Are you a history buff? Wanna be a Congressperson one day? Maybe even the President?

In this course, you will explore the power of the U.S. Congress and the unique structure that guides its actions. Through engaging activities, debates, and simulations, you will learn about the scope and limits of congressional authority, how this power has changed over time, and the crucial differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate. By the end of the course, you will have a deeper understanding of how laws are made, the challenges Congress faces, and the impact these processes have on our democracy.

Do you want to learn to identify birds by both sight AND sound? Birds are the only living dinosaurs and there are some 10,000 species on Earth. We'll discuss the basics of bird identification, the importance of birds in the environment, and the steps we can take to protect them. You'll also learn to use binoculars and a field guide. Fly on in—no prior experience needed!

Do you think you know what a tree is? What it can do? Chances are, you will be surprised as to what our woody friends are truly capable of. Join this course to learn about the structures and strategies that trees use, the mysteries they carry, and how to identify a few along the way.

Before Spanish colonization, Maya people wrote, inscribed, and painted in their native script. Maya civilization is known for their use of the number zero, their astronomical feats, and great ancient cities. After many years of attempting to read the hieroglyphs that the ancient Maya left behind, major breakthroughs by scholars with help from the Maya locals unlocked a wealth of information and allowed both Maya and non-Maya people to learn about Maya history in their own words. If you are a student eager to engage in cultural exploration or problem solving, this course is for you! By learning about the Maya writing system, we can challenge assumptions we make about writing such as its structure and its beauty.

(Adapted from the same class taught by Dr. Emily Quin at the University of Cambridge).

This course will focus on the application of psychology in the United States legal system, namely in situations like witness interviews, person identification, deception, and jury decision-making. This course requires no prerequisites, and is meant to give students a brief but fun and easy-to-understand introduction to the factors that influence how the law is carried out in this country.

an interactive introduction to the principles of organic chemistry-- modeling the flow of electrons and protons, drawing stereochemistry and resonance structures

What is the "everyday" and how does that relate to our lives? What is the relationship between us and the objects around us? What is the relationship between reality and our social interactions? In this class, we will delve into the question and debate on social constructionism. We will engage in the decades long debate, and think for ourselves the real and the fiction.

Let's dive into the fascinating world of the ocean! This class will discuss and investigate different "marine mysteries" ranging from the Bermuda Triangle to the Marina Trench to octopus consciousness. We will also explore marine science and marine conservation in order to understand what we can do to protect these hidden wonders.

Do you want to become a wizard of words, a master of the English language? Do you want to craft gemlike prose that reaches into the depths of your reader's consciousness and illuminates their very soul? If so, then you shouldn't take this class, because we (your instructors) don't know how to do those things. But if you want to spend a few hours freewriting, playing silly writing games, and generally having fun with the creative process, then this class is for you.

Mathematicians love games, and they love winning them even more. In fact, over the course of several hundred years, they have created an entire branch of mathematics – game theory – to help them win more often. This class will be an even mix of having fun with mathematical games and exploring deep questions about the nature of strategy, what it means to be rational, and what game theory can tell us about the real world. The games that we'll be discussing have funny names like Hackenbush and Nim, and they work quite differently from the games that you're probably used to, but there's a good chance that you'll come out of this class wanting to play them at home!

An introduction* to life-saving techniques, such as CPR and thrusts (formerly called the Heimlich maneuver), as well as ways that we can stay safe in both medical and social situations. Demonstrations of CPR and thrusts using a dummy will be made.

*Please Note: Students will not be officially CPR certified by taking this course. However, information on where to receive official CPR certification will be shared.

Explore the beauty of mathematics through Escher's artwork. Learn about tessellations, make your own mobius strip, and question the role of symmetry in higher order functions. No calculations involved, only a love for optical illusions, and a desire to know how they work!


Prerequisites
None

Do you think soap is COOL? Do you think using soap is AWESOME? Do you think thinking about soap is INTRIGUING?

If you said yes to any of these questions, this is the perfect class for you! We'll learn the superpowers that allow soap to destroy microorganisms, assess the science behind the TikTok-trending stainless steel soap, and most importantly, receive your very own decorated bar of soap!

