Summer Courses at Bryn Mawr
This summer Bryn Mawr will once again offer a series of academic enrichment opportunities.
These courses will allow students to explore areas of intellectual interest that are not offered during the regular academic year. Each of the courses will be taught in an interdisciplinary and interactive setting by experienced Bryn Mawr faculty members. Please note that the courses do not have prerequisites.
When
- All Upper School Courses will meet from June 24-July 19, 2013 between 9:00 AM and 11:45 AM. No classes will be held on July 4.
- The Middle School Course CSI Bryn Mawr: An Exploration of Forensic Science will meet from July 8-July 19, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- The Middle School Course Page to Stage will meet from July 22 - August 2, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- The Lower School Course Kitchen Chemistry: A Hands-On Exploration of Chemical Reactions will meet from June 24-28, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
- The Lower School Course Writing Poetry will meet from July 8-12, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Cost
- Upper and Middle School Courses: $1000 for students taking course for credit
- Lower School Coures: $375
- Note: A non-refundable deposit of $250 is due by May 1st for Upper and Middle School courses, with the balance due by June 1. A small materials fee of no more than $50 per course may apply.
Application
Lower School Courses
For girls and boys entering grades 4 and 5 in fall 2013
Middle School Courses
For girls and boys entering grades 6-8 in fall 2013
Upper School Courses
For girls and boys entering grades 9-12 in fall 2013
Art and Gender (Registration closed)
Taught by Helene Coccagna
This class will provide students with foundational background in the fields of both gender theory and the history of art, and allow them to develop the skills of critical analysis of a wide variety of types of images from both the ancient and contemporary world. Students will gain an overview of gender portrayal in a variety of art forms and media, ranging from painting to sculpture and pottery. Students will learn to consider the historical contexts in which images of gendered bodies were represented in art and will be able to question and interpret contemporary art practices with a focus on gender expression. The course will include visits to local museums. back to classes
Explorations in Geometry
Taught by David Alexander
In this course, students will investigate areas of geometry not included in Bryn Mawr’s standard Geometry course, such as the mathematics of spiral growth, networks, fractals, tessellations, and transformations. Students will also explore selected topics independently. Emphasis is placed on gaining an intuitive understanding of geometry as well as communicating and applying that understanding through projects, presentations, papers, extended problems, the use of dynamic Geometry software, and daily discussion. Note: Geometry is not a prerequisite for this course. back to classes
Nature’s Laboratory: Mapping the Local Ecosystem (Registration closed)
Taught by Eric Elton
The primary goal of this course is to teach students the natural history of the area surrounding The Bryn Mawr School, using skills employed by biologists and environmental scientists. Students will maintain field notebooks that scientifically evaluate the species and communities they encounter. Various techniques of species identification, digital mapping (GPS/GIS), and techniques from other fields such as ecology, zoology, ornithology, and entomology will be included in this course. The species interactions assessed by students will be presented as a final project for the course. The culmination of the course will be the development of an online field guide for the greater Roland Park area. back to classes
Struggles for Supremacy: The President, Congress, and the Courts
Taught by Karen Cullen
The Founding Fathers created our Constitution based on the (then novel) principle that the separation of powers protected the public against tyranny. Although the Constitution sought to clearly delineate the powers of each branch, many unanticipated conflicts have arisen as the role of government has evolved and as each branch has taken on new roles and functions. This course will examine the often contentious interaction of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches that has resulted from an evolution of the federal government. We will explore contemporary and historical conflicts that have arisen as the branches attempt to increase their power while simultaneously checking the power of the other branches. Case studies will include Bush v. Gore and the 2000 election, the recent struggles over health care, and the impeachment of President Clinton. We will examine these issues through discussion and debate, hands-on projects, readings, films, guest speakers, and field trips. back to classes
CSI Bryn Mawr: An Exploration of Forensic Science
Taught by Kate Brendler
Students will learn basic vocabulary associated with crime scene analysis as well as explore testimonial evidence. Students will explore the various types of physical evidence that can be found at a crime scene and learn how they are used to help investigators, such as fingerprints, impression evidence (e.g. tire tracks), hairs & fibers, chromatography, blood evidence, and DNA. Students will learn about forensic entomology and its use in investigating crime scenes. Students will learn to identify the main bones in the human body as well as investigate the role of forensic anthropologists in crime solving. Students will explore the basics of fire science and arson investigation. Students will investigate Newton's Laws of Motion to analyze an accident scene to determine the sequence of events that lead up to the accident, explain damage resulting from the accident, and "solve" cases. Students will have opportunities for hands on research and experimentation as well as field trips and interaction with guest speakers. back to classes
Page to Stage
Taught by Shannon Montague
It might be true that all the world is a stage, but there is a lot of effort that goes into turning a piece from written work to a full scale production. In Page to Stage, students will explore the many aspects required to present a dramatic work to an audience. First, we will explore a variety of scripts and undertake very close readings of these texts to understand the author's words as we interpret them. We'll view video clips of various adaptations and attempt to work through the process a production design team finds itself in when trying to put on a show, ranging from casting to set design ideas to determining the mood. Then, students will begin to understand the process of taking a character from the page to the stage as we engage in a variety of acting exercises and they try their hand at being both the director and actor. We'll also explore songs from musical theater as text, which can also be interpreted. Our time together will end with a showcase of our work throughout the session. Be ready to bring the page to life! back to classes
Kitchen Chemistry: A Hands-On Exploration of Chemical Reactions
Taught by Elizabeth Gray
Have you ever marveled at a lava lamp, written a message in invisible ink, or used soda to set off a bottle rocket? All of these are made possible through chemical reactions. Become a scientist and discover how these and many more amazing reactions work in this hands-on chemistry lab course. back to classes
Writing Poetry
Taught by Elizabeth Gray
Poetry comes in many forms and is a wonderful way to express yourself. In this course, students will learn how to create poetry by studying poems from some of the world’s greatest poets and discovering many different poetry styles. Using inspiration from the world around us, students will compile a collection of original poems and create a printed book. back to classes