Droplet Spring 2014
Course Catalog

Have you ever wanted to write a song parody like Weird Al does? Of course you have! So bring in something to sing about, and let's make it happen! Along the way we'll pick up some tidbits about rhyme, meter, and singable words—which are of course applicable to much more than song parodies.

Ability to sing is not required.

"Moving's easy!" You tell yourself, but when you get up onstage, something happens: your body betrays you and you become AWKWARD. Some of the most terrible performances we see are due to the actor's lack of natural movement. In this course we'll learn how to move naturally on stage, utilizing movement exercises and games from various facets of the theatre world (dance, improv, etc.). We'll wrap up the class by performing assigned monologues with perfectly natural movement.


Prerequisites
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can move around freely!

Throughout this two-hour course, students will learn about the development of fashion from its roots in 1700s France to the present day, with a focus on womenswear. Particular emphasis will be placed on the most famous contributions to the fashion industry from innovators such as Charles Worth, Madeline Vionnet, Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Cristobal Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, and Rei Kawakubo, amongst others. At the end of the lecture, students will be asked to showcase their own designs as director of the fashion house of their choice, creating a final outfit with non-traditional materials.


Prerequisites
A love of fashion!

Learn how to fly. If you are willing to try new things and give 110%, step out of your comfort zone and into the air. Learn to control your body in astounding ways. No experience necessary. You'll never want your feet on the ground again.


Prerequisites
A brave heart, Comfortable clothing

This fitness dance class (similar to Zumba) is a feel-happy workout that combines a motivating fusion of Latin and international music with unique moves and dynamic combinations that allow participants to dance away their worries. It is based on the principle that a workout should be "Fun and Easy to Do." Wear athletic clothing, sneakers, bring a water bottle, and get ready to dance until you sweat!

In ancient Mesopotamia everything from the great literary epics to the humblest receipt was written on clay in cuneiform writing. In this class students will get a chance to practice writing their own tablets using real clay and a stylus. We will also explore some of the basics of cuneiform writing so by the end of the class students will be able to make a simple cuneiform tablet which they can take home.

Have you ever wondered how rainbows form? In this class, we will explore the physics of rainbows. We will begin with a description of light and the EM spectrum, and of refraction. We will then learn how light is refracted inside of raindrops to produce rainbows and double rainbows. Finally, we will discuss how the characteristic semicircular and circular shapes of rainbows are produced.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of geometry (angles).

What types of questions does a brain scientist ask? What can neuroscience tell us about the way we think and feel? Why do zombies like to eat brains? This class will answer two out of these three questions.

Why are some people so obsessed with tea? From the Queen of England to the Emperor of Japan, tea is enjoyed differently throughout the world. In this class, you’ll learn about making and drinking tea the Japanese way. You’ll get to smell, taste, and drink matcha (the classic green tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony), using a unique tea bowl, bamboo scoop, and whisk. Find out why tea is more than “hot leaf juice."

Ever dream of your school going undefeated; winning the State Title; or just beating that arch rival that you always lose to? If so, this is the class for you.

'Turnin' up' is not just for sports though. It teaches students how to motivate and inspire others; how to embrace and empower others; engenders perpetual optimism; and promotes unity and self-esteem.

In this class, we will explore the effects of negative self-talk and the power of postive self-talk, contrast the differences between them and learn how to eliminate the negative voices and cultivate the postive ones. We will look at the power of emotive feeling and positive expression using mediums such as videos, demonstrations, rhythms, beats, music, dance, poetry, literture, rap and freestyle.


Prerequisites
A good mood