Spark 2023
Course Catalog


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Visual and Performing Arts Languages and Literatures
Computer Science Engineering
Humanities Lunch
Mathematics Pop (and not-so-pop) Culture
Science Walk-in Activity
Miscellaneous Social Studies


Visual and Performing Arts

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A15526: Make and Play a Didgeridoo
Difficulty: *

awuwuwuwuuuuweeorweeorwadelewadelewu! The didgeridoo is an Australian instrument that adds a tribal flair to any situation. In this class, we'll build our own didgeridoos out of PVC pipe, and then learn to play them. With the didgeridoo, you can create a variety of rhythms, produce animal noises, and make yourself sound like there's two people playing! For people with little to no experience.


Class Style
Activity

A15498: History of the Western Orchestra
Difficulty: *

500 years ago, the iconic symphony orchestra that dominated (and continues to dominate) western classical music simply did not exist. So where did it come from? And how did we get to where we are today?

This class will explore the structure of orchestras from the Renaissance through today, looking at how innovations in technology and music came together to give us the huge diversity in instruments and styles that we have today.


Class Style
Lecture

A15499: Composing Music!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sanjay Raman

Ever wanted to learn how to make your own music? Ever listened to a song and wanted to learn why it just sounds so good? You've come to the right place!

In this class, we'll be going through the basic ideas of music theory, and we'll be working on our very own music compositions. At the end, we'll have a mini-recital for everyone to share what they created!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
No experience required, although some experience with an instrument would be nice.

A15550: Throat Singing Workshop
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jason Li

Dive into the centuries-old art of Turkic-Mongolian throat singing! We’ll learn about throat singing cultures and the acoustic and anatomical secrets behind these deep growls and high whistles that sound like magic. Of course, this includes live demos and interactive tutorials, and you'll get to try out some techniques for yourself! No prior experience in anything is required.


Class Style
Activity

A15525: Japanese Stab Binding
Difficulty: *

Ya like books? We sure do! We’ll be teaching Japanese stab binding, which binds thin notebooks with just thread.

Activities include: cutting, stabbing (paper), sewing, and gushing about books and book structures ;)

Supplies will be provided!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
No knowledge needed, just an interest in notebooks, books, and/or hands-on activities

A15546: Wire trees!
Difficulty: *

Love trees? Don't love trees? Doesn't matter! Learn how to craft a miniature wire tree and take home a beautiful piece of synthetic nature! :))


Class Style
Activity

A15616: Beginners Guide to Ukelele Playing
Difficulty: **

Do you want to get into music? Have a ukelele you've always been meaning to learn how to play? In this class we'll start at the basics, and learn enough about ukeleles to continue practicing on your own.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Having touched a ukelele before would be great, but not required. Instruments will be provided for the class!


Languages and Literatures

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B15531: Breaking Language Barriers
Difficulty: *

Learn about the different languages and cultures of the world through games and candy!


Class Style
Activity

B15516: How to Construct a Language
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joseph Hobbs

Ever wondered how great linguists constructed Elvish, Dothraki, or Klingon? Ever wanted to construct your own language? Ever wanted to learn more about the basic principles and elements of natural languages?

Explore the fundamentals of linguistics while constructing a basic language from scratch in How to Construct a Language! Instruction will alternate between lecture and guided activity in order to allow students to construct their own basic natural languages.

* Students are asked to bring a notebook and pen/pencil to class. Students will be completing guided activities to practice principles of linguistics. *


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
An elementary understanding of English grammar (including parts of speech and basic sentence order) A willingness to actively engage & have fun

B15503: Norse Mythology Full!
Difficulty: **

We're going to take a look at Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, one of the most comprehensive sources on Norse Mythology! We'll talk a bit about the history of the Prose Edda and Norse Mythology, and then look at some of the most popular stories from the Edda :0!


Class Style
Lecture

B15532: Chinese Pinyin: A Brief History and Guide
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Vivian Hir, Lumia Neyo

Want to learn more about how the Chinese romanization system works? Curious about how to pronounce Chinese surnames like Xu, Cai, or Qiu? Come to this class to gain a better understanding of how China developed the Hanyu Pinyin system and learn how to read romanized Chinese words. I will go over the basic tones as well as tricky initials and finals sounds.


