Mount Rainier
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"Hands-On Geography" (B)
This highly interactive 10-week class, for 4th-8th graders, involves students directly in a variety of hands-on projects, games, and activities designed to expand students' understanding of U.S. and world geography. Prior geographic knowledge is welcome but not assumed. Strong reading skills and the ability to work cooperatively are a must. Most weeks involve some sort of project to be completed at home to be shared with the group the following week.
All three "Hands-On Geography" classes have entirely different activities. Although most students begin with "Hands-On Geography" (A), students can and do take (A) and (B) happily and successfully in either order. In order to register for "Hands-On Geography" (C), a student must have taken (A) or (B) or both previously.
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Istanbul
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"10 Weeks in Asia"
This 11-week class, for 6th-10th graders, explores our biggest, most populous continent. After the introductory week, we'll be studying a different Asian country each week. The content is at an upper middle school/high school level, with a fair amount of (fun) homework weekly to support the games and activities during our meeting time. Prior geographic knowledge is welcome but not assumed. Excellent reading skills and the ability to work cooperatively are a must.
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Rome
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"Mission Possible: Global Issues, Leadership Choices"This highly interactive 10-week class for 8th-12th graders engages students in running the world they will inherit. As officials of imaginary countries, they will employ critical thinking skills, negotiation techniques, and problem solving methods to lead their people towards peace and prosperity. (Or will they?) Working individually and in teams, they will decide when to cooperate and when to compete, when to bargain and when to take a stand, how systems are interrelated and how to adjust to life’s surprises. Readings in political science, international affairs, people management, current events, moral philosophy, literature, and economics provide discussion points and context for the simulation. Excellent reading skills (high school+ level) and the ability to work cooperatively are a must.
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New York City
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"Your Future World: Human Geography 2050"
This 11-week class, for 8th-12th graders, focuses on the physical and human geography of the 10 countries that the U.N. has forecast to be the world's most populous in the year 2050. After all, that is the world in which our kids will live. The content is at a high level with a fair amount of (fun) homework weekly to support the games and activities during our meeting time. Prior geographic knowledge is helpful but not assumed. Excellent reading skills (high school+ level) and the ability to work cooperatively are a must.
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Paris
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"Philosophically Speaking"
Philosophy is not about finding life’s answers. It’s about considering life’s questions. This 10-week discussion-based class, for 8th-12th graders, introduces the vocabulary of philosophy and explores some of philosophy’s “greatest hits,” weaving together the work of specific philosophers (ancient and modern) with classic thought experiments and real-life examples. This practical philosophy class provides a context for students to think more deeply about the choices and experiences of their everyday lives. Because of the nature of the assignments, excellent reading skills (high school+ level) and the maturity to participate in thoughtful discussion are a must. Honors option: for students who would like to extend their learning, there is now the option of writing a paper addressing a specific philosophical topic.
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New York City
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"Stock Market Challenge: Intro to Finance"
Stocks? Bonds? Shorts? Margins? Cryptocurrencies? Mutual funds? This class for 8th-12th graders, built around the Stock Market Game, gives students the information and experience they need to invest in their futures. Student teams compete to generate the highest returns on their (imaginary) money while learning about the ins and outs (and ups and downs!) of various investment strategies and the global economy. In addition to engaging in the Stock Market Game, students will discuss relevant readings ranging from Adam Smith through blockchain technology and be able to participate, if they choose, in the security industry’s spring InvestWrite essay contest.
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Barcelona
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"Who We Are & What We Dream: Comparative Science Fiction"
Science fiction provides commentary on who we are and on our hopes -- and fears -- about the future. This comparative literature class for 9th-12th graders delves into classic and contemporary science fiction novels and short stories to examine how science fiction has evolved and how our attitudes towards science and our thinking about the future have changed over time. Students will be expected to read as much as a novel per week and to engage in timely, thoughtful online discussion. This class does not involve any papers, but because discussion will be via a private Google Group, students will have ample opportunity to put their thoughts into writing.
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Lima
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"Academic Writing"
Every college-bound high school student needs to know how to use a research library and plan, organize, and write an 8- to 12-page academic paper with proper citations. This class takes students through each of these steps. The class will involve trips to two university or other research libraries, the specifics of which will depend on students' research interests; instruction in academic writing, including a refresher on the fundamentals of good writing; guidance on finding online sources appropriate for academic writing; step-by-step assistance with planning, organizing, and writing an 8- to 12-page academic paper; instruction in use of Turabian/Chicago and MLA citations; and feedback on the final project and throughout the process. This class is most appropriate for high school juniors and seniors and/or students interested in pursuing dual-enrollment coursework. It is offered by special arrangement for four students per semester. Students must be able to commit to spending two or more hours per week researching and/or writing outside of class. Admission is contingent on a writing sample.
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