Have you ever played a chess game before and wondered what you could have done instead? Perhaps if you had moved your pieces differently, you could have had a winning position? Come learn all about chess tactics in this class! We will explore and solve some puzzles together, going over some basic tactical ideas and themes. Students will then have the chance to work in groups to try to solve a few puzzles on their own!


Prerequisites
Students should have knowledge of how each chess piece moves and understand basic principles like checkmate and piece values.

You've probably done, or at least seen a crossword sometimes in your life, but have you ever stopped to think about how they became so ubiquitous? Come learn all about the history of crosswords, from their humble tiny origins, through a surprisingly starring role during WWII, all the way up to the modern history of computer-assisted cruciverbalism! Along the way, hopefully you'll pick up a few resources and jargon across all of crossword-dom.

We all feel stressed and overwhelmed at one point or another and may sometimes feel like we don't know how to adequately cope with and deal with stress and having a lot on our plates. Thus it is important for us to learn good ways to regulate our mental health early on so we can develop and use those habits when needed. This course is designed to help students be more aware of and more in tune with their environment - ie the people around them, and their own thoughts, in order to help them foster emotional prosperity and relaxation. The class will discuss tell-tale signs that may be present when people may need help psychologically and/or mentally but they maybe do not openly discuss or express those feelings (perhaps because of the culture they are from or because of society in general - as we all have a tendency to bottle up our emotions.) After identifying key behaviors that could signify mental stress, different available resources - especially technological ones - would be touched on. Afterwards, techniques for how to handle stress and anxiety and how to leave time for emotional relaxation in the midst of a heavy workload would be expanded on (all of which will be based on actual scientific findings) including many meditation techniques.


Prerequisites
No precursor courses are required!

Come learn a bit about the legacy of Chiptunes in video games and how they work!

Video games are one of the largest industries in the world. In this course, learn a bit about the theory and techniques that have come to define digital game music. No musical experience is required.

Everyone has the same 24 hours in their day to do whatever they want. What separates you from Elon Musk are the underlying habits you have built into your life. In this course, you will learn how to effectively change your habits to become the best version of yourself possible!

Ever thought about running for political office? How about an officer in your student council?

In this class, we'll pretend you're running for Supreme Overlord of the Universe, and help you set up your campaign along the way! We'll cover important topics like your reasoning behind running, your platform, personal branding, marketing, and advertising.


Prerequisites
Students of all interests and backgrounds are welcome.

Ever wanted to learn how to clone your clothes? Come to intro to sewing!
We'll be learning the basics of pattern drafting, how to clone a basic dress from your closet, and how to structure your own corset.


Prerequisites
Please bring a dress to class, any dress will do. If you can't bring a dress, then bring an oversized T-Shirt.

Do you want to develop a way to handwrite your favorite font style seen in Google docs? Among school spirit posters, English projects, and greeting cards to your friend, how many fonts can you come up with? Although computers generate the fonts we see on our screen ranging from Times New Roman to Brush Script, the ability to speed draw them for posters is a skill. The legibility of a handwritten word and the thickness of a line stems from the confidence of a hand and the speed of the mind. Don’t underestimate the power of a beautiful way to stylize your letters. Despite the advent of technology, the ability to write beautifully – not to say near magically – can still dazzle friends and add that extra flair.


Prerequisites
What supplies students may access at home: - pencils, markers, colored pens, or highlighters - white printer paper (A4) - lined or graph paper - scissors - ruler - colored paper for greeting cards (i.e., origami paper or cardstock) - colored pencils or crayons - stickers - tape or glue stick

Learn the basics of color theory and general art tips and tricks from your local dollar store artist, Rob Boss!


Prerequisites
Please have Microsoft Paint on your computer, or a similar art program.

Chemical engineers use chemistry, physics, and math along with engineering tools to solve problems relating to the production and use of chemicals. This includes problems like refining gasoline, purifying drinking water, treating waste, processing food, and making medicines. In this class, you will get an introduction to the field of chemical engineering with fun connections to everyday things like sports gear, cooking, and more.


Prerequisites
none

The design process of how products come to be. This explores why some products are good and some are bad. It also explores why some products are more popular than others despite quality differences. This workshop will work with students to create and develop a working product. (Note: this is a 3-hour-long class.)

The how-to's of creating on-skin devices and the different smart tattoos that have been developed. We will explore the engineering questions behind wearable devices and it's applications. Students will have a chance to develop and ideate their own smart tattoos and we will take a moment to confirm, plan, and roughly prototype their ideas.


Prerequisites
N/A

Generating energy without producing carbon dioxide is required if we want to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change. We'll discuss renewable sources you've probably seen, like solar panels and wind turbines, as well as lesser known systems like ocean wave energy, geothermal, nuclear fusion, and hydrogen fuel cells. Learn the science behind these technologies and the engineering involved in building them at scale.

Ever wonder how machines like the Perseverance Mars Rover, Tesla cars, renewable power sources, and F1 racecars were engineered to achieve such impressive performance? Learn the basics of how complex engineering systems are designed, modeled, simulated, built, and tested. Topics include block diagrams, numerical modeling, electric motors, and the engineering design process. Examples will be given from all of the systems mentioned above!


Prerequisites
Familiarity with free body diagrams helpful but not required.

This was a real analogy written by a high school student: “He was as tall as a 6’3” tree.”
Why was this analogy bad? What makes a metaphor “great”? In this workshop-style class, students will be exposed to a variety of “good” versus “bad” examples of figurative language in creative writing. We’ll then work together in groups to come up with our own unique similes and metaphors in response to various writing exercises.

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

From the genocide of the Air Nation to the creation of horrific prison camps for dissidents in the Earth Nation, the Fire Nation engaged in terrible acts of violence and colonial oppression. Join us in examining the commentary about genocide, colonialism, and imperialism in Avatar: The Last Airbender. By engaging with the show and its accompanying comic books, we’ll paint a full picture of the tangible implications of this fictional universe.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Avatar: The Last Airbender

Used in everyday life when calculating the time, modular arithmetic underlies significant amounts of number theory, cryptography and even music. Students will be introduced to modular arithmetic and then, working cooperatively in small groups, students will get to solve problems and present their results to other the class.


Prerequisites
Students should be comfortable with basic algebra such as FOIL for multiplying binomials and basic exponent rules (like $$x^a * x^b = x^{a+b}$$).

Learn about computer science, its history, and its applications in the modern day, taught by Women in Computing at Cornell. In this workshop, we'll write our first program with Javascript, using some of the problem-solving skills that computer scientists use every day. No experience necessary!

The immune system defends against threats constantly every day, most of the time it's without you even knowing. Take this course to learn more about the different ways the immune system can defend against pathogens, and what happens when it makes a mistake.

Everyday, each one of us experience and see the affects of our genes on a macroscale level. Come learn about some basic genetics concepts on how dominant and recessive genes can dictate how organisms look and how genetics can become more complicated!

This class will go over some key elements of the healthcare system in the United States! We will look at the history of medicine, review how healthcare plans work, and dive into a little bit of healthcare economics. We'll also look into how health disparities affect different populations.

Ever wonder why some people seem to ace every exam with relatively little studying? How do some people seem to learn much more effectively than others? In this class, I will outline effective learning strategies that will help towards any learning goal!