This course will pull back the curtain and allow learners to understand - and utilize - the machinations of power. We will draw on University of Iowa Professor Kenneth Brown's course entitled "The Power of Influence"; French philosopher Michel Foucault's "Madness and Civilization"; and one or two current-day inequalities. Finally, learners will identify a wrong […]
We often think of film adaptations of literature as needing to condense lengthy novels. However, many blockbuster science fiction movies - including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Minority Report, AI, and Total Recall - were actually based on short stories. These films expanded a relatively brief tale and created a much lengthier cinematic narrative. In this […]
As we approach the 2020 election in November we will examine long-standing political philosophies, their influence over ethical decision-making, and the challenges that our current leaders face given the hyper-intense partisanship that currently divides our nation. This course will ask students to engage in a daily examination of their own philosophies while also studying how […]
This course will provide an in-depth look at one of the most essential functions - quadratics. We will look at how to FOIL, how to factor, and how quadratics can be categorized into three different types. Graphing, solving, and an introduction to transformations with quadratics will round out this course. This course is ideal for […]
Young people around the world learn about computer programming through Scratch, a block-based coding platform developed by the MIT Media Lab in 2007. It is currently used in 150 countries and available in over 40 languages. The visual blocks are put together like puzzle pieces, making it easy to learn, while introducing basic programming concepts […]
This course is designed for students starting calculus for the first time this fall. We will refresh some topics from precalculus, such as graphing, inequalities, and logarithms, with a particular focus on interpreting word problems. One thing that will be important as students move onto calculus will be understanding how we can make a graph […]
Speculative fiction is fascinating because writers can manipulate race, gender and ability in a myriad of ways while imagining a new future. In this class, we will explore the works of authors such as Octavia Butler, Nnedi Okorafor, and Tomi Adeyemi in order to explore ideas such as how do race gender and ability constructs […]
Designed to support students interested in developing a strong, creative visual portfolio as a component of their admissions process for college or for Scholastic Art Awards, this studio class will provide assignment prompts and technical guidance as well as individual critiques. The course will begin with a review of student work-to-date, from which each artist […]
A summer read through one of the great literary works of all time. Class time would involve discussion of the book and some exposure to Tolstoy as writer and man and to 19C Russian history and culture
Do you actually love reading? Are you looking for a group of like-minded readers? Do you want to branch out into new genres this summer? In this course, we'll dive into four short novels--a book each week--that cover a range of genres, styles, and themes. Students will be expected to read a lot each week […]
Defined as a literary account of a life or event written from personal experience, memoirs are one of the most consistently compelling (and best-selling) genres on the market. They represent an attempt to create a shared memory with a reader. Think of it as the literary version of a strand of memory floating in Dumbledore’s, […]
Have you ever wondered what it takes to write a play? Well, this course is for you as we will examine plot, language, character/character development, scene creation/movement and theme. The course will also examine several different kinds of plays as a basis for students to then write their own original work.
This course serves as an elective to examine the vital role that the Supreme Court has played over the past 60 years, specifically in regards to civil rights, privacy rights, equality, citizenship, and religious freedom, and where they intersect with our changing politics. In its role as the final arbiter of what is and what […]
Communism was a geopolitical reality and an economic system, but it also drastically altered European societies and influenced the way individuals moved about in the world. Everything - from relationships to one's individual aspirations for the future, to artistic tastes to spirituality - was influenced by the implementation of communist principles in the economy and […]
Voices of Queer people, especially of those who come from multiple oppressed identities have often been silenced due to systemic homophobia, transphobia and racism. Despite this the LGBTQIAP+ has shown an amazing resiliency that is present in the rich canon of LGBTQIAP+ literature. Readings will cover both historical and contemporary writing by, about and for […]
Prerequisite: Algebra IIDescription: The goal of this course is to put algebraic skills to use in applied word problems and projects. All of our activities will be using math skills students learn in algebra II and applying them to solve new and fun problems. Students will be encouraged to collaborate and discuss different ideas for […]
What does it mean to be white and working class in America? The white working-class are alternately hailed as the backbone of American society and sidelined as ignorant hoards. Are there any defining features of such a huge group or are they defined by what they are not? We will explore these ideas through several […]
Students will learn how to skillfully design and develop a meaningful website, as well as design and create a local app for their phone. In the first section of the course, students will begin by learning the proper structure and syntax for a website. They will build on these skills each day, culminating in all […]