Combinatoric Chaos: The Math of Counting Things

One of competitive math students’ favorite topics! How many different ways can you do something? In this class, students dive into the exciting world of combinatorics, the math of counting possibilities. Using puzzles, games, and clever challenges, we’ll explore how to count efficiently (without missing or repeating options).
Students will use patterns, organized lists, tables, and diagrams to make sense of “chaotic” counting problems, such as figuring out how many different teams can be made from a group of players, how many paths lead to a goal, or how many different codes are possible. This class builds powerful problem-solving skills and gives students a taste of the kind of math used in competitions and real-world decision making.

Monday - Counting strategies & organized lists
Tuesday - Permutations and arrangements (with restrictions)
Wednesday - Combinations and selection problems
Thursday - Overcounting, logical cases, and how to create diagrams
Friday - Counting challenge sets + group puzzles

Backstage Pass

A unique and exciting class for students where you'll go behind the scenes at Michigan State University (MSU) to discover the hidden gems of the campus! This class offers exclusive VIP tours of new and exciting venues and sites at MSU for the 2026 school year, giving you a first-hand look at spaces not usually accessible to the public. Students will explore cutting-edge academic buildings, research facilities, athletic arenas, and student spaces, and meet with university staff, faculty, and students who make MSU a leader in education, innovation, and community.

Throughout the class, you will learn about the history and culture of Michigan State University, explore the opportunities available to university students, and see how the campus supports creativity, learning, and advancement in many different fields. This class will not only offer you a behind-the-scenes look at MSU but also help you envision your future as a university student, exploring the incredible possibilities that higher education offers!

Science Sleuths: Exploring Evidence and Experimentation 

The structure and rules provided by the scientific method are designed to give people as confidence in their conclusions using a “trust but verify” mentality. To that end, they’re designed to both investigate a topic while being as repeatable as possible. We’ll discuss each of these steps in detail; and those who remember them will be able to apply them to learn more about the world! 

Monday - Introduce the Scientific Method; discuss Observations & Questions 
Tuesday - Discuss how to create an effective experiment. 
Wednesday - Discuss how to portray the conclusions. 
Thursday - Analyze three lab reports, address contradictions
Friday - Do the experiment in the lab reports from the previous day

Minecraft

The most popular video game of all time, Minecraft is a sandbox game that drops players into an infinite world of harvestable resources in which they can build to their hearts’ content.

This class will task small teams of students to create an “Adventure Mode Dungeon” game within Minecraft with their own personal flair, learning principles of game design that will serve them in future creations, even outside of Minecraft.
Monday & Tuesday – Students receive instruction to increase building efficiency and learn how to guide a player using commands, Redstone, and level design. Students plan/start build.

Wednesday – Students finish a draft of their build with continued assistance from instructors.

Thursday and Friday – Students test and fix bugs with build.