Noble & Greenough School

UIAndWebDesign.2020: User Interface and Web Design/app design
2020-07-06 11:00 - 11:50 (America/New_York)
Students will learn how to skillfully design and develop a meaningful website, as well as design and create a local app for their phone. In the first section of the course, students will begin by learning the proper structure and syntax for a website. They will build on these skills each day, culminating in all students producing a personalized website. The second half of the course will focus on app design by going through the process of revamping an existing app to make it more efficient and usable by its clients. To round out the class, students will then undertake developing their own app using all of the knowledge gained through their prior work. Each project will be focused on solving a real-world problem or something to benefit the greater good of the community both locally and globally.

LitWhiteWrkCls.2020: The Literature of the (White) Working Class
2020-07-06 11:00
What does it mean to be white and working class in America? The white working-class are alternately hailed as the backbone of American society and sidelined as ignorant hoards. Are there any defining features of such a huge group or are they defined by what they are not? We will explore these ideas through several texts such as “Bastard out of Carolina” by Dorthy Allison, “Winter’s Bone” by Daniel Woodrell, “Educated” by Tara Westover, “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance, and “White Rage” by Carol Anderson. We will be examining images, film, fiction, and nonfiction. We will read one common text as a class, students will read an additional text in a small reading group and complete reading reflections as well as a culminating writing project.

AlgWordProblems.2020: Applied Algebra Word Problems and Projects
2020-07-06 11:00
Prerequisite: Algebra II
Description: The goal of this course is to put algebraic skills to use in applied word problems and projects. All of our activities will be using math skills students learn in algebra II and applying them to solve new and fun problems. Students will be encouraged to collaborate and discuss different ideas for approaching challenges, focusing on using mathematical language and improving their creative problem-solving skills. We will use technology to build our understanding of graphs and how they relate to their equations as well as to help us make models based on real-world data. The class is designed for students of any level who have already taken an Algebra II course who want to deepen their applied understanding of the subject and talk creatively about math with their peers.

QueerLit.2020: Queer Literature
2020-07-06 11:00
Voices of Queer people, especially of those who come from multiple oppressed identities have often been silenced due to systemic homophobia, transphobia and racism. Despite this the LGBTQIAP+ has shown an amazing resiliency that is present in the rich canon of LGBTQIAP+ literature. Readings will cover both historical and contemporary writing by, about and for Queer people. We will read a variety of texts including poetry, essays, short stories and a novel. Content will be tailored to the grade level. The discussion of the literature will be contextualized with reading about, discussing and researching Queer history in the US.

IronCurtain.2020: Life Behind the Iron Curtain
2020-07-06 11:00
Communism was a geopolitical reality and an economic system, but it also drastically altered European societies and influenced the way individuals moved about in the world. Everything – from relationships to one’s individual aspirations for the future, to artistic tastes to spirituality – was influenced by the implementation of communist principles in the economy and governance of eastern European states. In this course, we will explore the political, economic, and cultural realities of life under communism in the East Bloc.

SupremeCourt.2020: The Supreme Court and Modern American Society
2020-07-06 11:00
This course serves as an elective to examine the vital role that the Supreme Court has played over the past 60 years, specifically in regards to civil rights, privacy rights, equality, citizenship, and religious freedom, and where they intersect with our changing politics. In its role as the final arbiter of what is and what is not constitutional, the Court has shaped our society just as much as any institution in our modern history. As such, students would examine landmark Supreme Court cases and look at how their ruling and interpretation of the law has evolved over time and what impact that has had upon American society. From Brown v. Board of Education (1954) to Roe v. Wade (1973) to Bush v. Gore (2000) to Lawrence v. Texas (2003) to Citizens United (2012), the Court has completely changed the nature of what it means to be an American. This course will ultimately seek to delve deeply into these cases and their impact on our lives and politics.

PlayWriting.2020: Welcome to Playwriting
2020-07-06 11:00
Have you ever wondered what it takes to write a play? Well, this course is for you as we will examine plot, language, character/character development, scene creation/movement and theme. The course will also examine several different kinds of plays as a basis for students to then write their own original work.

MemoirUS.2020: Memoir
2020-07-06 11:00
Defined as a literary account of a life or event written from personal experience, memoirs are one of the most consistently compelling (and best-selling) genres on the market. They represent an attempt to create a shared memory with a reader. Think of it as the literary version of a strand of memory floating in Dumbledore’s, pensive (except no pen is as honest or as infallible as a wand). For famous authors, memoirs often serve as a place to set the record straight on the controversial and important events of their public life. Yet memoirs by unknown authors still find their way to the best-seller lists, some authors make entire careers out of writing memoirs. Why are they so irresistible? In this class, we will attempt to answer this question by reading famous examples, exploring techniques for turning memory into story, and ultimately developing our own memoirs. If you are at all interested in thinking about and writing about your life, this is a class for you. Texts may include: Reading Lolita in Tehran, Dreams from My Father, The Glass Castle, A Moveable Feast, and Fun Home along with excerpts from others.

