Hun Adventures

In this interdisciplinary course, students will discuss the physics and biology of flying, web-slinging, and other superpowers. Many superheroes (Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Ant-Man, Black Panther, etc.) were based originally on the idea of humans gaining the powers of animals, which requires not only imagination but close observation of the natural world. Students will research how their favorite heroes were created, analyze costume and character design, and design their own hero in an original comic book based on these principles (Note: No artistic talent needed. We will explore platforms for creating the visuals, so all you need is an active imagination).

Students will discover how some of the world’s greatest films were created long before the age of CGI. Examples include exploring the scale models that became the epic spaceships of Star Wars, the creative use of sound design and stunt work in Indiana Jones, and the magic of hand-drawn animation by the artists of Walt Disney and Studio Ghibli. Students will focus on the elements of shifting perspective, innovation, and scientific problem-solving that created such memorable moments in their favorite films. They will then seek to create their own effects in their backyards or in their living rooms to see what epic worlds they can create from their imaginations.

Students will explore the design elements behind their favorite games, from board games and video games to the history of their favorite sports. Examples include how the game of Monopoly was created based on Atlantic City as a criticism of capitalism, or how ancient games like Chess and Go are primary tools in testing and developing artificial intelligence, as well as learning the process behind video game design.

In this course, students will study how the world of finance works, including savings and checking accounts, auto loans, mortgages, credit cards, the influence of advertising, and the stock market. Examples include applying for loans, evaluating different credit card offers, and negotiating mergers in role-playing scenarios, as well as participating in simulations of buying and selling stocks. For their culminating project, students will role-play scenarios where a scam artist tries to trick them into bad financial decisions, which they will attempt to avoid.

In this course, students will study and practice the elements of running a small business, from building a business plan to budgeting to marketing strategies. They will dig into the fundamentals of how running a business works, and then create their own small businesses based on what they love to make or collect. Students could create toy shops, fashion lines, a restaurant, etc., only limited by their imaginations. The final project will be a Shark-Tank-style pitch to launch and grow their own business. 

In this course, students will be given a chance to apply for a theoretical million-dollar grant to start a business based on one of their interests. They will explore how to turn a passion into a marketable project, and develop and present an elevator pitch, a business plan, and a budget to discover how far a million dollars would take them and how they can turn their vision into a reality. 

Students will explore the mystery of the Mayans. How did they create such intricate architecture and such an accurate calendar? What types of currency did they use? What technological innovations did they accomplish, and how were they so far ahead of their time? Why did they seem to disappear from the earth? Where are their descendants now? These questions and more will guide the exploration of this class. 

Students will study the Italian Renaissance, focusing both on politics and art from this fascinating time. We will study artists like Boticelli and Michaelangelo, the innovative architects who designed the great cathedrals, the theatrical and musical traditions of the Commedia dell’arte and the troubadours, and the banking family who made it all possible, the Medici. 

Students will study the vibrant culture of the 1920s, including the rise of jazz music, the fashion and dance of the flapper generation, the politics and realities of Prohibition, and the rise of the mafia. Examples include studying figures such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, the Art Deco architectural style, and early silent films by Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.