Class Style
Lecture


Computer Science

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C15538: Tier List-ing Your Way Through Computer Science
Difficulty: **

Are tier lists still a thing?
Help us chaotically try to create tier lists of random computer science stuff, including programming languages, Linux distributions, and other weird related topics. Learn the basics of programming languages, distributions, algorithms, and 100% wonderful-and-completely-useful cs topics. Be prepared to battle it out to create the best computer science tier lists!


Class Style
Seminar

C15595: Can a computer solve it? P vs NP
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Chris Akers

What problems are computers really good at solving, and what takes them a long time? Researchers still do not have a good answer!

We will learn about this famous and surprisingly hard question: P vs NP!


Class Style
Seminar

C15517: Intro to JavaScript & Web Development Full!
Difficulty: **

Learn how to build websites using Javascript, HTML, and CSS! We'll start from the basics of Javascript and showing how to design a website, so don't worry if you have no coding experience!


Class Style
Activity

C15523: Web Development Crash Course: Code It

Why are there so many websites out there? Well, we can't do much about that, but what we can do is to teach you a little itsy bit of all things web development. Things like HTTP, HTML, Code, Design, etc. and you will build(aka code) a simple PAGE! How cool is that now, c'mon!


Class Style
Lecture

C15543: Robots Thinking and Acting in the Wild

Have you ever wondered what robots think about? What manifests in their mechanical minds? In this course, we will introduce some of the common components of robotic thinking: sensing, perception, localization, mapping, planning, and control. Together, these components allow robots to figure out where they are, what is around them, and what they should do next. We’ll also bring along our 1/10th scale autonomous car to demonstrate a robotic system in action!


Class Style
Lecture

C15509: A brief history of computer science
Difficulty: **

Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. In this course, we will learn about how computer science came into its own as a discipline, from mathematical and physical ideas that were formulated long before its creation to the creation of the first computer.


Class Style
Lecture


Engineering

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E15514: Build Your Own Solar Powered Car Full!
Difficulty: **

Ever wondered how to build a car that doesn't rely on gas or battery power? We'll teach you how to build your own electric solar powered car from scratch - and you'll learn some fun things about renewable energy along the way!


Class Style
Activity

E15605: Intro to Robotics!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Emily Sologuren

This class goes over the types of robots that exist in the real world, including ones built here at MIT! We also go over a high-level overview on how one controls a robot and what the mechanical, electrical and software requirements are. Includes a fun demo of a robotic arm from yours truly!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
None!

E15592: Origami Robots Full!
Difficulty: **

Unleash Your Inner Engineer with Origami Robotics!

Do you love solving puzzles and creating things with your hands? Do you have an interest in robotics and technology? If so, join us for an exciting workshop where we will explore the world of Origami Robotics.

We'll be using the art of origami to create robotic mechanisms using non-traditional materials. You'll learn how to fold and manipulate paper into complex structures that can be transformed into working robots.

Together, we'll use an electronics simulation to show how the mechanisms you create could be actuated, giving them the ability to sense their surroundings and respond to stimuli.

This workshop is perfect for 7th and 8th grade students who are curious about robotics, engineering, and technology. No prior experience with origami or electronics is necessary. Come with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and get ready to be amazed by what you can create!


Class Style
Activity

E15552: Underwater battle bots!

Build an underwater battle bot to pop as many balloons as possible! You'll be building a remotely-operated underwater vehicle and adding modules using a laser cutter!


Class Style
Activity

E15470: How to Run an Airline
Difficulty: **

Right now, there are about 10,000 aircraft flying around the world, each traveling hundreds of miles per hour, carrying people in a manner safer than driving a car. This amazing feat is the work of a global airline industry which is a marvel of our time. But how is this done? Also, why are flights always delayed and how can you get the best price when taking a flight? In this class we will answer these questions by delving into how airlines operate from a technological and business perspective. We will start by looking at an overview of the US domestic airline industry and the business models of different airlines. Next, we will cover ticket sales/distribution, the timeline of a typical flight, and airport operations. Finally, we will explore the process for becoming a pilot and how to identify common plane types.


