Course Description
In this course, students will delve into the works of a different author each week, discovering the unique styles of Keven Henkes, David Shannon, Mo Willems, Chris Van Dusen, and more! As they read and learn about each author, they will compare and contrast the stories, deepening their understanding of each writer’s approach before channeling their insights into their own creative development and design process. Applying critical thinking and collaboration skills into projects such as designing their own car, writing in the author’s style, and completing art pieces will enable students to nurture their own styles of creative expression.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $10 materials fee is required.

Course Description
The Zentangle Method is an easy to learn, relaxing and fun way to create small pieces of beautiful art by drawing structured patterns. It increases focus and creativity and provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of calm and well-being. Zentangle teachers believe that life is an art form and that our Zentangle Method is an elegant metaphor for deliberate artistry in life. Students will create patterns called tangles with combinations of dots, lines, curves and orbs. Zentangle art is non-representational, meaning students can focus on each stroke and not worry about the result, thereby teaching them how to respond to mistakes and limitations. The art stlye also focuses on gratitude and appreciation. Each week, we will learn new tangles and create a new piece of art!

MATERIALS REQUIRED: Materials fee coming soon.

Course Description
Are heroes born or made? Must they always be larger-than-life? Joseph Campbell writes, “opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging”. In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell explains his philosophy of the Hero’s Journey as a formula that all adventure stories follow. George Lucas’s Star Wars is one of the most famous expressions of this narrative framework, but it can be seen in countless other films and pieces of literature, including The Wizard of Oz, Moana, Mulan, and many more. This class features examples from widely and lesser- known literary works to grant students new insights into these types of storytelling structures. By diving into these stories, we aim to improve students’ understanding of narrative techniques, supplemented by discussions and individual work. They will also be encouraged to explore their own story arc as they consider each hero’s path of adventure and eventual transformation.

Course Description
Get ready to create some STEAM magic in Imagination Lab: Art and Science! In this course, students will create original pieces using different art mediums, and learn about the scientific concepts behind their work. They’ll study the enigmatic elements of borax while making borax crystals, create chromatography art, and design kaleidoscopes to explore light, reflections, and symmetry. Creative chaos will ensue when students discover how chemical reactions can safely produce an artistic and explosive paint display! Students will unleash their artistic expression as they study the science behind the beautiful and surprising materials and reactions.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

Course Description
In this course, students will be using a Micro:bit, a pocket-sized microcontroller that allows them to learn coding and electronics in a fun, accessible, and hands on way. The hardware is small but packed with tons of features including a 5X5 led matrix, two programmable buttons, sensors, I/0 pins for connections, speakers, and more. We will also be exploring Microsoft MakeCode, a free online coding platform, to build games, pets, and other fun projects with our Micro:bit. By the end the course, students will go home with their own Micro:bit controller and resources to continue programming independently.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $35 materials fee is required.

Course Description
You’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of printers in your life, but have you ever thought about what is inside of them? You know about the ink, but what about the “guts” that make it work? What else could the “printer guts” do? In Printer Guts, the goal is identifying the function of the various pieces of discarded printers and using engineering analysis and design to repurpose the machinery to create new devices. Using various tools to properly dissassemble the printers, students will create an automaton– a machine that can draw! Students will also be challenged to see how far they can take their projects to find new uses from the repurposed parts of the everyday printer.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: Coming soon.

Course Description
Young astronomers prepare to blast off into a deep exploration of all things outer space! This hands-on course will feature students acting as experimenters, scholars, and theorists as each lesson takes them deeper into the field of astronomy. From Ancient Greece to modern day, students will investigate how astronomers have come to understand the scientific principles that govern our universe. As they zoom in to stars and out to distant galaxies, they will demonstrate their mastery of all things interstellar through creative projects that illustrate understanding of the wide array of concepts covered in class.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $10 materials fee is required.

Course Description
From the frigid Arctic tundra to deep inside the world’s largest caves, life not only exists, but thrives. This course will explore several of Earth’s most inhospitable environments and analyze how animals, plants, and all forms of life can survive in spite of these seemingly insurmountable challenges. The amazing adaptations life has made in order to persevere will be on full display for students to discuss and discover. Through crafting visual media projects and in-depth examination, they will also explore the inner workings of evolution and its role in creating some of the world’s most fascinating creatures.