SummerReading.2020: Summer Reading Intensive
2020-07-06 11:00
Do you actually love reading? Are you looking for a group of like-minded readers? Do you want to branch out into new genres this summer? In this course, we’ll dive into four short novels–a book each week–that cover a range of genres, styles, and themes. Students will be expected to read a lot each week (200+ pages) as well as some short analytical, personal and creative responses to the reading. Our reading list may include the following: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell, Counting Descent by Clint Smith…I’m envisioning reading one book of short stories, one book of poetry, and two very different novels…need to work on the reading list here…

Tolstoy.2020: Tolstoy's War and Peace
2020-07-06 11:00
A summer read through one of the great literary works of all time. Class time would involve discussion of the book and some exposure to Tolstoy as writer and man and to 19C Russian history and culture

PortfolioPrep.2020: Drawing and Painting Portfolio Preparation Intensive / Scholastic Art Submission
2020-07-06 10:00
Designed to support students interested in developing a strong, creative visual portfolio as a component of their admissions process for college or for Scholastic Art Awards, this studio class will provide assignment prompts and technical guidance as well as individual critiques. The course will begin with a review of student work-to-date, from which each artist will work one-one with the instructor to devise a structured plan for completing or enhancing their body of work, resulting in an intentional and dynamic portfolio. The course will focus on the development of both foundational skills and conceptual thinking.

SciFiRace.2020: Race, Gender, and Ability in Science Fiction and Fantasy
2020-07-06 10:00
Speculative fiction is fascinating because writers can manipulate race, gender and ability in a myriad of ways while imagining a new future. In this class, we will explore the works of authors such as Octavia Butler, Nnedi Okorafor, and Tomi Adeyemi in order to explore ideas such as how do race gender and ability constructs shift and intersect in new and different ways when characters are forced into radically different situations? We will be examining images, film, fiction, and nonfiction. We will read one common text as a class, students will read an additional text in a s

IntroCalculus.2020: Introduction to Calculus
2020-07-06 10:00
This course is designed for students starting calculus for the first time this fall. We will refresh some topics from precalculus, such as graphing, inequalities, and logarithms, with a particular focus on interpreting word problems. One thing that will be important as students move onto calculus will be understanding how we can make a graph to help us solve a question, especially word problems. The goal of this class is for students to have a fun experience where they are discussing problems with their peers, using mathematical language and notation, and applying what they have learned in precalculus to challenging new problems to help them feel confident going into calculus. Even though it is virtual, this class will be student-discussion centered. Students will explain their solution approach to their peers and hopefully will help them feel connected while deepening their understanding of algebraic, graphical, and verbal reasoning.

ScratchToPython.2020: Scratch to Python: Start Programming!
2020-07-06 10:00
Young people around the world learn about computer programming through Scratch, a block-based coding platform developed by the MIT Media Lab in 2007. It is currently used in 150 countries and available in over 40 languages. The visual blocks are put together like puzzle pieces, making it easy to learn, while introducing basic programming concepts like variables, loops, and conditionals. Scratch is a fun and easy to use way for students to create interactive stories, games, and animations with minimal instruction. As a first programming language, Scratch is a springboard for the 21st-century skills of computational thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
In this class, we will start with Scratch (no experience necessary), and then apply what we learn to Python. This general purpose, high-level programming language will introduce students to simple syntax, interpreting error messages, and the importance of debugging. Emphasizing code readability, Python is often the next step in a student’s entry into the world of computer science.

Quadratics.2020: Quadratics
2020-07-06 10:00
This course will provide an in-depth look at one of the most essential functions – quadratics. We will look at how to FOIL, how to factor, and how quadratics can be categorized into three different types. Graphing, solving, and an introduction to transformations with quadratics will round out this course. This course is ideal for three groups of students: 1)the advanced PreAlgebra student who is looking for a challenge, 2) any student who is looking to supplement their Algebra 1 background, 3) any student entering Geometry who would like to review this essential skillset.

PoliticsAndEthi.2020: Politics and Ethics in a Red State/Blue State America
2020-07-06 10:00
As we approach the 2020 election in November we will examine long-standing political philosophies, their influence over ethical decision-making, and the challenges that our current leaders face given the hyper-intense partisanship that currently divides our nation. This course will ask students to engage in a daily examination of their own philosophies while also studying how the United States has lost sight of that which ties us together by only focusing on that which divides us.