The class will include hands-on activities, including reinacting various chemical reactions.


Prerequisites
Students should not have sensitive skin or skin allergies. Please reach out if you have questions.

Living Water, one of Yale’s many acapella groups on campus, is excited to teach you how to sing acapella yourself! You will be going through some warm-ups and exercises with us before we split everyone into different vocal parts and learn a song together. Be ready to have lots of fun singing together and hearing the way all of our voices come together as one to make music (no singing or musical experience required)!

(Adapted from the 'Microbiology' course taught by Dr. Yan at Yale University).

This course will explore the biology of bacteria, namely: their importance, cell components, chemotaxis (movement), development, and resistance to antibiotics. Information in this course will be presented in a manner that is friendly to non-STEM students who are interested in learning about the biology of the most important organisms on Earth.


Prerequisites
None in particular, but knowledge of basic biology is assumed (like what is a cell, et cetera).

A fun and interactive exploration of everything you might want to know about the Rubik's Cube, solving methods, intuition, luck, look-ahead, algorithms, and modern-day speedcubing technology. In addition, we will discuss the nature of the human mind—its limits and capabilities.

Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is one of the easiest languages to learn as an English speaker — there are no tenses, the grammar is extremely simple, and it's written in the Latin alphabet. Come learn some simple words and phrases from one of the world's 200 million Indonesian speakers! Students will leave being able to carry very basic conversation in Bahasa Indonesia and knowing a bit more about Indonesian culture.

Students will learn about the history of the field, interesting psychological phenomena, the brain, famous case studies, experiments, and more.


Prerequisites
None!

Do you love watching stories unfold onscreen and onstage? Are you a writer who wants to figure out what makes your favorite movies, plays and musicals so good?

This is a course about the basics of writing for film and theater: dramatic structure, character development, dialogue with purpose. Modeled after playwriting classes taught at the Yale School of Drama, students will learn how dramatists combine elements like conflict, theme and plot to produce a satisfying story. We will also break down popular fairy tales, movies and musicals in order to see what all these stories have in common. There will be writing exercises to brainstorm ideas, media clips shown to demonstrate storytelling devices at work, followed by discussions and interactive activities.

Why did the Bronze Age peoples rise and suddenly fall? What can we find out about societies that left almost no written records? We will explore the world of Bronze Age Greece (Cycladics, Minoans, and Mycenaeans) and discover how surprisingly modern and global it was in some ways, but far removed from us in other ways. No prior knowledge of ancient history is required. All are welcome!

Hello future astronomers! Are you interested in space itself?
Throughout the universe, there are countless wonders hidden in the skies, waiting to be discovered. One of the most breathtaking wonders is the nebula, a vast cloud of gas and dust where stars are born. These celestial nurseries are not only stunning to look at but also crucial to understanding the life cycle of stars. In this course, we'll learn about:
- The origins of the Nebulas
- Different types of Nebulas
- Electromagnetic spectrum of Nebulas
At the end of the course, we will do a quick activity on identifying nebulas.

You might have seen someone point to a bag of chips or candy and say: "oh, don't eat that... it's full of chemicals." But the reality is that all of our food—everything from bread to beef to bananas—is made of chemicals! In this class, we'll talk about the tasty science behind food: what different kinds of molecules do different foods contain? How do those molecules change and react when we cook food? And how do our bodies sense different molecules through taste? You'll never look at food in the same way again... :)


Prerequisites
None! Just an appreciation for science... and food :)

It looks like someone's just solved one of the most famous unanswered problems in all of mathematics. Who was the pioneering genius who finally figured it out? A sentient calculator? A hyper-advanced AI? The resurrected corpse of Albert Einstein? Or could it be... Homer Simpson? Homer's attempt to solve Fermat's Last Theorem is little more than a freeze-frame gag in a 1998 episode of The Simpsons, but it speaks to a broader love affair between the show and all things math. In this course, we'll talk about how the writers of The Simpsons have been slipping math jokes and references into their episodes—and (almost) getting away with it—for over 34 years. We'll also talk a little bit about the math and physics of The Simpsons's sister series, Futurama.


Prerequisites
No particular mathematical skills/techniques are required, but a basic familiarity with algebra and geometry might be helpful.

