-pop unique from a different perspective. The first class will explore different ways of approaching the history of k-pop (who's telling the history, the kinds of sources people use, etc). The second class will introduce students to multimedia studies and model how to conduct a multimedia analysis, especially focusing on music and choreography. The third class will focus on fan culture and often-asked question of why k-pop is so popular. The class will be enjoyable for both k-pop fans and people who've never encountered it.

Are you interested in writing and performing poetry? Did you know that some people can visualize images in their heads while others cannot? In this class, we will be learning about a few ways that people think differently, how writing can be a vessel for self-expression and understanding, and how to share our own narratives in a slam poetry jam.

Film and TV have long failed to depict neurodiverse characters with accuracy - often framing them as the "odd one out" or as autistic savants, like in Rain Man (1988). But lately, as our society learns more about neurodiversity, we have begun to see a change. Nuanced portrayals of neurodiverse characters aim to put us in their shoes and give us a window into how they experience the world differently. Audiences have rallied behind characters such as Abed (Danny Pudi) in Community, and Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) in Sherlock, reclaiming and celebrating them for providing authenticity to neurodiverse stories

Everyone knows America's first assassinated president—Honest Abe. Fewer know of our second, James Garfield, and far fewer know of his inspiring yet tragic rags-to-riches story. Students will learn more about James Garfield and the politics of 19th century medicine in this class inspired by Candice Millard's Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President.


Prerequisites
Blank

Ancient Egyptian math departs from the modern treatment of algebra by emphasizing creativity and intuition. We will learn how to count, add fractions, and apply our understanding to problems considered by scribes in the Rhind Papyrus. The main goal of this course is to enjoy the beauty of the Egyptian approach to elementary arithmetic.

Ever wanted to know how to invest in the stock market? What is a stock? How much can I earn? How do I use Robinhood/trading simulators? This class is designed to give high schoolers a basic, objective view to the world of investing.

Gay penguins. Napping. Poo. How can these topics help us understand the world around us? In this class we splash into the field of STS (Science and Technology Studies) and take a critical, historical, and ~anthropological~ lens to scientists and institutions of power. This is a class for social justice advocates, aspiring scientists, and just anyone interested in why our world is the way it is and how we might imagine a better one.

Have you ever wondered how a carpenter from Nazareth from 2,000 years ago managed to change the entire world as we know it?

Did you know that every story of the Bible, from Adam and Eve, to Noah, Moses, David, and everything in between points to one person? One message?

Have you ever thought about how the Old and New Testaments perfectly come together to form one clear story arc, connecting all of human history?

This class explores Christian Typology, or the "Where's Waldo?" of the Bible. We will explore how the Bible tells the story of humanity, from beginning to end, centered around one person, Jesus Christ. We will explore the images, symbols, metaphors, and connections the Old Testament paints that point to the coming Messiah.

This class is for you if A) you're interested in Christianity and want to get a big picture view of what it's about, what is the Gospel, and how the Bible comes together to present this claim.

or B) You're a Christian looking to learn more about your faith, explore some amazing connections you probably never thought about, and fall in love with the Bible once again.

I'm excited to see you there!


Prerequisites
None!

This lesson is adapted from a class I taught over the summer about memory. Specifically, we are going to start with a quick warm up, do a poll about taking pictures, partner up and explore a photoessay that documents Two-Spirit life on the Pine Ridge Reservation, talk about what photography can reveal about the past, and then discuss how photography can edited (are instagram filters "lying"?), before closing with a reflection.

This course will explain how vaccines harness the power of the immune system to protect against future infections. It will also discuss different types of vaccines,
emphasizing modern technologies used in the current COVID vaccines. Finally, this course will illustrate how
herd immunity and other public health measures work to prevent spread of an infection at a population level.

As the world’s most elusive and mysterious graffiti artist, you can only count on Banksy to do one thing: make sure his art leaves an impression. He installed his own smiley-face version of the Mona Lisa inside the Louvre during visiting hours. His painting sold at Sotheby’s for $1.4 million only to be self-destroyed seconds later through a hidden shredder Banksy installed within the frame. He sold works of art for a mere $20 to unknowing New Yorkers in a street stand. Banksy’s art is fueled with political and social commentary that only makes his art more moving and memorable. Throughout the years, he has taken aim at the European refugee crisis, affluence and wealth in the media and art business, political movements and influential people through satirical street art and videos. By discussing the political and social agenda side of Banksy’s art, we begin to discover the powerful implications and influences art poses to the world.

What is a mushroom? What is mycelium? How do plants communicate with each other? How can mold model cities and move mountains? Could collaboration be just as strong of a force as competition? How do (mostly) invisible fungal relationships shape our planet?

Welcome to the exciting world of fungal ecology. If you've taken a liking to lichen or consider yourself a fungal/fungi, there's mushroom for you in this class. We'll dig into this unexplored kingdom and explore what it means to be a human in a fungus's world.


