Electives
SPRING ELECTIVES
1) Introduction to Marine Biology by Dr. Jose G. Maldonado
2) Introduction to Environmental Science (Green Science) by Prof. Cota
3) Orienteering and Outdoor Survival by Prof. Jones
4) Sabor - Hispanic Culture by Prof. Dominguez
5) So You Think You Can Dance by Prof. Hill
6) Science Fiction Film and Literature by Dr. Thomson
FALL ELECTIVES
1) SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? by Prof. HillIn this course, students will explore the limitless possibilities of dance through three mini-courses focusing on dance technique, improvisation, and choreography. In the first mini-course, we will focus on getting our bodies moving through technique classes using an interdisciplinary approach to dance style. Students will be introduced to dance warm-ups and exercises designed to stretch and strengthen. This first mini-course will incorporate learning pieces of choreography, which we will add onto each week. Our class will be grounded in a Modern and Jazz dance approach, but will incorporate moves and styles of hip hop, musical theatre dance, African Dance, Indian Dance, aerobic dance, and more!In the second mini-course, students will continue to develop the choreography, exercises, and warm-ups learned in the first section, but will expand their dance practice to incorporate an introduction to improvisational dance. Students will explore how to create dance "on the spot," as they focus on different ideas in improvisation, such as rhythm, space, and movement.In the third mini-course, students will try their hand at creating their own structured choreography incorporating the movement ideas and skills learned in the first two sections. We will continue with regular group choreography and exercises, while weaving in students' own ideas for creating choreography. Students will come away from the course with a repertoire of dance steps and routines to keep them moving!
2) “What am I looking at and what is it trying to tell me?” by Prof. Hubbard, Parent Teaching Fellow
A fascinating look at buildings, paintings, sculpture, jewelry,book covers and other artworks including: Egyptian Art, Mythic Creatures, Roman and Greek Art, Religious Art in order to discover the historical background of each example as well as how it relates to contemporary life. The students will develop the ability to identify and discuss simple (perspective) devices used to suggest space and depth (foreshortening), diminishing size, overlapping, high and low placement, linear and aerial perspective in artworks, identify and describe the possible meaning of imagery used in our culture, recognize or describe “art” as a visual record of humankind and develop an appreciation that art can be a primary source of information about past civilization and non-Western cultures. The students will create artwork relating to each of the sections.
3) Advanced Spanish Language and Literature - Prof. Dominguez
Textbook: ¡Vía libre! Manual para ESCRIBIR, PENSAR Y APRENDER.
Libros de lectura: Esperanza renace.
La Redacción is the perfect choice for students who speak and hear Spanish at home and want to improve their reading and writing skills. It is designed specifically to help Spanish-speaking students expand their knowledge of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture with this perfect blend of grammar, conversation and writing activities. The students will build their knowledge of the structure of Spanish through exercises that reinforce and expand grammar comprehension. Communicative activities will give the students a chance to practice their Spanish as they interact with others.
4) SCIENCE FICTION IN LITERATURE AND FILM by Dr. Thomson, Philosopher in Residence
Why study science fiction? There are a lot of reasons. Sometimes it stimulates scientific discoveries. For example, when Einstein was formulating the Special Theory of Relativity, he tried to imagine what it would be like to ride on a beam of light. Sometimes science fiction is a window into the future. For example, Jules Verne envisioned submarines and underwater breathing devices many years before these were made practical. Sometimes science fiction helps us think about current science. For example, the Chairperson of the physics department at Case-Western Reserve University has written a book called The Physics of Star Trek, and we will look at some of that book during the course. And sometimes science fiction poses interesting philosophical problems. For example, suppose you could travel back in time just a few years. Could you prevent your parents from ever meeting? That seems easy enough, but if you succeed then you would not have been born! Puzzles like this can make your head spin. Why study science fiction? Perhaps most of all because it is fun.
In this class we will start by discussing the latest (and last) Harry Potter book. Then we will travel back in time to what is probably the first version of "the invisible man" (also the title of another book by H. G. Wells) by the Ancient Greek philosopher Plato. We will discuss short novels and stories by 19 th century French writer Jules Verne, and 20th century American writers Robert Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. While we are reading the novels, we will use the class time to look at some TV science fiction series, and where possible we will view film versions of the books we are reading. Finally, there will be class time set aside for us to read or view and discuss student favorites.
5) Student Government by Prof. Jones and Prof. Stillman
Students will learn about representative democracy and draft the new CSS-MSE student government's constitution, campaign for elected office, and learn the parliamentary procedures necessary to hold effective meetings and make democratic decisions for the student body. Students will also participate in the school's Fairness and Justice Committee proceedings, where the concept of restorative justice will be used to bring about change and to redress wrongs done against members of the school community.
6) Orienteering by Prof. Nalley
Students will learn intermediate level map and compass skills, participate in orienteering courses (using compass skills to compete against other teams find a sequential set of locations), and learn camping, leave-no-trace, and some basic wilderness first aid skills. This course includes a weekend outdoor expedition.
