Plants and Pollen: Exploring Agricultural Engineering 

We have a problem: a beautiful plant that grew delicious berries is not looking so healthy. Even more troubling is the fact that the plant has stopped producing berries! In this course, you will become an agricultural engineer to determine what has happened to this beautiful plant.

You will learn to apply scientific investigation principles and engineering processes to investigate the problem and design solutions to make the plant thrive again. As you investigate, you will learn about the importance of symbiotic relationships in keeping plants healthy and you will explore key components of the pollination process. You will also investigate common solutions that have been used to fix to real-life agricultural problems.  This course will forever change how you think about plants, insects, and agricultural engineering!   

*Some components of this course are adapted from an evidence-based curriculum, The Best of Bugs: Designing Hand Pollinators, from Engineering is Elementary (EiE) and the Museum of Science. 

Spatial Smarts: Delving into Dimensions

Have you ever dreamed of designing and building your own roller coaster? Ever wonder how photographers know how to capture the very best shots and angles? Do you like reading or creating your own maps? If so, you likely have strong skills in spatial reasoning!  People with spatial intelligence, such as pilots, surgeons, engineers, artists, and filmmakers, tend to learn visually and often think about things in terms of pictures and shapes. In this course, you will learn how to see and communicate in new dimensions as we explore and discuss the shapes and planes in the world around us. We may explore topics such as prisms, tangrams, symmetry, and reflection as we learn how to harness, predict, and move objects in space. What kind of problems might we be able to solve with this new knowledge? Who knows what you can create or where you will go in this exploration of spatial dimensions?!   

*Some components of this course are adapted from an evidence-supported curriculum, Spatial Reasoning, from the College of William and Mary.  

If Walls could Talk: A World History Adventure through Architecture 

Have you ever looked at a building and wondered about how it was designed and why? Why were the Great Pyramids of Giza built? Who decided that domes on buildings were a good idea? Have you ever read mythology or watched films where buildings were almost as important as the main characters? And what about Minecraft? Why are virtual worlds so incredibly fun to build? 

This concept-based, interdisciplinary course explores the dynamic between structure and creativity primarily through the history of world architecture. Students will explore basic principles of design in architecture, physics, and geometry through hands-on projects. Additionally, we will visit important buildings in mythology and fairy tales (i.e., Theseus & the Minotaur, Beauty & The Beast), children’s literature (i.e., the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz or Hogwarts Castle in Harry Potter), and film and virtual worlds (i.e., Minecraft). If you’re ready to explore history through the world’s architecture and design your own building within the context of a historical period that frames the setting of your own fictional or virtual world, this class is for you! 

Science of the Senses

You are constantly using your senses to understand and interpret the outside world – feel the cold weather, taste spicy peppers, hear loud music. Did you know that each signal your body receives involves your body sending information to your brain by means of electric signals? Have you ever wondered about the role science plays in using your senses? Biology, chemistry, and neuroscience are always all at work as you use your senses to understand the world around you. In this course, you will dive into the science behind the senses. You will experience and closely examine optical illusions, learn how various animals utilize different senses than humans, and figure out why the delicious flavors of our favorite foods have more to do with smell than taste along with so much more! Through hands-on experiments, you will see firsthand how scientific investigators engage in this field of research. Come take a journey through the science of the senses to understand how the systems of the body help us perceive the world!  

*Some components of this course are adapted from The SENSE-ational Science Behind How We Discover the World Around Us: Inquiry-Based Science Lessons for Advanced and Gifted Students in Grades 4-5, by Jason S. McIntosh. 

Observing the Cosmos 

Have you ever wondered how astronomers figure out what stars are made of, or how far away planets really are? What tools and tricks do scientists use to explore the universe? In this course, designed in partnership with Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory, you will step into the shoes of an astronomer and discover the secrets of the cosmos through building, experimenting, and observing what exists beyond our atmosphere.   

Day 1 is focused on exploring the world of astronomy tools. You will try out real spectroscopy to see how light reveals what stars are made of, build a telescope, and use planispheres and software to learn how to explore the night sky. Day 2 brings big questions about space itself as we map the three-dimensional locations of stars, experiment with parallax to measure distances, and walk through a scale model of our solar system. You’ll even rediscover on your own the expansion of the universe using real data just as Edwin Hubble did a century ago! On Day 3, we will focus on some of the other technologies used to explore space as we design and test a model lander, build a simple photometer using electronic components, and discover how astronomers find planets around other stars.  

