Description In this course, students will explore the connection between personal care products and disproportionate rates of harm toward People of Color. Using a systems thinking approach, students will learn how beauty injustices, such as colorism, skin color, and hair discrimination, lead to higher chemical exposure and higher rates of asthma, cancers, and endocrine disorders. Students will use consumer product safety databases to screen their personal care products. They will analyze … [Read more...] about Environmental Injustice in the Beauty Industry
Spring Session (3/10/25 - 6/6/25)
HerStory: Celebrating The Trailblazers Who Shaped History
DescriptionThis course is an engaging and inspiring course designed for Grades 6-7 Multilingual Learners (MLs) at proficiency levels 2 and above. In this course, students will explore the incredible stories of diverse women from around the world who have made a lasting impact on society. Through close reading, students will examine historical texts, focusing on key women trailblazers and their contributions to various fields. Using the RACE strategy (Restate, Answer, Cite evidence, Explain), … [Read more...] about HerStory: Celebrating The Trailblazers Who Shaped History
Fantasy Worlds in Words: Crafting Original Narratives
Description Discover the joy of storytelling as we blend fantasy and systemic functional linguistics. Using Dr. Maria Brisk's approach, students will create original narratives guided by the mentor text, "Girl of Fire and Thorns." In this course, students explore functional language that aligns with Common Core reading standards to strengthen narrative construction. The course culminates with the collaborative construction of an original fantasy narrative. This course is inclusive, offering … [Read more...] about Fantasy Worlds in Words: Crafting Original Narratives
Media Influence: Crafting Your Voice in a Digital World
Description In this dynamic, project-based ESL Level 3-4 course, students will dive into the world of media to explore how advertisements, social media, and public service announcements shape our beliefs, identities, and communities. By analyzing real-world media, students will uncover how persuasive techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos are used to influence audiences—equipping them to navigate and critique the messages they encounter every day. This course is culturally responsive, … [Read more...] about Media Influence: Crafting Your Voice in a Digital World
Intertwined Identities: Understanding American Democracy Through A Variety of Perspectives
Description In this course, students will explore American history through a range of primary documents that reveal how individuals perceive their own and others' identities as Americans. Our study will center on two essential questions: 1. What do we mean when we say “we”? 2. What is American democracy, and what should it be? We will investigate the concept of democracy in America from various perspectives and historical moments. The course begins by addressing the question of identity: … [Read more...] about Intertwined Identities: Understanding American Democracy Through A Variety of Perspectives
Science Ambassadors: Outreach Activities that Empower Youth to be Scientists
Description High school Science Ambassador students research common everyday products and their potential hazards, then choose a product they’d like to try making a safer version of using green chemistry principles. Students spend weeks in the lab to pilot different procedures and incorporate green chemistry principles to optimize their safer alternatives. Then, Science Ambassador students visit K-8 classrooms and inspire the younger children to become scientists while doing hands-on … [Read more...] about Science Ambassadors: Outreach Activities that Empower Youth to be Scientists