Voyagers Study Group List

Note: This is not a continuation from the last Photography study group.

The manual is organized around the story of a group of island dwellers who must learn to live sustainably using the resources available to them on their small island. As you read their journal entries and learn of their projects and experiments, you build models of the same projects and conduct the same experiments alongside them.

With the Power House kit you can build a model house complete with solar panels, windmill, greenhouse, and desalination system. You can build and operate an electric train, windmill, solar cooker, solar hot water tank, hygrometer, electric motor, power hoist, sail car, and more! Plant watercress, prepare sauerkraut, and make chewing gum. Learn how plants convert sunlight into energy for your body and your engines.

The goal will be to introduce the core fundamentals of and purpose of computer programming, explore the challenges involved in designing a set of instructions for a machine to reliably execute and to present step-by-step instruction to the creation of several basic programs.

The group will meet on the second Tuesday of each month during club time and include homework matching the level of skill in the group and of particular individuals.

The group leader, David Vaccaro, can be reached at anytime via email at david_vaccaro@yahoo.com

A laptop is not required but if you have access to one bring it. Please bring a notebook and pencil.

For the very beginners, I will teach the different chords, the scale, how to read guitar tabs, tuning, and how to string the guitar.

For those who are more experienced, I can try to teach whatever they feel like learning to the best of my abilities.

We'll discuss the book and do a related craft activity including creating a lap book.

Come join me in a study group that will be spent watching classic movies and sharing interesting facts about the movies themselves and the people who made them. I will decide the course content based upon consensus of my group attendees. I consider the ages and interests of participants in deciding what gets shown. I will not show slasher-type horror films because they disturb me.

I don't think there will be any homework, though I ask that people who take this study group are prepared to be involved in discussion after the movie is over. It won't hurt you, much. Several films will contain mature themes, so Parents should be aware of that.

I also won't be showing anything that will horribly depress you, just because I think it's intelligent. If I show a film, my first reason for showing it will always be because I think it's a good and enjoyable movie. Whether or not it makes you think as well is my second priority.

If you attended my class last semester, then you shouldn't be lost here. Its the same as before, just for a full term and with different films.

I can also guarantee popcorn at every movie. =)

Everyone loves wearing a costume, or something pretty and new. It's even better when you've made it yourself. But how do you do it? Do you know where your sewing machine is? Let's learn how.

We'll learn how to use a sewing machine, from threading it, sewing straight lines, and curves, to making button holes; when to use a hot glue gun, velcro or even hand sewing; even making props. Learn how to adapt patterns to your ideas.

We'll also cover some hand sewing techniques; for easy repairs on socks, jackets, skirts; repair buttons, hems, etc...

We'll start off with a drawstring bag, and work up from there. If the desire is there, we can move from beginning to more advanced as the skills develop.

Introductory History of Science with a hands-on component. The inspiration for this study group is the Inventors' Specials DVDs. Every other week we will watch one of the Inventors' Specials and the following week we will discuss more about the scientist's life and do a hands-on experiment or project that helps us understand the work of that inventor or scientist. The scientists covered include Newton, Da Vinci, Curie, Galileo, Edison and Einstein. The study group is one hour, but will be scheduled so that we can extend the study group into lunch hour when needed, as 3 of the movies are 90 minutes. There is a minimal/moderate homework requirement.

Some sessions will take us outdoors to measure and map our local environment.

We'll begin by talking about the differences between observations, inferences, and opinions.

We'll compare, classify, and label a variety of objects.

Once we have these tools to use, we'll play with stuff!

Water, ice and steam will help us learn about states of matter. Water and soap will help us explore surface tension. A variety of magnets and small objects will be used to test magnetism. Liquids will help us understand density and volume. Participants can help choose what other topics we focus on, such as light, gravity, heat, force, sound...

Bring your curiosity and willingness to explore, and we'll have fun together by conducting our own experiments to see what happens.

One source for experiments: Developing Critical Thinking Through Science Books 1 & 2 by June Main

NOTE: This is a half-hour study group at 1:30. KingdomofThornStorytelling starts at 2 pm.

Anticipated topics include: behavior of waves, color and light, sound, density/buoyancy/flight, magnets and magnetic fields, water chemistry, observing and classifying natural objects, force and motion.

Example activities include: Making and/or working with slinkies, wave pool, prisms, light filters, flashlights, laser pointers, tin can phones, tuning forks, paper airplanes, toy helicopters, varied shapes of magnets and iron filings, vinegar/baking soda/pH indicator solutions, glue/borax “slime,” microscope, balance.