Throughout the course, you will work in teams, use real scientific methods, and get hands-on with the same kinds of techniques astronomers use every day. No prior astronomy or electronics experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and get ready to unlock the mysteries of the universe!  

This course is designed in partnership with Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory and takes place on Peabody Campus of Vanderbilt University.  

The Call: Heroism and Transformation of Percy Jackson 

In a world where gods walk among humans and monsters are lurking in the darkness, will Percy Jackson answer the call to be a hero? Will he find the strength to reach his destiny? Join us for “The Call: Heroism and Transformation of Percy Jackson”, a course where the lines between the past and present blur, where the legends of Ancient Greece rise once more. From Olympus to the Underworld, from Zeus and his mighty thunderbolt to Hades and his bident, we will join Percy Jackson along his epic quest as he transforms from mere mortal to a hero.  

During this course, we will analyze myths that have shaped Western storytelling and helped people make sense of the world around them for ages. As Percy encounters figures from Ancient Greek mythology, we will examine how these encounters transform our protagonist and propel him along his journey. Through Percy’s adventures, we will deepen our understanding of archetypes and the hero’s journey narrative structure. Together, we will utilize critical thinking and writing skills in our culminating task to consider not only Percy’s decisions, but whether we, too, would rise to the challenge.   

 *This course is not endorsed by Disney.   

Wired Up!: Electronics in Action

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to build your own gadget? Or wondered what makes your favorite device buzz, ding, and flash just at the right time? In this course, you’ll explore the electronic programming possibilities with Arduino!  Arduino offers the possibility for a DIY approach to electrical invention and coding. From schools to boardrooms to outer space, the technology of Arduino is changing what is possible in the field of electronics and how young innovators can be part of advancing the future.  

In this hands-on electronic exploration, you will wire up LEDs, buttons, and buzzing gadgets by coding basic inputs and outputs with a tiny ‘pocket computer’ known as Arduino. You will think like an engineer as you design, test, problem solve and refine your ideas. You will practice new tech skills and create a custom project that will light up, sing, or move at the push of a button! Get ready for this one-of-a kind Wond’ry experience “where ideas can be explored and brought to life!” No experience needed, just curiosity and the desire to problem solve like an innovator!  

This course is designed in partnership with the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Center for Innovation, and takes place on Vanderbilt University. 

Building Virtual Worlds 

Step into the world of illusion, imagination, and innovation in Building Virtual Worlds! In this course, you will explore how humans perceive reality and how technology can be used to transform it. You will learn to create your own virtual environments; a digitally constructed space that can simulate real or imaginary worlds. Using the cutting-edge CAVE system (Computer Augmented Virtual Environment), you will project your designs into a 3D room where images surround you on the walls and floor. These environments don’t just look real – they sound and even feel real thanks to immersive audio and haptic feedback that lets you experience sensations like popping a bubble or feeling a bird land on your hand. During this course, you will explore how the brain interprets sensory input and learn the tools used to build virtual worlds. Then, you will apply that knowledge by working in teams to design your own  environments. By the end of the course, the teams will present their interactive creations to a panel in a friendly design competition. Throughout the course, you will develop skills in creative problem-solving, teamwork, and digital design while exploring principles of perception and technology. This hands-on experience will introduce you to exciting future paths in fields like game design, psychology, engineering, and architecture. If you’ve ever wanted to step inside your own video game or story—this course is for you!  

Sustainable Fashion: History, Design, and Making 

Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for 1.2 billion tons of carbon emissions, about 10% of total global carbon emissions each year? What is an e-textile, and how does it impact sustainability? With new fashion trends popping up each season, and constant pressure to have the next hot item, the 1.8 trillion-dollar fashion industry doesn’t seem to be slowing down soon. So, what can we do about it? 

In this course, you will unravel the history of the fashion industry and the sustainable fashion movement. With this knowledge, you will critically examine some of the fashion industry’s challenges and use design principles to sketch potential solutions. Expand your knowledge of textile identification, hand and machine sewing fundamentals, and the basics of pattern drafting and draping to create garments to improve the global carbon footprint of today’s fast fashion industry. 

This course is designed in partnership with the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Center for Innovation, and takes place on Vanderbilt University.