Course Description
At the core of this course is the development of students’ ability to express themselves effectively and confidently in any situation, socially or academically, which is critical regardless of their previous experience with public speaking. Throughout the course, students will develop and improve their critical thinking, public speaking, and argumentative skills through participation in speeches and debates. Furthermore, students will learn to critique, analyze, and interrogate those delivered by others. They will explore and research a variety of formats, including educational and persuasive speeches, Lincoln-Douglas debate, cross-examination, and academic debate. Students will apply this knowledge through presenting a number of independent speeches and participating in appropriately-moderated and structured group debates, all centered around topics they decide on and feel most passionate about.

Course Description
In this course, students will dive into the strange subatomic, non-Newtonian world where the understood laws of classical physics are thrown out the window. They will participate in the classic experiments that gave us a look at how a particle can be in a superposition at three different places at once; how a photon can be a wave, oscillate, and be a particle at the same time; and the quirks of quarks and the other subatomic particles that lie inside of a proton. Students will also dive into discoveries which shaped the landscape of classical versus quantum physics, such as wave functions. From Aristotle and Newton to the 21st century, it is all about spacetime, multiverses, conservation of energy, quantum entanglement, string theory, and how Schrödinger unwillingly proved quantum theory, giving us his famous feline experiment and equation.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $35 materials fee is required.

Course Description
As the problems presented and solutions developed differ every time, Math Circle is open to new and returning students alike! As stated in “Habits of Mind: An Organizing Principle for Mathematics Curricula,” mathematicians are pattern seekers, experimenters, describers, tinkerers, inventors, visualizers, conjecturers, and guessers. Math circles are opportunities for students to become mathematicians together, collaboratively problem-solving in a group of peers. Students will establish these habits of mind in a comfortable environment while tackling ‘low threshold, high ceiling’ problems which enable the exploration of mathematics at many different levels. Math circles are a time to get together, discuss mathematics, and circle around deep ideas, seeing them from different viewpoints.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

Course Description
Technology is often driven by the need to defend territories or the desire to conquer new ones. In this class, students will learn about offensive and defensive techniques in medieval warfare. They will learn Tinkercad to design and 3D print models from two of the foremost experts in 3D printing curricula. Students will then take on the role of military advisors and invent their own technologies that would have been plausible at the time but were not invented until much later. Several times during the course, we will role play famous land and naval battles of the period, but with a twist– students will incorporate their own secret weapons into the strategy of the side they are playing, demonstrating their knowledge through discussing technology appropriate to the period and applying their own strategies.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.

Course Description
This course, developed by former Mars Rover pilot, Dr. Scott Edgington, introduces students to our own solar system and the exoplanets discovered beyond. What begins as an exploration of the properties of stars, how they form complex elements, and how they live their life cycle, evolves into a deep dive into how the collapse of nebula, created from previous generations of stars, form the disks where planets and stars form. After further delving into the formation of our own solar system its planets, the class shifts focus to the discovery of exoplanets orbiting other stars and their categorization, structure, and composition. Students will learn about the astronomical techniques by which we discover and study these solar systems through discussion-centered learning with unique insights from an expert in the field.

Course Description
Dive into the art of the short story in this class combining literary analysis, craft investigation, and creative writing. Short stories as a literary form allow writers to zoom in closely on a character, scenario or idea. We will examine short stories across genres, from literary fiction and historical fiction, to sci fi and fantasy, discuss themes and literary devices, and break down what creative tools authors use to construct their story. We will employ these creative tools to devise and write our own short stories.

Course Description
Whether it’s the Geico Gecko selling insurance, or Tony the Tiger letting us know that Frosted Flakes are “grrrrrrrrrrrrr-eat!,” advertising has a huge impact on our brains. Can you hear me now? This course focuses on consumer education, designed to inform kids of the tricks and psychological methods that are used in advertising. Got Milk? In our class sessions we will trace the history of advertising, study different forms of advertising, and especially examine television and video game ads. Just do it! Students will get to design their own print ads, make their own one-minute commercials to sell a product that they have invented, and present their product to their classmates. I’m lovin’ it!

Course Description
Volcanos are one of the most awe-inspiring natural features on Earth. Earthquakes are one of most mysterious and fear-inspiring natural disasters. These two forces, in fact, are related! This course will dive deep into exploring all things volcanos and earthquakes. The students will learn how volcanos form, how they erupt, and the impact volcanos can have on our planet. They’ll also explore tectonic plates and the movement of the earth below us and how these forces combine to create volcanic eruptions, completing the course with models visualizing the content they’ve learned and having thoroughly discussed the nuances of the subject matter.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $20 materials fee is required.