ShortStories.2020: Short Stories, Sci-Fi, and Cinema
2020-07-06 10:00
We often think of film adaptations of literature as needing to condense lengthy novels. However, many blockbuster science fiction movies – including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Minority Report, AI, and Total Recall – were actually based on short stories. These films expanded a relatively brief tale and created a much lengthier cinematic narrative. In this course, we would read sci-fi short stories and view the films that expanded upon them, and in so doing endeavor to answer three essential questions. First, what is gained or lost in the cinematic adaptation? Second, what do the short story and the film have to say about their respective historical/cultural moments? Third, how accurately have these narratives predicted the future? As a culminating project, students would write their own sci-fi short story in which they must simultaneously comment on our contemporary condition and be predictive about the future. They then would “pitch” the Hollywood adaptation of their own work. If done right, this course might allow students an indirect method of processing these very strange times.

Power.2020: Power
2020-07-06 10:00
This course will pull back the curtain and allow learners to understand – and utilize – the machinations of power. We will draw on University of Iowa Professor Kenneth Brown’s course entitled “The Power of Influence”; French philosopher Michel Foucault’s “Madness and Civilization”; and one or two current-day inequalities. Finally, learners will identify a wrong they feel needs to be addressed and strategize a plan to implement their own power as an agent of change.

PoetryandProtes.2020: Poetry and Protest
2020-07-06 10:00
This course will use the study of poetry to examine the fundamental aspects of protest throughout history. Utilizing the voices of various poets, the course will examine both current and recent protest movements to understand and untangle the artists’ role in society. The course will study a myriad of poets who used their voices to speak out. Students will also have the opportunity to write poetry in their own voice.

Memoir.2020: Memoir
2020-07-06 10:00

AmericanGreats.2020: American Greats
2020-07-06 10:00
A reading of three of the most celebrated authors of the 20th Century: Fitzgerald (Tender is the Night), Hemingway (Farewell to Arms) and Faulkner (Light in August)

FrenchGrammar.2020: Progressive French Grammar
2020-07-06 09:00
The aim of the course is to help students review/improve/master their knowledge of French grammar. From articles, pronouns and conjunctions to the subjunctive, conditional phrases and the indirect discourse, this course will offer hands-on drills and activities in order to prepare the students for a smoother transition into oral proficiency.

AI.2020: Artificial Intelligence and Deep Fakes
2020-07-06 09:00

IntroGeometry.2020: Introduction to Geometry
2020-07-06 09:00
Prerequisite: Prealgebra or Algebra I
Description: This course will explore some of the essential theorems and deductive logic of Euclidean geometry. We will begin with points, lines, and planes and move into properties of triangles, including a short introduction to right triangle trigonometry. This course is ideal for students entering a Geometry course in the fall or for students who have a background in PreAlgebra or beyond.

Argument.2020: Argument Mapping for X-Ray Vision
2020-07-06 09:00
If you have ever disagreed with someone and, when they tried to explain their views, thought, “That doesn’t make any sense!”, you’ll love this seminar. If you’ve ever struggled to express your ideas so that others can understand your point, you’ll love this seminar. If you dig puzzles and logic problems, you’ll love this seminar. Argument mapping provides us with a type of x-ray vision that exposes arguments’ hidden structures. Once you learn to “see” arguments this way, you become much more facile at building sound arguments – and at identifying holes in others’ arguments. We will utilize tools and materials created by ThinkerAnalytix, an educational non-profit that works in partnership with classroom teachers and Harvard’s Department of Philosophy.

PhotoPortfolio.2020: Photography Portfolio Development and Scholastic Art Submission
2020-07-06 09:00
This course will focus on the essentials of creating a photography portfolio for entry into the Scholastic Art awards. In our online space, we will investigate the foundational principles of making strong photographs. This course will provide the skills to create an intentional and dynamic portfolio. Each class begins with a thoughtful presentation covering digital workflow, sequencing with intent, and cultivating personal style and voice. This course will be broken down into three weekly sections of technique review, assignments focused on individual development and class discussions. By completion, each student will have a cohesive body of work and all the tools necessary to navigate the Scholastic submission process.

ShortStoryWrite.2020: Four Short Weeks/Four Short Stories
2020-07-06 09:00
In this course, you will have one goal: to write four new short stories. Each week, we’ll explore a different short story form or theme to inspire our work including stories by authors such as Aimee Bender, Flannery O’Connor, Raymond Carver, and Karen Russell. At the end of each week, you’ll submit a new short story draft for impressions and feedback from your fellow writers.

Japanese.2020: Introduction to Japanese Language
2020-07-06 09:00
This course is for students who have no prior experience in studying Japanese. After learning Hiragana characters intensively in the first week, students will learn how to introduce themselves, talk about their age and grade, their likes and dislikes, and about their family. In doing so, they will learn basic grammar with nouns, adjectives, and verbs. The four-week intensive course will focus on Chapters 1-6 in Marugoto textbook by Japan Foundation, and expect students to review Hiragana and vocabulary every day to develop a solid foundation of the four language skills: speaking, listening, writing and reading.

Pirsig.2020: Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
2020-07-06 09:00
A close reading of one of the most popular academic texts in the last half-century. The class would read not only the non-fiction book but would explore some of the philosophers and philosophies related to the book
