Course Offerings

10 am Chess Club is a community for new and experienced students to learn and play chess together. In Winter 2023, new students will learn how to set up the board, piece names and moves, and relative values of pieces. All students will learn: 1) how to record and read algebraic chess notation; 2) tactics such as pin, skewer, fork, double attack, and discovered attack; 3) checkmate patterns; and 4) openings for white and black. The instructor will contact parents with online chess resources for children. The instructor will also provide chess tournament information for interested students and parents. Instructor: Cary "Ray" Easterday

11 am Chess Club is a community for new and experienced students to learn and play chess together. In Winter 2023, new students will learn how to set up the board, piece names and moves, and relative values of pieces. All students will learn: 1) how to record and read algebraic chess notation; 2) tactics such as pin, skewer, fork, double attack, and discovered attack; 3) checkmate patterns; and 4) openings for white and black. The instructor will contact parents with online chess resources for children. The instructor will also provide chess tournament information for interested students and parents. Instructor: Cary "Ray" Easterday

This class is designed for students who want to learn the basics of 3D design and 3D printing. We will cover the ins and outs of designing in 3D, using TinkerCAD (a free online program) as the main source. This is about more than just 3D design, however; it's about how to design things with the capabilities (and limitations) of 3D printers in mind. We will go through the step-by-step process to transfer files to a printer via a slicer and learn how to operate a 3D printer using Creality Ender 3 Pro printers. Each student will have a final project that we will print in class. This is a great way to jump into the fastest-growing and most fascinating technology in the world, 3D printing! Instructor: Brian Jaffe

This class is designed for students who want to learn the basics of 3D design and 3D printing. We will cover the ins and outs of designing in 3D, using TinkerCAD (a free online program) as the main source. This is about more than just 3D design, however; it's about how to design things with the capabilities (and limitations) of 3D printers in mind. We will go through the step-by-step process to transfer files to a printer via a slicer and learn how to operate a 3D printer using Creality Ender 3 Pro printers. Each student will have a final project that we will print in class. This is a great way to jump into the fastest-growing and most fascinating technology in the world, 3D printing! Instructor: Brian Jaffe

It's difficult to know what you believe. It's even more difficult to explain why you believe what you believe; this course aims to help students figure out why they believe what they believe. Should you pull a lever diverting a runaway train that is going to kill five people, instead transferring it onto a track that is only going to kill one person? If distance is divisible into infinitely many parts, and humans cannot move infinitely, then how is movement itself possible? Each week students will examine a thought experiment/problem from the history of philosophy to better understand why they believe what they believe. Highlights include Zeno's paradoxes, trolleyology, arguments for the existence of God, the demarcation problem, and the problem of induction. Instructor: Townsend Rowland

In this course, students will explore the craft of writing through the exploration of the paragraph as the foundation for good composition. The Elements of Style by Strunk & White will be our guide as we analyze writing from a range of genres and mediums, working particularly with short-form writing such as news articles, essays, and the short story. Activities will include reworking existing writing with a critical eye, as well as reconstructing poems and songs into prose paragraphs. For the last class, students will demonstrate the skills learned in the course with a final essay on a topic of their choosing. Instructor: Nicolas Gomez

Chess Club K-2 is a community for new and experienced students to learn and play chess together. In Winter 2023, new students will learn how to set up the board, piece names and moves, and relative values of pieces. All students will learn: 1) tactics such as pin, skewer, fork, double attack, and discovered attack; 2) checkmate patterns; and 3) openings for white and black. The instructor will contact parents with online chess resources for children. The instructor will also provide chess tournament information for interested students and parents. Instructor: Cary "Ray" Easterday

Speaking comfortably and confidently in front of an audience is a skill relevant to many aspects of life. This course will cover the fundamentals of public speaking, including voice projection and intonation, speech writing, effective gesturing, and audience engagement. The course is designed to be a fun and lively online forum where all are welcome to engage and comfortably learn how to speak eloquently and with greater ease. Instructor: Jennifer Stephens

Throughout history, some of the most clear, creative, and analytical thinkers have been scientists. Eratosthenes was able to measure the circumference of the earth within 1% of its modern-day value over 2000 years ago. He didn't have satellites, telescopes, or Google to help him out. How did he do it? This course goes over the history of western science, from ancient times through the 1900s, to ask how and why famous historical scientists came up with their breakthrough ideas. Through simulations based on crafting, drawing, discussion, and more, we'll answer the same tough questions that scientists throughout the ages have grappled with. Students will learn more about the scientists that shaped the modern world, but more importantly, how to think and approach novel problems like a scientist! Instructor: Townsend Rowland

How do illustrators apply realistic drawing skills to create imaginary characters and worlds? Students will learn techniques such as contour drawing, one-point perspective, and shading, as a means of creating fun and fantastical images. When we draw in our sketchbook, it increases our observational skills, improves our hand-eye coordination, and gives us the satisfaction of having completed a drawing in a short amount of time. Students will gain greater confidence in putting pencil to paper at a moment's notice, and develop a sharper eye for detail. Instructor: David Lasky

Should we have school dress codes? Should students be assigned homework? This course offers an exploration into oration with students learning how to support their ideas and argue effectively. Debate is a fun, engaging way for students to practice public speaking, develop sound logic and reasoning skills, and build confidence and self-esteem. Students also learn to express their opinions assertively in a respectful manner on many relevant issues and topics. Zoom breakout rooms allow students to work in teams as well as engage one-on-one with the instructor. Instructor: Jennifer Stephens