Class Style
Lecture

E15574: Crystals and Crystallography Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lisa Maiocco

Crystals are beautiful and sparkling! Have you ever wondered where they come from? Or wondered how "Lab grown" crystals are made?
We will delve into the science of crystals & crystallography. We will look at samples of naturally occurring sapphire crystals found by mining. And then we'll talk about how sapphire is manufactured in industry and see a few examples of man-made sapphire.


Class Style
Lecture

E15513: CAD 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Vishakh Talanki

Want to be a Mechanical Engineer? Like Legos? Wanna build things?

If you've ever wanted to learn how to design things in Solidworks (a Computer Aided Design software), come join me for this class - you'll learn how to use Solidworks and design the mechanical systems of your dreams!


Class Style
Discussion

E15589: How to Build a Solar Car in Two Years

We are MIT Solar Car! Every two years, we design, build, and race a solar powered car that goes on the road! We'll show you the art of solar racing and the process of building a solar car with some fancy glue, paper, and metal.


Class Style
Lecture

E15594: Create your own board game

Get ready to unleash your creativity and strategic thinking in this exciting class! In this class you'll learn how to bring your wildest game ideas to life, from inventing new game mechanics to crafting eye-catching game maps and game worlds. You'll work with a team of fellow students to test and refine your games, and by the end of the class, you'll have a fully functional board game that you can play and share with your friends and family. Don't miss this chance to become the next master game designer!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
No Prerequisites

E15508: "Lunar Lander" Design Challenge Full!
Difficulty: **

Real life engineering design includes layers of complexity beyond always selecting the best engineering solutions. Speed to market and material costs are additional constraints levied on engineers. Through an upgraded twist on the classic egg drop challenge, students will compete in teams to build "lunar landers" from the limited material supply pool. The objective of the lander design is to keep the astronauts (eggs) safe, while optimizing the design versus tradeoffs in material cost and speed to deliver. Simulating real-life constraints in engineering design, students will be limited by a material budget, and must factor the pros and cons of material choices into their design. In an exploration of the project management triple constraint (cost, schedule, and performance), the best design must not only exceed the minimum system requirements, but maximize utility to NASA in terms of both cost and schedule.


Class Style
Activity

E15530: Atomistic Science: from tiny to large scales Full!
Difficulty: **

You may have learned about atoms in class - a nucleus of protons and neutrons with electrons whizzing around it. But did you know that with fancy microscopes you can actually take pictures of atoms? And once you have these pictures, you can go even further and actually model how these atoms interact! By knowing the forces between atoms, you can calculate how they move. This atomic scale motion can be used to predict large-scale properties, like heat conduction, cracking, and melting or boiling.
If we zoom in even further, we can investigate electrons - but because they’re so tiny, quantum mechanics comes into play! It is very difficult to solve these equations, but making some approximations allows us to calculate electronic and optical properties, with applications in solar cells, computer chips, and many more! For example, these interactions can help us understand why glass is transparent.
Hopefully, through this class you’ll gain an appreciation for the little things in life, and learn about why atoms matter!


Class Style
Lecture

E15539: Learn about Rockets with MIT Rocket Team!
Difficulty: **

Members of MIT Rocket Team will teach you the basics of rocketry, then students will compete in a build-your-own rocket competition!


Class Style
Activity

E15487: how to build a space mission
Difficulty: ***

how to build a mission to space! learn about the various systems that go into designing and building spacecraft that explore deep into our solar system


Class Style
Lecture


Humanities

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H15548: Six: The Rise and Fall of the Tudors Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Pavitra Chari

Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.

Come journey back in time to learn about the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII, King of England - best known for his six wives and their (mostly) tragic fates listed above.


Class Style
Lecture

H15580: History of France, Told Through Music
Difficulty: *

Explore the last two centuries of France and classical music with us, told through pieces like Clair de Lune, Bolero, and Carnival of the Animals! Come learn about French music and discuss your favorite pieces and composers!
No prior music study needed.


