Fairy Tales & Fantasy

Taught by Molly Quinn

Join us for a journey through fantastic new worlds in this creative course. From ancient castles to outer space, from Sleeping Beauty to Harry Potter, students will learn how authors use fairy tales and fantasy to express key themes and explore the human condition. They will also compose original works within the fantasy genre and learn how to develop plot, character, setting, and more.

Marine Science

Taught by Erin Johannesen

In this course, students will explore marine ecosystems and learn about their inhabitants, from plants and algae to fish, sea birds, and marine mammals. Students will also learn about diverse oceanic habitats such as reefs and deep sea trenches. Emphasis will be placed on the interdependence of life in the oceans as well as the important role that oceans play in our world.

Puppetry

Taught by Katherine Hafer

In this course, students will learn how to create puppets and how to use these creations for narration, creative expression, and dramatic performance. By investigating the puppets of diverse cultures, from Noh theater to the Muppets, students will also explore the ideas of identity, emotion, and communication in the arts. At the end of the term, students will work together to construct a puppet theater and perform for the summer community.

All About Labs

Taught by Teresa Barski

Young science lovers will enjoy this lab-based course in which they will perform challenging, thought-provoking experiments in chemistry, biology, and physics. Students will also learn the fundamentals of the scientific method by testing their hypotheses and analyzing their results. No previous lab experience necessary!

Storytelling

Taught by Katherine Hafer

What makes a story a good story? The course will expand students’ powers of observation, imagination, and communication as they explore this guiding question. Students will learn the fundamentals of creative writing and storytelling while strengthening their grammatical fluency, word choice, and self-expression. They will investigate setting, plot, character development, narrative arc, and voice by reading the works of famous storytellers and crafting their own stories. They will also investigate oral traditions and end the summer term with a public reading of their best work.

Robotics

Taught by Stephen Muffatti

This course will introduce students to the basics of modeling, designing, planning, and controlling robot systems. Students will also gain a basic understanding of engineering and logical thinking in relation to robotics. Through the medium of LEGO Mindstorms, students will apply this knowledge to construct and program their own robots.

Creative Collage

Taught by Molly Quinn

Do you enjoy making art out of everything? Then this is the course for you! Students in Creative Collage will use magazines, photographs, newspapers, drawings, paints, glitter, and almost anything else they can think of to create personally meaningful collages. Each week, students will be challenged to create a collage based on a different theme, such as family and friends, nature, or music.

Number Theory

Taught by Samantha Steele

In this course, students will learn how to reexamine typical math concepts in a more intuitive way. The class will explore the nature of integers, place value, and bases through hands-on, investigative units from Project M3: Mentoring Mathematical Minds. This course will also introduce students to the history of number theory in different cultures, the beauty of numeric patterns, and the concept of pure mathematics.

Art Studio

Taught by Stefanie DeLeo

Young artists will enjoy the opportunity to hone their studio skills in this mixed media visual arts class. Instruction will focus on the principles of design, the creative process, and skills and techniques in a variety of media. Students will examine the work of famous artists and develop their own original pieces in 2D and 3D media.

Eggciting Eggsperiments

Taught by Stephen Muffatti

How many eggsperiments can your egg survive? Anyone that cannot answer that question should take this course. BSA eggsperimenters will design, develop, and take part in experiments of force, velocity, pressure, and buoyancy–all relating to eggs! This is one seriously eggciting opportunity.

uDesign

If you are looking for a class that is not listed above, Beacon invites you to design your own 1:1 course to investigate an emerging interest or cultivate a serious passion. There are virtually no limits on course selection for uDesign courses in academics, arts, and technology. Tuition for 1:1 programs varies depending on credit hours. Please contact us for more details.