Global Art Explorations – Discovering Art from Around the World
In Global Art Explorations, students will embark on an exciting journey to discover the diverse world of art and culture. This course will explore the elements of art—line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color—through the lens of global art traditions. Students will learn about famous artists and art movements from around the world, discovering how various cultures use these elements in unique ways. By experimenting with different art forms, tools, and mediums from multiple regions, students will develop a deeper understanding of how art reflects history, identity, and cultural values.
Key Learning Objectives:
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Understanding the Elements of Art: Students will explore the seven elements of art (line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color) and learn how these elements are used by artists from different cultures to convey meaning, tell stories, and evoke emotions.
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Global Art Movements and Artists: Students will learn about influential artists and art movements from across the world, from ancient civilizations to contemporary artists. They will explore art from regions such as Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.
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Exploring Art Mediums and Techniques: Students will experiment with a variety of traditional and modern art mediums, including clay, watercolor, printmaking, textile arts, digital tools, and more. Each medium will be tied to a particular culture or historical context, providing students with a rich, hands-on experience.
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Cultural Context of Art: Students will gain insight into the role of art in different cultures, understanding how artists use the elements of art to express cultural identity, religion, social values, and historical events.
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Creative Expression and Practice: Through guided projects and self-directed work, students will have the opportunity to create their own art inspired by the cultures and artists they study. They will practice incorporating the elements of art into their own unique pieces, using diverse materials and techniques.
From Farm to Fork: The Journey of our Food
In this exciting class, students will explore the journey of food from farm to table! They'll learn how fruits, vegetables, and grains grow in fields and gardens, then discover how they are harvested and processed into the foods we eat every day. Students will also talk about the importance of farmers and food workers, and how different cultures enjoy their meals. Through fun activities and hands-on projects, everyone will gain a better understanding of where your favorite foods come from and how they reach your plate. Get ready to be a food detective!
Introduction to Veterinary Medicine
Join us for an engaging and hands-on week in our Introduction to Veterinary Medicine class! This course is designed for aspiring veterinary professionals and animal enthusiasts who want to explore the fascinating world of veterinary science. Throughout the week, students will participate in a variety of interactive sessions and labs that provide a solid foundation in veterinary practices and animal care.
Schedule:
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Day 1: Introduction to Veterinary Medicine
Kick off the week with an overview of veterinary medicine, including the roles of veterinarians, the importance of animal welfare, and the various specialties within the field. -
Day 2: Bandaging Lab
Dive into practical skills with a hands-on bandaging lab, where students will learn how to properly bandage injuries and provide first aid to animals. -
Day 3: Tortoise Case Study
Explore the unique care requirements of tortoises through a detailed case study. Students will discuss common health issues and best practices for tortoise care and rehabilitation. -
Day 4: Build a Vet Clinic / Potential Community Service Learning (CSL)
Collaborate in teams to design a model veterinary clinic. This activity will also include discussions on potential community service learning opportunities, allowing students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. -
Day 5: Games and Celebration of a Fun Week!
Conclude the week with a fun-filled day of games and activities that reinforce what you've learned. Celebrate your achievements and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation with classmates.
This class promises to be an exciting journey into the world of veterinary medicine, filled with learning, teamwork, and fun!
The Very Hungry Insect and Why We Are What We Eat
Eating greens is a special treat, especially for insects such as aphids and caterpillars. However, though these insects may seem to have plenty of food to choose from, not all that is green is good to eat and can be harmful to the insect. Also, what is good for aphids may not be preferred by caterpillars. So how do the different insects know what plants are delicious and safe to eat? The secret is in the combinations of plant chemical compounds that gift the plant its unique color, smell, and taste. Sometimes an insect can sense these subtle differences and choose to find a new plant to eat and sometimes these chemicals are fatal. In this class series, you will learn about what aphids and caterpillars like and don’t like and use that to design your own “menus” (choice experiments) for the insects to choose from. We will record how the insects respond to their food choices and discuss why this is important. You will also learn how some plant chemicals can hurt the insect, but also how some can help the insect. Let’s have fun together creating our own experimental insect bistro.
Monday: Create your own aphid and caterpillar menu after hearing about what they like to eat, like a little, or dislike. Understand the difference between specialist and generalist insects and how food chemistry is involved.
Tuesday: Set up aphid feeding experiments in the lab. Offer them different foods and guess what they will choose based on what you learned on Monday. Learn about hypothesis making.
Wednesday: Check on your aphids and note the results of the feeding experiments. Set up caterpillar feeding experiments in the lab. Offer them different foods and guess what they will choose based on what you learned on Monday.
Thursday: Check on your caterpillars and note the results of the feeding experiments. We will do a little math and discuss the results. Learn what it means to analyze experimental data.
Friday: We will summarize the experiments and develop a new hypothesis. We will also show how a caterpillar can change its color based on what it eats and why it does.