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1 - Houston through the Lens of Architectural History. What’s all the fuss about this city anyway? Come find out for yourself as we unpack the design of skyscrapers, ballparks and buildings across the city. You will have the opportunity to see and create architecture using tools found in the architect’s toolbox. Sketching, photography and other creative design activities will help you discover the magic of the city. Open your eyes and you will learn how to make connections with things as far out as Harry Potter and as familiar as your own home and the other great architecture that surrounds you. Open to all students. (10:00 AM)
3 - Scrap Face. There’s more to collage than cutting and pasting magazines. You will have a chance to explore different styles as you discover new ways to represent yourself through art. This class will provide you with an opportunity to express yourself in a variety of ways and truly test the limits of your creativity. You will use the works of Matisse, Warhol, Picasso and others as inspiration while producing your own self-portrait that reveals your individual personality and style. Open to all students. (11:00 AM)
5 - Watercolor Techniques. Watercolor lends itself to a variety of other media. Explore the unusual effects of using salt, glue, alcohol, bleach, waxed paper, and many other diverse elements as you make your own creations. Open to all students. (9:00 or 10:00 AM)
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8 - Food for the Soul. Maya Angelou was once asked to explain what her favorite pastimes, cooking and writing poems, had in common. In this class you will learn the answer to that question as we feed both mind and body by combining two things that require the perfect ingredients: cooking and poetry. We will read poems and recipes, examine the form and design of cookbooks, and try our hand at concocting delicious combinations of words and foods. With these two ingredients, we will then create our own cookbook that will feed the mind and the soul! Open to all students. (11:00 AM) 9 - A Lesson Before Dying. What piece of knowledge would you give someone who only had one day to live? In Ernest J. Gaines’ novel A Lesson Before Dying, Grant Wiggins is faced with this same question when he is assigned to teach Jefferson, a young black man waiting on death row in the rural South during the 1940s. Together we will consider the impact that the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow laws has had on society. Through close reading and literary analysis, we will follow the development of these young men and reflect on lessons we hope to share. Open to all students. (11:00 AM) 10 - The Story of U.S. “Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul” – Teddy Roosevelt. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are at least 308,745,538 people who can stake a claim to the American identity. But what does it actually mean to be an American? Do we just “know it when we see it” or is there some fundamental characteristic that defines our way of life? Through prose, poetry, and film, we will follow the lives of characters that face the same question as they assimilate into American life. Together we will analyze the differences in each character’s dilemmas and navigate their multiple and layered identities. As a final project, you will write a creative piece of non-fiction as a contribution to the story of U.S. Open to all students. (9:00 AM) |
11 - The “Art” of Learning Spanish. (Beginning Spanish) Do you want to know the secrets of successful language learning, listen to great music and learn a lot about art from the entire Spanish speaking world? If so, this is the course for you. You will learn the Spanish language with ease through famous Spanish masterpieces, music, chocolate and film. Open to all students. (9:00 or 10:00 AM) 12 - ¡Continuemos aprendiendo español! (Intermediate Spanish) Have you taken one or two years of Spanish and need a little review on grammar and vocabulary? Do you want to be able to read and write in Spanish using a variety of current events? If so, this class is for you. Come and review essential grammar and vocabulary to be able to communicate in oral and written Spanish. This is a great way to prepare for upper level Spanish courses and the AP Spanish language exam. Prerequisite: One year of high school or two years of middle school Spanish. (10:00 or 11:00 AM) 13 - A Taste of the Francophone World. (Beginning French) Ever wonder why the French are so well known for their cooking? Join us to learn French grammar and vocabulary as you explore the world of French cuisine. Practice listening, speaking, reading and writing French as you get ready to experience some of the finest food culture in the world. Students will learn about the Francophone world while cooking and learning French grammar and vocabulary. Emphasis is on listening, speaking, reading and writing. Open to all students. (11:00 AM) 14 - French through the Media. (Intermediate French) You’ve already learned French in a classroom. In this class you have the chance to take it worldwide as you create TV broadcasts, radio transmissions, newspapers and magazines modeled after French media. Increase your vocabulary and improve your speaking and writing skills as you share your ideas and stories in French. Prerequisite: One year of high school or two years of middle school French. (9:00 AM) |