Class Style
Lecture

H15566: A Historically Accurate Julius Caesar
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Leviticus Norman

Have you ever wondered why Julius Caesar was killed? What became of the men who plotted the death of the most powerful man in Rome? What led up to such an iconic historical event, and why do we still talk about it to this day? One of the most widely read renditions of the murder is Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Compared to our modern understanding of Roman history, how much did Shakespeare get right, and where did he cross from fact to fiction for the sake of a good story?


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Encouraged: Reading Julius Caesar or at least a summary

H15579: Composing music with computer science! Full!
Difficulty: ***

Ever wondered how technology has changed music theory, analysis, and composition? This class is an introduction to MIT's music21, a new software built in Python that helps analyze music scores and create new compositions!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
- Basic music theory (playing an instrument or in band/orchestra) - Basic computer science (any language, Scratch/drag & drop coders are sufficient)

H15561: James Madison on the Founding of the United States
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Bil Lewis

With the assistance of audience members reading appropriate dramatic quotations from Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Dolly Madison, etc., he will lead investigations into events from the House of Burgesses, the Constitutional Convention, the “Dinner Party,” etc., that marked the coming of age of the United States.

More than a mere recitation of dates and facts, this will be an exploration the underlying reasons that prompted them to act as they did. Many of the issues they confronted then continue to be relevant today.

Should we be one Country?
What debts should be paid?
Who gets the power of Taxation?
Should a Private Bank issue money?
Should we be agrarian? Or a center of manufacturing?
How do we limit the influence of Great Corporations on our public life?
How can we protect the Common Man from the rapaciousness of the Rich and Powerful?


Class Style
Activity

H15560: Calligraphy Masterpieces of China: History, Art Appreciation, and Culture Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Vivian Hir, Zixuan Liu

Do you want to know what are the three notable masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy? In this class, we will briefly cover the biography of famous ancient Chinese poets and provide background/context behind their famous works, including A Requiem to My Nephew, Orchid Pavillion Preface, and The Cold Food Observance. We will analyze their works, including their calligraphy style as well as the meaning behind their poems.
After a discussion on ancient Chinese works, we will discuss modern Chinese calligraphy artists, including Wang Dongling and Xu Bing.


Class Style
Lecture

H15474: American Society: A Primer
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Kenneth Cox

Many have asked "Who is America?", but perhaps the better question is "What is the socioeconomic, cultural, demographic, and lifestyle portrait of America?" In this class, we'll meet the 90% of Americans who don't eat enough fruits and vegetables, the 10% of American Twitter users who generate 97% of our country's political tweets, and the 12% of American daters who have found love through online dating - and many more. We'll also begin to understand the sources of economic, political, and cultural diversity in America, and how all this information is gathered and analyzed.


Class Style
Lecture


Lunch

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L15452: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.

L15451: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.


Mathematics

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M15600: Fun with math: puzzles, games and a bit of history Full!
Difficulty: ***

Do you like logic puzzles? Enjoy a mathematical challenge? Come to this seminar to try your hand at some fun math problems, and along the way learn some mind-blowingly cool math that you won't hear about in school (such as graph theory and topology), as well as some juicy historical anecdotes.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
No prerequisites, besides a positive attitude!

M15529: Mathematical Matchmaking Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sophie Vulpe

Come one, come all, to Mathentine’s Day! Celebrate the discount (and platonic) version of Valentine’s Day that is so close yet so far from Pi Day by meeting some new friends and secretly doing some math in the process. Like dating apps, we’ll use a super secret algorithm to pair you up, but unlike dating apps, we’ll eventually explain how the algorithm works. All you need is a willingness to learn about people and numbers alike!

Note: The activity we have planned requires an even number of participants, so it is important that if you sign up for this class, you show up. Some sweet treats will be provided.


Class Style
Activity

M15618: The Mathematics of Voting
Difficulty: ***

What's the best way to pick a place to go for dinner? How about picking the leader of the free world? Come learn about voting systems and the math behind them.


