SUMMER 2008 ENGLISH & SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES
English:
Folktales or Fairytales ... Have you ever wondered why there are folktales and fairytales? Do you believe some folktales and fairytales are true? In this course, we will read folktales and fairytales from four different cultures, those being Hmong, Russian, Vietnamese, and African. This course will focus mainly on critical thinking and creativity in using our ability to write. We will also focus on vocabulary building skills every week. By the end of the fourth week, we will have a basic understanding of what folktales and fairytales are and start working towards creating our own folktale or fairytale to share.
Heroes ... What does Hercules and the Samurai have in common? Don't have a clue who those people are? Don't worry! Come to the class Heroes to read and learn about heroes in literature, from then and now. Make a quiz to help your classmates figure out which hero they are. Improve research and public speaking skills by preparing a presentation about one of your real life heroes. Give yourself superpowers and create a story with YOU as the main character. When you’re the author anything is possible, so up, up, and away!
The Art of Public Speaking ... As students enter high school and prepare for their collegiate careers they will face many situations involving public speaking. The thought of public speaking makes many people nervous, and this usually reflects negatively on their speech. This class can help solve this problem. By perfecting interpretation, writing, overall speaking skills, students will become prepared any time they need to give a speech. This class will primarily focus on the fun and entertainment that can come from public speaking and learning how to embrace it. By the time students are finished with this course, they will know how speak in public with ease and have fun while doing so!
A Colorful World ... In this class we will be reading and discussing multicultural short stories and poems. We will explore different works regarding culture, diversity and prejudice. Everyone will be able to permeate themselves into the lives of other young adults by means of their prose and narrative. Throughout this course we will discover the injustices, poverty, love and happiness that surfaces many individuals' lives and their community. Nonetheless, the incredible pieces that you will be reading will not only inspire you, but it will make you laugh, cry and ponder about the realistic happenings in the lives of young adults. After reading a collection of multicultural works, we will use the resources we found from the stories to create our own creative story. At the end, we will create our own culture and make our own collection of multi-ethnic short stories and poems.
Tell Me A Story ... Have you ever wanted to be the hero of your own adventure story, where you decide what happens next and how the story ends? In “Tell Me A Story”, students will do just that! Read short stories and explore elements of fictional writing, such as character development, plot, voice setting, and conflict. Learn about what goes into a thrilling suspense tale and create an original book to share with your peers! What will happen along your journey? The thrilling adventure awaits!
Social Studies:
Picture This: US History through Photographs ... Click! Have you ever heard that a picture is worth 1000 words? In this class, we will use famous photographs as an entry point to learn about important events in US history, and about how the media represents historical and contemporary issues. Whether they are war photos, famous portraits, landscapes, fashion or current events, the photographs we will look at in this course all revolutionized the way we think about the world.
One World, One Dream: From Olympia to Beijing ... Have you ever dreamed of participating in or going to the Olympics? Here is your chance! Among the many activities, students will have the opportunity to participate in the BSP Olympics, a rally for human rights, and jeopardy. The BSP Olympics is an event that students will plan and organize. In addition, students will propose a site for a future Olympic competition. This location will be presented to the class for the final project.
Immigration: Imagination vs. Information ... In this course we will examine the historical background and contemporary face of immigration in the Twin Cities. How has immigration shaped Minneapolis and Saint Paul? Who has come to the cities, and why did they come? How do immigrants interact with the existing society, economics, and politics? In what ways do the experiences of specific immigrant groups differ? We will attempt to answer these questions by examining census data, biographies, literature, personal interviews, and sociological models. In addition to studying immigration we will consider how we study immigration. We will hone our research skills by discussing how to choose a topic, pose a question, find and use sources, and write an outline. The course will culminate with oral presentations by every student on topics they select and research!
Ching and Her Chin ... We will take a look at Ancient China's history by covering the era of its first and last dynasties: Chin and Ching. Through debates, discussions, and role-playing we will learn all about these dynasties! As a culminating project, students will create their own form of government and present it in an oral speech!
How YOU Can Make a Change ... Have you ever wanted to make a change in your world but didn’t know where to start or what to do? In this six week course, students will experience the way that formal, direct changes are made in our government. Students will also learn how they can affect change by making a simple phone call, writing a letter, or through public protest. We will participate in a mock congress, draft our own proposed legislation, and look at the world around us to see how we can make change. If you’ve ever said, “I wish we could have something else for school lunch,” or “Let’s start a petition,” this course is for you!
Where in the world is BSP? ... Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Here's your chance!! At Breakthrough St. Paul, our classroom will transform through the summer from Minnesotan culture all the way to the Amazon, The Middle East, Europe, Asia, and back again. We will explore a diverse region of the world using the five themes of geography: Movement, Region, Human Interaction, Location, and Place. We will immerse ourselves in local geography and then expand our studies to include countries around the world. In this course, students will select a country to explore and become experts on, so hop aboard and hold on tight!