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15 - Basic Algebra. If you have not yet taken Algebra I, this is the class for you. You will get a head start on learning important concepts such as expressions, equations, and functions with an emphasis on real-world applications, cooperative learning, and problem solving. Open to all students who have not completed Algebra I. ( 16 - Algebra I Review. Have you already taken Algebra I, and is Algebra II in your near future? In this course you will strengthen your background and practice the skills presented in first-year Algebra. This course will emphasize equation solving, linear equations, absolute value equations, and quadratic equations. Prerequisite: Algebra I. (11:00 AM) 17 - Geometry. Work with two- and three-dimensional models as you learn about angles, area, volume, and concepts such as similarity and congruence. Through a variety of activities, you will develop an understanding of the geometric properties of polygons and objects in everyday life. Prerequisite: Basic Algebra. (
21 - Introduction to Trigonometry. Do you enjoy solving real-world physical problems? Many such problems involve the use of trigonometry, a subject that requires both algebra and geometry. This class will introduce the trigonometric functions used in exploring a wide variety of physical applications. Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry. Open to students in grades 9 - 12. (9:00 AM)
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23 - Basketball. Deny the pass, jump to the ball, and make fast breaks as you review basic skills including passing, dribbling, shooting, and defensive and offensive strategies. Learn to work as a team while you improve your individual skills. Prerequisites: Basic passing, shooting, and dribbling skills. Open to all students. (10:00 or 11:00 AM) 24 - Flag Football. Train in the basics, including passing, receiving, offensive and defensive schemes, and the rules of the game. The class will conclude with a championship tournament. Open to all students. (10:00 AM) 25 - Soccer. Train in the fundamental techniques of soccer including passing, juggling, first touch, turns and heading. Open to all students. (9:00 AM)
27 - Volleyball 101. Learn basic skills such as passing, setting, serving, offensive and defensive strategies, and the rules of the game. Open to all students. (9:00 AM) |
30 - Come to Your Senses! Sight. Hearing. Taste. Touch. Smell. Everything we know about the world around us depends on the information our bodies gather from our surroundings. Have you ever wondered why you can’t seem to taste anything when you have a stuffy nose? What exactly does it mean when someone is “color-blind”? Through experiments and activities, we’ll study the biology behind our sense organs and how our bodies translate physical stimuli into perception. We’ll also explore the other “senses” that our bodies have, what happens when our senses become dull or impaired, and why our senses sometimes trick us! Open to all students. (10:00 AM)
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35 - 20th Century Wars and the U.S. What does a country accomplish by going to war? How can we trace our way of life today to the politicians, generals, and soldiers who have fought for the U.S. in the past? Explore the role of the United States in major wars of the 20th century, from the Spanish-American War to the war in Iraq. You will use videos, diaries, and even poetry as you analyze reasons for U.S. involvement and the impact that it had on the war, new war technology, evolving battle strategies and some of the people who changed the world through war. Open to all students. (11:00 AM) 36 - Documenting American History: The Fundamental Writings of Our Past. American history is best understood by those who lived it. From the Declaration of Independence to Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the primary sources of America’s past brightly illuminate the intricate and interesting history of this nation. Throughout this class, you will analyze primary sources, write from multiple perspectives, and research and present on a document of your own choosing. The six important writings shed light on the ways that words move peoples, cultures, and nations to act and react. Open to all students. (10:00 AM)
38 - Through Others’ Eyes. If history is written by the victors, then what of the voices of the conquered? We will hear these voices as we examine the Spanish conquest of South America, the colonization of Africa, the Muslim and British conquest of India, and the American Indian wars. Learn to debate both sides of an issue, listen for other perspectives and write your own interpretation of events as we explore the other side of history. Open to all students. (9:00 AM)
39 - What's Your Story? Who you are has as much to do with your family's history in the world as it does with the genes they passed on to you. This course offers you a chance to explore your family tree and the role historical events played in shaping it. Practice thinking like a historian and a detective as you use primary documents, secondary sources, and modern technology to uncover your family's unique history. Open to all students. (11:00 AM)
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