Mathematicians in History: Patterns, Order, and Relationships

Do you enjoy playing with numbers?  Do you notice patterns or make connections that help you predict things around you? Do you like to tinker with unusual ideas and objects that could solve problems?  If so, you’ll have a great time putting your mathematical mind to work with us!  

You will start by taking a deeper look into the lives and mathematical thinking of well-known experts like Pythagoras, Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, and Pascal, as well as Hypatia, John Napier, Pierre de Fermat, Sophie Germain, and Carl Gauss.   Then, you will sharpen your pencils and get ready to sketch some new thoughts, calculate some numbers, and organize some data, so we can observe, question, build, arrange, and test out ideas.  The science of mathematics could be a new discovery for you AND lead to an invention that solves a big world problem (or two, but who’s counting?). 

Playing with Words*

Are you a teller of stories and jokes? Do you coin new phrases? Are you a fan of riddles and rhymes? If so, then you, my friend, like to play with words!  

We will explore how language changes based on time and place and see how authors use special literary devices, such as similes, metaphors, symbols, and personification, to better communicate their ideas and capture their readers’ attention. You will also experiment with figurative language and wordplay, the same tools that writers have used for centuries, to write your own poetry. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a thousand words can paint a pretty awesome picture! 

*Course adapted from an evidence-supported curriculum, Beyond Words, from the College of William and Mary. 

Engineering Design: Full STEAM Ahead!*

The work of civil engineers is everywhere! Have you ever wondered how civil engineers design structures that are safe and can stand the test of time? From buildings and bridges to tunnels and roads, being a civil engineer requires working through complex design challenges. Engineers have to think about such things as force, balance, stability, geometry, and beauty. There is a lot of STEAM knowledge in the process! 

In this class, we will each take on the role of a civil engineer as we learn about the engineering design process and put our new knowledge to work with design challenges related to bridges. What do civil engineers have to think about when building a bridge? How does force impact the stability of a structure? How does the structure design create balance and stability? How are geometry principles used to create structures that are pleasing to the eye while also stable? Come ready to think logically and creatively as we roll up our sleeves to answer these questions and more while building model bridges. We will collect data and consider aesthetics to determine the best bridge designs, just like real civil engineers. Are you ready for the challenge? Then full STEAM ahead!

* Course adapted from an evidence-supported curriculum, To Get to the Other Side: Designing Bridges, from Engineering is Elementary (EiE) and the Museum of Science, Boston. 

The One to Beat: Using Algebra to Make and Break Records*

Do you know who holds the record for the longest distance paddled in a bathtub? Or how many jumps the record-holding dog can perform when jumping rope? What about the size of the largest collection of pennies? If you like algebra, interesting facts, and math puzzles, then this is the class for you!  

Come along as we examine some wacky world records and learn how to interpret algebraic equations, identify variables, create charts, and make predictions using different kinds of graphs. You will conduct experiments to practice recording, interpreting, and analyzing data and results.  You will put your algebra skills to the test as we try to calculate how to break world records. Who knows—we may leave this class with ideas about how to get our names in the Guinness Book of World Records! 

*Course adapted from an evidence-supported curriculum, Record Makers and Breakers, from Project M3. 

Biology of the Body*

Calling all future doctors, nurses, and biomedical researchers! Have you ever wondered how digestion can influence your mood or how blood circulation can impact your immune responses? Are you curious about how diseases spread and how they affect our bodies? Have you ever pondered how the various systems in the human body interact to keep us healthy? If so, then you are ready to join the investigative team in this class as we tackle a medical mystery. 

Through the mindset of a physician, you will explore the complex systems of the body and their connections to one another as we uncover the biology behind the disease tuberculous. Together we will discover how our cells, tissues, and organs break down during this illness and what can be done to bring them back into a healthy balance. Get ready for a hands-on course where you will grapple with big problems of the body that do not have quick fixes—the problems that real scientists and doctors ponder every day! 

*Course adapted from an evidence-supported science curriculum, No Quick Fix, from the College of William and Mary. 

The Great Debate

What do you think of when you hear the word argument? In most cases, people have an initial negative reaction to this word; they sometimes think to argue is to fight. However, this is not necessarily true! In philosophy, an argument consists of simple statements used to persuade someone of something using evidence and reason or to confirm a certain conclusion.  

In this class, you will learn the skills and methods that ancient philosophers used to develop your techniques to convince others to accept your point of view. Using logical arguments and appropriate evidence, you will learn how to defend your viewpoints and persuade your friends. Just like any skill, the art of argument takes practice. By exploring specific types of fallacies that can negatively impact an argument, we will become more aware of the principles great debaters use to present their points. We will also analyze historical speeches and debates as we explore the power that good debate skills can have on others. Each day we will put our skills to the test as we work to incorporate our ever-growing knowledge of persuasion into our own practice. If you are interested in debating timely and relevant topics that directly impact your life, then look no further! Come ready to hone your skills as you take part in a great debate!