NOTE: If a wide age range of participants is interested, I can provide an opening "lecture" for the older kids first, and allow the youngest kids to join later to experiment at the stations without an extensive explanation of science concepts.

The focus of the group is on discussing the books. In addition to topics suggested by the subject matter, we also analyze the works for literary devices, do character studies, place the books in historical context and do background research on the authors. Discussion will also be informed by the use of literature guides. We often read background material aloud together during class time. There is sometimes other class preparation involved, for example when we do role playing or simulations. We occasionally have guest speakers. Expect to read approximately 200 pages per week.

Note that although the reading level might be within the capacity of younger members, the subject matter is best suited for those who are teens and older. Discussions often lead us into various areas, including history, sociology, psychology, science, music, and art. Topics in the past have included death, relationships, physical and mental illness, sexuality, and drugs. When in doubt, please consult with me.

If any group members wish to write essays based on any of the books during the course of this study group, I am happy to review and critique these and work on revisions with you. The list of books will be sent out a couple of weeks before the start of the semester so we can get started right away at our first session.

Previous Books: (I am willing to repeat if the group contains all new members)

• Dickens/Oliver Twist
• Vonnegut/Bluebeard
• Miller/Death of a Salesman
• Lowry/The Giver
• Huxley/Brave New World
• Kesey/One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• Kerouac/On the Road
• Poe/Short Stories
• Shelley/Frankenstein
• McCullers/The Member of the Wedding
• Sartre/No Exit
• Knowles/A Separate Peace
• Vonnegut/Slaughterhouse 5
• Gaines/Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
• Heller/Catch-22
• Miller/The Crucible
• Gunther/Death Be Not Proud
• Forster/A Room with a View
• Steinbeck/Of Mice & Men
• Williams/The Glass Menagerie
• Golding/Lord of the Flies
• Bradbury/Fahrenheit 451
• Orwell/1984
• Hersey/Hiroshima
• Austen/Pride & Prejudice
• Bronte/Wuthering Heights
• Stoker/Dracula
• Vonnegut/Cat's Cradle
• Salinger/Catcher in the Rye
• Orwell/Animal Farm
• Steinbeck/The Pearl
• Keyes/Flowers for Algernon
• Stevenson/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

--Betsy-- Main.ElizabethFox - 10 Apr 2009 -- Main.ElizabethFox - 09 Apr 2009 -- Main.ElizabethFox - 14 Nov 2008

This is intended to be a serious, full year, high school chemistry study group. Those with no prior chemistry background can participate as Chemistry I. Because of the nature of general chemistry(they just repeat the info in AP courses), this class would be suitable as a chemistry II study group for a participant who has had it before, and wishes to reinforce knowledge. Those who are serious about this can probably be successful on the AP exam and thus earn college credit or college placement out of general chemistry. This group will definitely meet requirements for Lab Science, as we will do a number of labs out of a college lab workbook.

We will do lecture, homework problems, light lab experiments, and leader demonstrations. Regular attendance/homework is crucial to success in this course. We will also attempt to schedule a couple of mutually agreeable lab days during Voyagers break time. If participants are interested in studying for the SAT subject test or AP test, I will be willing to hold some extra study sessions after the end of the spring term

* Don't bother to take this class if you won't commit to doing at least some of the homework every week. It's not worth your time or mine. * Expect to spend about an hour a day on this -- I will help teach the study skills necessary for science.

To keep the group from being unremittingly tedious, I also plan to discuss some of the odd and interesting bits of math that you probably won't find on standardized tests: dimensions (1, 2, 3, and more), infinities (yes, there are different infinities), fractals, and who knows what else?

Because being able to do math is often as much a matter of practice as of understanding, you should expect to do several hours of work at home for each hour spent in class. If you really do the work, you should find that understanding actually grows out of the practice.

This class will be designed to teach people with little to no previous experience in Japanese, and it will require plenty of hard work. And by "plenty of hard work", I mean "you'd better pace yourself with the homework, because you're not going to finish it in a single day". By the end of the term, you'll have your hiragana and katakana memorized, along with some basic kanji and functional, simple grammar. There will be drill sessions every class, and a brief grammar lecture; the in-class meetings will be primarily focused on building up oral fluency.

Lastly, and addition to all of that, I intend to make this class as fun and interesting as possible!

This study group will be 6 weeks long.

NOTE: This is a 30-minute study group starting at 2 pm. HandsOnPhysicalScience is from 1:30 to 2.