Iceland is a tiny country—a small island in the middle of the Northern Atlantic with fewer than 400,000 people—but it also has one of the most unique cultures on this planet. My dad lived in Iceland when I was growing up, so I spent much of my childhood (and still spend lots of time today) contemplating Icelandic culture and how it compares to American culture. In this course, we'll talk about common Icelandic customs, cultural values, and even some of the pillars of Icelandic cuisine. We'll also learn a little bit of the Icelandic language! Hope to see you in class—ég hlakka til að sjá þig í bekknum!


Prerequisites
None—just an appreciation for global culture and a willingness to learn about Iceland!

Canada is one of the United States' closest allies, and you'd probably be forgiven for mistaking a Canadian for an American. But do you know anything about how Canada's government works? Do they have political parties like Democrats and Republicans? Justin Trudeau seems to be in the news a lot—what does he do? And are they really still a part of the British monarchy? Understanding Canadian politics isn't just interesting—it's also incredibly helpful in trying to make sense of modern American politics. In this class, we'll talk about the bedrock of how Canada's government works as well as issues and politicians that are relevant to Canadian politics today.


Prerequisites
No knowledge of Canada or Canadian politics is required!

Throughout history, humans have often had the need to communicate secretly. But how can you make a message clear to its intended recipient and indecipherable to everyone else? This is the purpose of the ancient art of cryptography, which we will be plunging into in this class. We will explore some of the countless mathematical tricks that can be used to keep information secret, from simple letter substitutions to the complex algorithms used to secure your email and social media accounts. Regardless of your background or level of experience, this class will be sure to leave you saying "Epeh az xpdcausitny!"

Do you like words? Do you like puzzles? How about crosswords? Taught by a New York Times-published crossword constructor, this class will introduce you to the wonderfully creative world of puzzle design. You will learn the basics of crossword puzzle construction, including the ins and outs of rotational symmetry, theme development, clue writing, and solid gridwork. In doing so, you'll have the opportunity to express your creativity through language.


Prerequisites
None

Explore the fascinating depths of the deep sea, where giant squids and tiny microbes thrive in extreme conditions. Uncover the incredible adaptations that allow these creatures to survive the crushing pressure and complete darkness of the ocean's depths. Students will discover how both large and small organisms play crucial roles in maintaining ocean ecosystems. We'll also investigate how scientists use cutting-edge technologies like submarines, robots, and deep-sea cameras to explore this hidden world. Join us as we dive into one of Earth’s last frontiers, where new species are waiting to be discovered!

This elective will look at the Tupac vs. Notorious B.I.G beef and compare and contrast it with Kendrick Lamar and Drake's beef. We will examine content of the disputes, their forms, and analyze their lasting impacts and consequences

Srinivasa Ramanujan is considered by many to be the most brilliant mathematician who ever lived, and certainly one of the most unlikely. Born to a poor family in southern India in 1887, Ramanujan's innate mathematical talent was so great that it allowed him to rise above his harsh surroundings and devote his life to proving some of the deepest and most mysterious theorems in mathematics. By his untimely death at the age of 32, Ramanujan had left a mathematical legacy so rich and complex that modern scholars are still struggling to make sense of some of his work. This class will be a mix of learning about Ramanujan's remarkable story and using some of the mathematical puzzles that most fascinated him as a window into his mind. Expect to come away with a newfound appreciation for one of the most little-known geniuses of history.

In November 2017, it was announced that a large void had been discovered above the Grand Gallery of king Khufu's pyramid at Giza. This was surprisingly done without scientists ever having gone inside to see the empty space. In fact, we still do not know if this big void is really a bunch of smaller voids connected together or if the whole thing is flat or sloped. So how did the scientists know it was there?
The trick is that although the cavity may be inaccessible to us, it is not to a flavor of subatomic particles called muons. Muons are similar to electrons but have a greater mass. This allows them to penetrate deep within the stone. Measuring how many muons go into the pyramid (from cosmic rays constantly bombarding Earth) and then leave on the other side gives information about what is in between. We will talk about how this works and how our knowledge of modern particle physics revealed the location and size of the big void within Khufu's pyramid.