Class Style
Lecture

M15527: Finite Automata
Difficulty: **

Would you like to find patterns in text? Prove your program doesn't have an infinite loop? Monitor a nuclear reactor? Find structure in DNA?

In this class, you'll learn about finite automata. Finite automata, or "state machines" can be thought of as just moving a marker between some states according to some simple rules, but their simplicity hides deep mathematics and allows you to manipulate them in interesting ways. We'll start with the basic definition and take you through the math and into some powerful applications.


Class Style
Lecture

M15606: Magic of Higher Powers
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Saranesh Prembabu

Come learn about the hidden surprises in the seemingly simple operation of taking a number $$a$$ and raising it to the $$n$$th power $$a^n= a \cdot a \cdot \ldots a$$, i.e. multipling $$a$$ by itself $$n$$ times.

Did you know $$n$$ does not have to be an ordinary counting number like $$1,2,3, \ldots$$? What if $$n$$ is negative? Or a fraction? Or imaginary!? What is $$\sqrt{-1}$$ raised to the power of the square root of $$\sqrt{-1}$$?

You may have heard of 2 dimensional shapes and 3 dimensional shapes. But have you heard of 1.58-dimensional shapes?

Why do the first six decimal digits of $$22/7 = 3.142857142857142857\ldots$$ repeat over and over again? Why are the first ten decimal digits of $$(2+\sqrt(3))^{20}$$ all just $$.9999999999$$?

What is Euler's constant $$e \approx 2.718$$ and why is it so special, showing up everywhere from your personal finances to pandemics to geometry? How can you calculate it on a four-function calculator using just the + - x ÷ operations?


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
We will mostly use topics from the standard 8th grade curriculum but apply them in complicated creative ways. For later parts, familiarity with imaginary numbers (e.g. square root of negative one) and logarithms (inverse of exponentiation) is helpful but not required.

M15582: Demockracy
Difficulty: **

Having a fair election with two candidates is pretty simple: everyone votes for their favorite candidate and whoever gets the most votes wins. However, as anyone who was around for the US presidential elections in 2000 (or 1992, or 1912, or 1860) will tell you, things get complicated with three or more candidates. It's sometimes the case that you should vote for a candidate you think is likely to win instead of a fringe candidate you agree with more. We can think of different voting systems that try to get around this and other problems, but every voting system seems to be flawed in one way or another.

You might ask: is there a "perfect" voting system out there? The answer: no! Come to this class to find out why.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
If you know how to prove there are infinitely many primes, you're definitely ready. But even if you don't, just come ready to think hard about voting :).

M15590: Game Theory and Chomping Monsters
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Stirling Newberry

Math is everywhere... Including the land of fantasy. You may have heard about Dungeons and Dragons or the maker of the actual game, which is Hasbro through its subsidiary Wizards of the Coast. You may have even heard how the parent company made changes to the open licensing agreement which went down like a lead balloon. All of this is game theory - a finite number of players who make choices not knowing what the other participants are going to decide. Game theory is in economics and sociology, it is in psychology, and in role-playing. This is a short lecture about the kinds of game theory in Role-playing game and the economics of making a living from selling ‘fun’ to other people. Unfortunately, it gets messy especially where an entity tries to monetize long term profitability for short term. Because while some players want fantasy, other players want money. Buckle your seats it's going to be a bumpy ride.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
None.

M15573: Pretty Patterns in Pascal's Triangle Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jonathan Whyte

Pascal's triangle is a triangle of numbers made with a very straight-forward rule. Despite how simple it is to construct, there are many complex patterns in Pascal's triangle which are difficult to explain at first glance. However, through the lens of combinatorics, the art of counting, we can explain the presence of such patterns and prove their existence.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
None.

M15586: Basics of Number Theory
Difficulty: ***

Do you like whole numbers? Do you think they are simple? This class may change your mind. We will introduce topics such as prime numbers and divisibility rules, and work up to harder concepts at the end. Fun problems will be used to motivate topics.

You do not need to know any number theory beforehand.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
You should be able to work with variables and equations.