1. Understanding microcredit using Kiva.org: Kiva.org connects lenders (such as you and me) with borrowers in developing economies around the world. We wil learn basics of economics, accounting and entrepreneurship. We will study proposals from entrepreneurs around the world and actually lend money to them (money included in the study group fee; $50 earmarked for Kiva). We will track the money and how it is put to use (and repaid).

2. Indian Cooking: We will learn to cook basic Indian food, covering different cuisines within India. ($25 course fee)

This study group is based on the Life With Principle curriculum which is geared to high school and up but I will adjust as appropriate for participants. Due to mature themes, this study is only for pre-teens and teens.

Henry David Thoreau was a writer who lived 150 years ago. He was an open-minded individual who was considered a radical in his time. He went to jail rather than pay taxes supporting a war he believed was unjust. He retreated from society for 2 years to live alone in a small rustic cabin he built by Walden Pond and delve deeply into profound questions about himself, society and life.

This program is based on Thoreau's ideas and questions, and their implications in today's world, but the emphasis is NOT on Thoreau. Instead, the emphasis is on our own lives, the challenges that confront us and the choices we make. Study group leaders will not be taking any particular position on what are sometimes controversial issues but instead will advocate that participants think about these issues and questions and how they are relevant to their own life and today's society.

In this study group we will view the Life With Principle DVD in 10 minute segments over the course of the semester, as a starting point for contemplation, discussion, and activities. The six topic areas are as follows: Hearing That Different Drummer; Being Awake, Aware and Alive; Examining Desperate and Deliberate Lives; Living in Society; Living in Nature; Confronting the Mean and the Sublime. (see website for more details about each of these topics).

A sample lesson on "Hearing That Different Drummer" might look something like this: watch video segment that explores what it means to be an individual in today's world and includes interviews with high school students, a minister, an attorney, an activist and a fire-fighter. Think about and discuss questions like, "What are the ramifications of living according to your conscience? What will you need to consider if you intend to stand up for your principles? How are non-conformists viewed in your group, your town, etc.? Are there times when it's admirable to be a conformist?" Homework might include writing a short personal essay about one's own "different drummer" and where the "drumbeat" leads you or an essay about a time in your life when you showed coourage that made you proud of yourself, or doing a short research piece on a well-known person who exemplified the kind of moral courage Thoreau celebrated, or cutting out magazine ads and analyzing whether each one encourages individualism or the "herd instinct" or something else.

Participants will study civil (and some criminal) law and trial procedure as part of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Mock Trial Program. Students should be prepared to: read actual case decisions, statutes, and the rules of civil/criminal procedure; help prepare the entire case for both the prosecution and the defense (including opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, closing arguments); and role-play as attorneys and witnesses.

We begin on September 15 - There will be a general kickoff meeting for all the team members. During the first few weeks, new members will learn the basics of the court system and trial procedure, while returning members will have a quick refresher and be given more opportunity to hone their presentation skills. The case materials for this year's competition will likely be available in early November. More details will be provided as they become available.

Who may participate - This is a high-school level study group open to students who wish to participate and are able to handle the material. All team members will contribute during study group meetings and rehearsals. While not all members may be assigned roles on the competitive team (as attorneys, witnesses, or understudies), everyone will participate on the developmental team helping to prepare the case. (Please note that MA Bar Association Mock Trial rules only permit high school students, or homeschoolers enrolled at a high school level, to compete.)

We are building a serious competitive team - This requires a strong commitment from all the members, and the better we do in competition, the longer and more rewarding that commitment will be! Please do not sign up for this program unless you can commit to all the homework, the team meetings, and competition dates.

Homework - This course will often require several hours of homework per week, including reading, some writing, and some small group work, in preparation for the competitions.

Schedule:

We will do our best to coordinate with the needs of our team members and coaches, but attendance at all scheduled/assigned sessions and competitions is mandatory!

Study group meetings - Beginning September 15, we will meet at Voyagers on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Then during Voyagers' winter break (12/18/09 to 1/24/10), we will generally meet twice a week (Tuesday afternoons plus another day TBD), with time off around the holidays.

Additional time commitments - As the competitions approach, some longer and/or additional practice times will be scheduled, as needed. Depending on how we do in competition, this may include dates during the February break, and even the April break.

Competitions - Voyagers will compete with at least three other Mock Trial teams on various weekday afternoons between mid-January and mid-February, and depending on our team's success, continue competing through March or May. Dates and locations will be set by the MA Bar Association and announced when the time approaches.

