Duct tape is for more than just fixing (almost) anything. You can build things too! We will be making beautiful roses that will never die and If we have time stylish wallets as well.

Come be a kid again! In our class, we will be learning how to make tetrahedral kites! (don't let that word scare you). We use math to formulate the measurements for our kites, our artistic skills to design and construct our kites from scratch, and learn the best wind patterns to fly kites in, so that you can bring your kites home, and have fun flying!

Japanese-produced video games -- such as the Final Fantasy, Mario, and Zelda series -- are widely available around the world, and many of you have probably played their English versions. Their original Japanese versions, however, have a curious component not present in the English version -- a significant portion of the text and dialogue contain English words transliterated or borrowed into Japanese. Using "Final Fantasy" as a lens, we'll look at the social, historical, and pragmatic reasons for why this might be the case. During this class, we'll learn a bit about Japanese grammar/writing system; unpack the connection between language, politics, and culture; and analyze the complexity of language contact and international storytelling in our modern, globalized world. A great class for anyone who loves foreign languages, international cultures, or video games!!


Prerequisites
No prerequisites, although knowledge or exposure to a foreign language/culture would be helpful. Students should come with an open mind to other cultures and new ideas!

Are you tired from staying up all night completing your problem sets and lab reports? Have you ever wanted to learn how to write a screenplay? In this 90 minute workshop, you will learn how to write a screenplay. All the while, we will discuss how science and storytelling benefit one another.

Our lesson will be on the power of stories to inspire social change, inspired by the work of the Harry Potter Alliance. We will take a look at how stories, like Harry Potter, can inspire amazing ideas and action and what stories and narratives mean to us. We will watch sone clips from Andrew Slack's (a Brandeis alum and founder of HPA) TED talk and have a group discussion on social issues and how we can bring stories into the fight for social justice. conversation. Finally, we will break off into groups which will rotate among 6 different section centered around different topic areas that exist under the umbrella of stories and social change. Topic areas will include pop culture and social change, theater and social change, sports and community building, writing your own narrative, debate/discourse and social change, and environmentalism through stories. In small groups, we will discuss these topics in-depth and possibly have some sort of creative project that relates to each of the topic areas.

Want to become an Activist? What do we want: Immigration Reform! When do we want it: NOW! This is a fight that will not stop until we fix our broken immigration system.

We will be watching a small clip of a Dreamer, sharing our personal immigration stories and we will be discussing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA) and how this action has been a start for dreamers who have been fighting for a policy that will help them feel more included in their home: America.


Prerequisites
none

In this lesson, we will examine conflict between Asian culture and American individuality in poems by Asian-American writers. We will focus on selected works in Juvenilia, by Ken Chen, in a discussion based lecture and close reading. This course is intended for students of all backgrounds.

Why do are rap starts such as Jay-Z and Lil Wayne so popular right now? You hear then on half-time shows, Mountain Dew Commercials, and the radio everywhere you go. Why are their songs so catchy and why do you feel compeled to recite them over and over again. What would you rap about? What is important in your life. Is it science, is it soccer, or is it getting women? It doesn't matter, because as long as you can communicate emotionally and thoughtfully towards others, you will always have their attention. For example, I had a good summer. This is an awful declaration because the word good is too abstract to relate on. But for example, if I said I had a bitchin' summer. I went to Russia, transversed the Siberian railroad, slept in a foxhole, had good vodka for the first time, hunted for my own food, and wrestled with a bear and won. The key is in the details, details are how people relate, and capture attention. This is exactly what every entertainer does.

Over the course of an hour, students will learn the basics of essay writing through in class discussion, a powerpoint, games, and individual work. It will be fun and enjoyable!

A lesson on basic physiology and the nervous system.

We are all moving forward in time at the rate of one second per second. But what if we could go faster, or slower, or even backward? What happens when you approach the speed of light? what is a wormhole? What if I went back in time and prevented myself from being born? What is all this wibbily wobbly timy whimy stuff? Come find out about some theories. The universe is a confusing and amazing place.

We will learn about memory and the brain through different games and exercises! You will learn the differences between types of memories and learn tricks to improve your memory skills!


Prerequisites
Interest in the brain and psychology!

How DO doctors make diagnoses from X-rays? Not all diagnoses are black and white - there are shades of gray, just like in radiographs. This course will delve into the inner workings of X-ray machines and students will have the chance to troubleshoot real radiographs from patients at the New England Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Weymouth, MA.

Maddie Ziff (Brandeis Mock Trial Club), with support from Jason Happel (mock trial judge) and will run a low-key, fun, and enlightening class that will stir your thinking about strategies for next year's mock trial tournament.

Join us in this interactive program as we talk about the intersection of law and social justice, dive right in to a mock trial case, and practice mock trial fundamentals. This class is open to those of all levels of experience.