Course Description
Experiencing sensations such smell, sight, touch, pain, as well as memories associated with experiences are brought to you by the amazing 3-pound organ in your skull– the brain! Working with associated nervous system components, the brain performs an amazing number of functions in our bodies and in this course, students will learn about the structure and function of the brain and nervous system. Through hands-on activities and discussions, we’ll familiarize ourselves with the structure of the brain and nervous system, from the overall anatomy to the tissues, cells, and molecules that make up this fascinating organ. We will learn about phenomena that play out in single cells all the way to behaviors that rely on the integration of information across major cognitive systems.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.

Course Description
Calling all engineers, inventors, and builders! Get ready to take on exciting challenges that will put your innovation to the test. This course will present students with tasks that will require problem-solving by combining science, technology, engineering, and math with visual art and collaborative projects. These challenges support both independence and teamwork skills while strengthening engineering intuition and hands-on building techniques. Students will apply this knowledge by creating a STEM challenge of their own that shows their ability to create a prototype and improve upon it based on its success.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

Course Description
Everyone loves a puzzle! Many math concepts can be used to create a physical puzzle that can be approached at a variety of levels of complexity. We will use a mix of classic puzzles and ones developed by the instructors, who themselves are experts in abstract math education and 3D printing, to challenge the students. In some cases, students will solve existing puzzles, and in others they will create their own to illustrate a principle, with some of these puzzles being of the pencil-and-paper variety, too. We will also embark on some “math experiments” to try to visualize and build a physical model of a concept. In all cases, we will spend some time deconstructing the math behind the puzzle and encourage students to build on it. Fabrication will be partly with craft materials but will also involve Tinkercad for 3D printing as well as some guided exercises in more-sophisticated math modeling software like OpenSCAD.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

Course Description: There are many versions of lawn games and games to play in your home, but did you know mastery of these games involves math and physics? In this course, students will explore the science behind common lawn games such as bags, bocce ball, ladder ball, and more. Through the fun of playing the games, students will learn why some techniques work better than others, how physics applies to what is happening in the game, and explore ways to improve the games. After this course, no one will look at “playing” the same again!

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.

Course Description
This course will introduce students to the concepts of ecology and life science. Students will learn about the complexity of the interactions between organisms and the importance of biodiversity for the existence of robust ecosystems. Introduced in this course will be the topics of conservation and environmental science, along with basic ornithology and botany, supported by an exploration into water, fire, soil, and human ecology. Students will also get the opportunity to experience ecological science through hands-on activities designed to nurture a passion for the environmental sciences.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.

Course Description
What is it like to plan a mission to Mars? Through a series of nuanced mission planning exercises which will culminate in the development of a mission plan that is scientifically viable and possible, students will delve into the world of interplanetary exploration, investigating the Martian surface and planning their own Martian exploration. Students will learn to access and analyze data from NASA spacecraft and gain an understanding of the variety of techniques and data available to study planetary surfaces. With an understanding of relevant scientific techniques and current questions about the Martian surface, students will not only outline their own mission, but select a landing site and scientific instruments within engineering constraints.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $25 materials fee is required.

Course Description
No money? No problem. Let’s make a movie using nothing but creativity, collaboration, and everyday household items. In this course, students will experiment with accessible software, strengthen their teamwork skills, and walk away with a high-quality short film they can truly be proud of. Blending art, craft, technology, and collaboration, this course opens the door to filmmaking for emerging artists— proving that great stories don’t need expensive gear. The twist? Every tool and piece of software used can be found in most modern households. These films will be made with the guidance of an experienced filmmaker to ensure an instructive classroom and cohesive final works. Let’s build the next masterpiece together.

Course Description
Creating something on a 3D printer requires a 3D computer model. These are made with CAD (computer-aided design) software programs. OpenSCAD is a free, open source CAD program that uses computer code in a language somewhat like C, Python, or Java to define models. It is particularly good for creating models of mathematical concepts. In this course we will introduce OpenSCAD from both a coding and a fabrication design point of view. We will deconstruct models from books published by the course’s instructors, and have students convert those fundamentals into designs of their own, learning good design practices for 3D printing along the way.

Prerequisite: Good keyboarding skills, adequate to be able to type computer code at better than two-finger speeds (not drag-and-drop). Previous experience with C, Python or Java would be helpful.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: A $15 materials fee is required.