For more info:
Voyagers Mock Trial Program - please contact Margie Pertchik at mocktrial@voyagersinc.org

Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial Program: - Click here

Non-study-group participation: Anyone in the Monday Coop is welcome to submit cartoons, drawings, stories, photographs, poems, etc. Subject to editing by members of the group.

Basically, this study group will be a quiet room in which to write (for NaNoWriMo or for other uses) in November. I'm not going to do anything beyond facilitating the use of the space; there will be no 'this is how you NaNo, bla bla bla'.

This study group will start in November.

The only prerequisite is that you need to be able to be quiet for an hour.

Since this takes place only during November, we will spend the beginning of the term through October with each participant getting ready by working out very basic plot lines and developing his/her characters. We'll do some peer review and excerpt reading in December.

Officially, NaNoWriMo is open to ages 13 through adult and offers an alternate young writers option for students 12 and under so ANYONE can do this! (See http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ for writers 12 and under.) Best of all, the writing doesn't even have to be good! During the month of November, absolute quiet will be required during study group time.

NOTE: This is a 45-minute study group that will overlap the end of several other study groups by about 15 minutes or so. Participants are welcome to come to NaNoWriMo late but absolute quiet is still required for November. The rest of the time, jump into the workshop discussions as we go along. Some plan to participant only during November - this too , is acceptable. Those who have never participated in NaNoWriMo in the past are encouraged to come to the workshop portion.

Course Taught by: David Cudmore, Still River Outfitters, Inc

The book we will be using:
"How to Think Like a (Python) Programmer" by Allen Downey is available as a free download at: http://thinkpython.com/

More books of interest:
http://wiki.python.org/moin/IntroductoryBooks

The book we will be using:
"How to Think Like a (Python) Programmer" by Allen Downey is available as a free download at: http://thinkpython.com/

More books of interest:
http://wiki.python.org/moin/IntroductoryBooks

Students will learn drama games and comedic skills and will do live improvisation the day of performance to present these skills. In addition, during the course of the 13 weeks students will co-create skits and songs that will be included in the performance as well. All the ideas will be original and created together by the group.

I plan to use a variety of materials, from folk tales to kids' book adaptations to possibly the Shakespeare for Kids! series.

We will either read a play in story form one week and and the script the next, or read part of a story and act the relevant part of the script in the second half hour of the group.

We will cover a mix of comedy, tragedy and history. I will put together a list but will consider requests! This will be a gentle introduction to the world of Shakespeare, but at a higher level than the very abridged children's versions.

Through hands-on activities, reading, and discussion, we will explore the origins of complexity.

We will start by building a thermostatically-controlled heated box, and then jointly explore ways of controlling the inevitable temperature fluctuations that occur in such systems. We will progress to a general study of complex systems including computers, biological systems, and economies. To learn about business cycles, the group will run a simulation of an economy.

The discussions should be suitable for participants with a wide range of previous experience. There will be no restrictions on age or level. However, much of the material studied would be suitable for a college seminar.

We will be using a good deal of material from this book:
"Complexity: A Guided Tour" by Melanie Mitchell. I recommend it highly.

Additional materials (reading, building, etc.) will be provided by the instructor.

Wednesday members not participating are welcome to contribute as well.

Film or recorded versions will be recommended for use at home when possible. At least one of the plays under consideration is being produced locally in during the semester.

Content of plays may include mature themes, but will not be chosen for their shock value. Instructors are available to talk with parents about any of the plays ahead of time.

There will be a fair amount of reading and some project work - with more and higher expectations for the AP level participants.

Expectations: This is not intended to be a first introduction to structured writing. Accordingly, participants will have some experience with writing, preferably for an academic audience, and will have discovered their own areas of difficulty. I intend to address those difficulties to the extent possible. Please expect to write during group time every week, and come prepared and equipped to do so. More extended pieces will require work outside study group time; participants should therefore also expect to do some writing and reading on their own time. I am happy to work with students individually as time allows, or answer questions via email.

Casts children in the role of judge to rule on 75 actual U.S. Supreme Court cases

With You Decide! court is in session. The honorable “judges,” your children, will be asked to decide cases based on the first eight amendments to the Constitution. Your children will sharpen their critical thinking skills and their legal and historical knowledge as they analyze the amendments, discover their origins, and rule on actual cases presented before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Each unit explores: The language, meaning, and history of an amendment. How the amendment was applied in various cases. Classic and contemporary cases children must decide based on what they've learned about the amendments.

Many explorations will come from the text "Zome Geometry," by George Hart and Henri Picciotto; some will come from the group leader's past experience teaching ways of exploring 3-D forms.