This class explores journalism, non-fiction storytelling, and audio-based portraits that use sound, photography, and graphics to tell fascinating short stories of who we are and what's happening in the world around us. Each week students will learn the basic tenets of journalism and use the Headliner App to create 1-5 minute "audiograms" based on true stories from their lives and our community. Themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion will be woven throughout this course. Students will explore topics of podcasting, journalism, non-fiction storytelling, photography, and graphic design. Instructor: Kristin Leong

Ever wonder what it's like to participate in a trial? Introduce evidence? Question witnesses? In this course, students will participate in a mock trial. Each session explores a new set of case facts so students who have participated previously will enjoy a new courtroom experience. This introduction to law will include lessons on rules of evidence, cross examination, and courtroom decorum. We've offered this course online before and it was a resounding success! Students will be a part of every aspect of the trial so come prepared to act as advocate, witness, and jury! Instructor: Jennifer Stephens

Grounded in a range of philosophical traditions, this course builds from the interests of students as we work together to make sense of timeless thought experiments, paradoxical situations, and personally relevant ethics. Children will practice identifying and asking philosophical questions using philosophically provocative books, games, videos, and other materials designed to guide and focus our activities, discussions, and community building. Through peer discussion and experienced facilitation, children are invited to participate in deep communal wondering while developing skills in reasoning, reflection, and respectful social interaction with others whose viewpoints may differ from their own. Appropriate for new and returning philosophers, this will be a space for deep, collaborative, and fun philosophical inquiry. Instructor: Jordan Sherry-Wagner

Grounded in a range of philosophical traditions, this course builds from the interests of students as we work together to make sense of timeless thought experiments, paradoxical situations, and personally relevant ethics. Children will practice identifying and asking philosophical questions using philosophically provocative books, games, videos, and other materials designed to guide and focus our activities, discussions, and community building. Through peer discussion and experienced facilitation, children are invited to participate in deep communal wondering while developing skills in reasoning, reflection, and respectful social interaction with others whose viewpoints may differ from their own. Appropriate for new and returning philosophers, this will be a space for deep, collaborative, and fun philosophical inquiry. Instructor: Jordan Sherry-Wagner

Do you want to write a story, but have no clue where to start? Let's fix that by learning how to make our own story roadmaps! We will explore the building blocks of great fiction and how we can use these for maximum impact. We will also discover how character arcs and story arcs can help guide our own storylines. Then we create our own plot maps! When class is finished, students will have the freedom to write an amazing story, and will be familiar with plotting both long and short fiction. Note: This is not a traditional writing course and will not culminate in a final written piece. Instead, the course aims to hone students' writing skills through planning and preparatory technique. Instructor: Megan Holman

Do you want to write a story, but have no clue where to start? Let's fix that by learning how to make our own story roadmaps! We will explore the building blocks of great fiction and how we can use these for maximum impact. We will also discover how character arcs and story arcs can help guide our own storylines. Then we create our own plot maps! When class is finished, students will have the freedom to write an amazing story, and will be familiar with plotting both long and short fiction. Note: This is not a traditional writing course and will not culminate in a final written piece. Instead, the course aims to hone students' writing skills through planning and preparatory technique. Instructor: Megan Holman

The modern world is filled with controversial, confusing, and often frustrating claims about science. How much of a problem is climate change? Are vaccines really safe? Should creationism be taught alongside evolution in schools? This course can't answer those questions, however, it aims to help students cut through the scientific noise so they can think about and evaluate contentious claims for themselves. Each week we will examine a different event in the history of science to learn how scientists dealt with controversy during their lifetime. Through this examination, students will learn critical thinking skills and gain historical perspective to better understand the world we live in today. Students will look at past scientific controversies through simulations that include drawing, discussions, brainstorming, social games, and more. Instructor: Townsend Rowland

Establishing spatial thinking and map reading skills early on are crucial building blocks for studies in geography, history, and earth & environmental sciences, but also enhance student language skills as they collaborate and communicate about spatial relationships. Students will stretch their visual and spatial learning through a variety of activities, through independent and collaborative mapping projects, wayfinding exercises, exploring the concepts of scale, and exploring the field of cartography and the many types of maps, globes and their uses. Istructor: Lamis Ashour

In a warming world with a rapidly growing population, the field of urban planning is more important than ever. This course will serve as a general introduction to the field with a focus this quarter on topics related to sustainability – environmental justice, community-led design, sustainable transportation systems, and more. Through a variety of activities and classroom discussions that will develop their understanding of communities, public spaces, landmarks, land use, and transportation systems, students will collaborate to design and build a model of their own working city. Instructor: Lamis Ashour

As the popularity of comics and graphic novels continues to grow, more and more people are picking up pencils and telling their stories visually. In this class, an experienced graphic novelist will guide you in the basics of comics creation, including character design, facial expressions, character poses, creating a sense of place, story planning, generating dialogue, page composition, inking, shading, coloring, and more, with the ultimate goal of all students contributing their finished comics to an in-class publication. Drawing ability is sometimes helpful, but not as important as a desire to communicate clearly with words and pictures. Instructor: David Lasky

From Rumi to Kerouac, from Earhart to Eriksson, we have access to an incredible archive of travel writing through the centuries. In this course, we will examine the writing of numerous pilgrims, wanderers, and globetrotters, exploring their diaries, letters, works of fiction, and poetry. Students will participate in classroom discussions on literary technique, authorial motivation, and historical context, culminating in a student portfolio of their own travel writings and responses to these voyagers, which will be presented to peers on the last day. Instructor: Nicolas Gomez