Prerequisites
None! Though biology may be helpful.

Its almost Halloween! But how much do you really know about one of the most famous nighttime creatures? Learn some of the basic fun facts about Bats and why they are so important to our ecosystem.

Where do your clothes come from? Maybe Target, Urban Outfitters, or Goodwill. But where did they come from before they got to the store? What's their story? And, more importantly, what's their impact?

In this class, I'm inviting us all to dive into the stories of our clothing: the good, the bad, and the ugly. What's the human and environmental cost of the clothes we wear? What does it mean to be a responsible consumer? I'll offer my conception of sustainable fashion and invite you to share what sustainable could look like for your wardrobe. Then we'll get to work. We'll learn why "if it's worth wearing, it's worth repairing," and put our new knowledge into practice by looking at some basic, beginner-friendly mending techniques that will extend the life of your textiles.


Prerequisites
None, though students may wish to bring a needle, thread, and some kind of cloth (an old t-shirt or something in need of a mend can work great).

We will learn about basic structures and the effects of forces.

Who makes the vital ethical decisions when it comes to self-driving cars? What exactly are those decisions? Is there a philosophical precedent (the trolley problem) we can draw upon?

Join the course for a whirlwind guide to moral philosophy and how it applies to our lives and increasingly complex technologies.

We all agree that the long-term future matters to some extent. But how much does it matter compared to the present? Is it bad if humanity goes extinct sooner rather than later? If so, what are the moral and practical implications? This is an introductory course to the philosophy of "longtermism."

How do we know what is "true" and "untrue," "real" and "fake?" Can we trust our senses? Is there such a thing as an independent reality? In this class, we will explore some basic questions of epistemology (the study of knowledge), considering the ideas of Descartes, Kant, Heidegger, and other trailblazing philosophers. Prepare to come away with more questions than answers.


Prerequisites
None

Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet, Audre Lorde once said, "Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence."

In this class we will attempt to dissect the ways in which poetry can be used to tap into the depths of our powerful interiors. I will NOT be teaching poetry -- at least not in the common way of rhythm, persona, rhyme, structure, etc. We will instead spend some time exploring how we can read and write poems to discover and express unique feelings and hidden truths. We will also examine how we can use poetry to examine the ways of the word and ultimately find language to reimagine the world. Not to worry, you don't need to love poetry or know how to write poetry. Come, let's learn together, watch TED talks about spoken word poetry, read and discuss poems and finally, write some beautiful poems ourselves!

Come learn about diverse sexual and romantic orientations in an interactive format! We will talk about about a range of sexualities/romantic orientations, discuss stereotypes, misconceptions and heteronormativity, and learn about how to be a better ally. Individuals of all identities/orientations are welcome to attend!

Who says math has to be boring? Welcome to Desmos! We will learn the simple ways to graph functions and make them move using sliders. We will explore how to use Desmos from the boring stuff for your homework to making an awesome project! Class will be taught by an International Desmos Art Finalist.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of math and algebra required. Knowledge of Calculus is optional but will be briefly introduced in the class.

The story of how humans came to be is one riddled with mystery, dead ends, controversy, and seemingly endless debate. However, it all centers around the primary question: what makes us human? The search to answer this question takes us back millions of years, and spans disciplines such as paleoanthropology, archaeology, geology, biology, and more. This course will teach the very basics of what we know (and don't know) about human evolution, and provide resources for those who wish to learn more.


Prerequisites
A curious mind and interest in how we got to now!

Pointing a satellite in the right direction is one of the most complicated tasks in all of spaceflight. We'll discuss the hardware and software that allow satellites to orient themselves properly in a zero gravity environment.


Prerequisites
None

This course will explore the history of the Syrian Refugee Crisis from the Arab Spring to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Key themes include civil war, the state, refugees, human rights, and public health.

How does a computer learn? Will they one day become smarter than us? Or are they already? Is artificial intelligence the future? With computers becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives, these questions become more and more relevant. We will explore these questions and more.

The United States Senate’s current 50/50 split between Democrats and Republicans has generated increasing interest in the procedures for governors to appoint interim Senators should vacancies arise. After all, the appointment of a Republican to fill a hypothetical Democratic vacancy would flip the Senate immediately. In this class, we will discuss different restrictions that states have put on the ability of governors to appoint interim senators; the constitutional implications of these restrictions; and political trends regarding interim senators’ electoral prospects. Students will also have the opportunity to share their thoughts on these subjects, as well as discuss/ask questions about current political events and other political issues they hope to discuss.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of US government and politics and an interest in learning about/discussing politics and the Constitution.

Ever wanted to know how to invest in the stock market? What is a stock? How much can I earn? How do I use Robinhood/trading simulators? This class is designed to give high schoolers a basic, objective view to the world of investing.


Prerequisites
No investing knowledge required