Introduction to Theatre
Monday - Welcome and improvisation
What are theatre arts? What are specific skills to learn, and how do we apply them to the stage and to our everyday lives?
Day one will be a welcome to the space, to the rules of the week, and to what we hope to accomplish. We’ll then move on to improvisation, learning the basics through games. Participants get to play and have fun in a safe, low-risk environment.
Tuesday - Monologuing and Storytelling
What makes a good story? Understanding the basic structure of a monologue and utilizing basic storytelling techniques to connect with your audience.
Wednesday - Using movement and voice
Explore how our body, breath, and voice can create character. Learn the basic functions of breath and voice, as well as methods of movement that actors and storytellers can access in their practice.
Thursday - Creating the world of the story (setting- time and place, location, etc.)
How does the world around us, or the setting, impact the story being told? How do we look at physical aspects of the show, including set, lights, costumes, and props, to aid the performances?
Friday - Putting it together
Students will have the opportunity to perform the one-minute monologue that they’ve created throughout the week.
All days will end with 10 minutes of journaling time
Game On: Exploring Probability in Play
Each day, we’ll tackle a new type of variability found in your favorite games, using fun examples and real challenges. From dice rolls to card strategies, you’ll discover how probability plays a key role in every game you love. Join us to unlock the secrets of chance and become a game master!
- Dice - Learn about sample spaces, expected (average) values, and how rolling multiple or different dice changes probabilities.
- Cards - Explore independent vs. non-independent events and how the number of successes changes over time (combinations).
- Probability Distributions & Weighted Probabilities - Understand weighted probabilities (like in lotteries) and expected values. We'll also discuss "loot boxes" and card games, highlighting their similarities to gambling as a warning, especially for young players.
- Sports & Probability - Analyze hit rates, win rates, and home team advantage using real-world data and observationally defined probabilities instead of theoretical ones.
Kitchen Science: Culinary Experiments and Tasty Discoveries
This course blends baking, decorating, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) to provide an engaging, hands-on experience. Each day will focus on a different aspect of baking while integrating scientific concepts and creative techniques.
Day 1: The Science of Cupcakes – Baking Basics & Chemical Reactions
Day 2: Engineering the Perfect Buttercream – Emulsions & Textures
Day 3: Edible Art – Color, Design & Piping Techniques
Day 4: Chocolate & Candy Science – Tempering & Crystallization
Day 5: The Great Cupcake Challenge – Creativity & Presentation
Minecraft
One of the most popular computer games, Minecraft at its core is a sandbox game that provides an environment for its players to explore and create. This class will focus on the Education Edition of the game to introduce students to programming to control the in-game abilities of their character, allowing them to make games that involve granting players superpowers.
Monday: Introducing and sampling the different powers that can be granted in Minecraft custom games. These include things like Speed, Invulnerability, and Flight
Tuesday-Wednesday: Having the students work in small teams to build maps and set up the interactions using coding blocks to complete a checklist of effects.
Thursday-Friday: Play the games, identify fun and unfun parts, and begin tweaking the gameplay.