Pop (and not-so-pop) Culture

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P15524: Intro to Beyonce
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Fara Alade, Alexis Yi

Everyone knows Beyonce. But did you know that you don't know her well enough? Since starting out in the girl group Destiny's Child in the 90's, she's gone on to have a gravity-defying multi-decade solo career spanning 7 number-one platinum studio albums, 2 Super Bowl performances, and an incomparable Coachella headliner set, known as "Beychella". She single-handedly changed the music industry's weekly release day when she released her 5th album, the self-title "Beyonce" on Friday instead of Tuesday, and in 2023, she became the record holder for the most Grammy awards ever won. Come to this class to find out why even now, after all of this, she's still underrated.

Disclaimer: This class may contain uncensored music videos and lyrics.


Class Style
Lecture


Science

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S15551: Plants Gone ExTrEmE
Difficulty: **

Did you know plants could eat mice?! For this and many other cool facts about plants, come to our class and take away your very own potted plant! We will talk about how plants survive extreme temperature, moisture and salt conditions, how trees can have different types of flowers, the precarious perch our bunches of bananas are on and much more. We will also have seeds, pots and soil for you to pot a plant!


Class Style
Discussion

S15598: Take Flight!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Leo Yao

Want to know what happens from wheels up to wheels down? In this class, I'll be discussing the basic physics of airplanes, while also running a simulated flight between New York and Boston (with lots of time for questions while we're on autopilot). As we go, we'll also learn about various other tidbits of piloting along the way (airbrakes? spoilers? speed limits?). If time permits, we'll make the flight again in a fighter jet!


Class Style
Lecture

S15515: Let's Talk about the Weather!
Difficulty: **

Have you ever wondered how hurricanes or tornadoes form? Or why thunder snow exists? What is a Nor'easter, and why do they occur?

Together, we'll explore the basic physics that create the weather we observe every day, as well as look into some ways to forecast weather yourself!


Class Style
Lecture

S15568: Incarcerated Rights to Healthcare
Difficulty: *

The US has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Incarcerated individuals are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions, mental illness, and substance abuse- yet they tend to receive inadequate health care before, during, and after their prison sentence. This course will discuss how these disadvantages exacerbate health disparities within the incarcerated population, and whether there is a way to find justice in the prison system.


Class Style
Lecture

S15541: Poison!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ruth Lu, Paola M Amadeo

Poisons are all around us. Sometimes natural, like death angel mushrooms, and sometimes put there by humans, like lead pipes and paint. Come learn about why and how everything is out to kill us, humanity's strange history with poison, and a little bit (but not too much) chemistry!


Class Style
Lecture

S15613: Light: The coolest thing in the world
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Karen Lei

Have you ever wondered why you can't see in the dark? Heard about radio waves and x-rays? Come learn about the physics of electromagnetic waves and why light is (arguably) the most interesting thing in the world. We will also give a conceptual idea of advanced topics like Maxwell's equations and why EM waves are so useful in our daily lives (from your kitchen microwaves to your unreliable WiFi).


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
none

S15542: Linguistics: The Science of Language

Did you know that language, like all natural phenomena, can be observed and investigated in a scientific way? What is unique about language is that everyone has their own personal and infinite data set living inside their brain. Learn to examine that data the way a linguist would, and puzzle over things that you may not realize you know about the language that you use every day. Learn how linguistics, the science of language, relates to your world and what you're interested in.


Class Style
Discussion

S15567: Climate Change and the Future of Human Health Full!
Difficulty: *

Extreme temperatures, dying crops, and global disasters have displaced millions of individuals around the world. Are the rumors true - is climate change the biggest health threat facing humanity? If so, will the societal impact be equally distributed? This course will discuss linkages between human health and the changing climate, planetary health, and how this may influence pre-existing global health disparities.


Class Style
Lecture

S15534: How to Save the World! (A Crash Course on Sustainability) Full!
Difficulty: **

We’ve all heard about climate change and global warming. But what actually causes it, and what can we, as human beings, do about it in our everyday lives?

In this class, we’ll give you the rundown of how the Earth is heating up, why it’s happening, and how we, the next generation, can save the world by living sustainably.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
None

S15607: Microbiology: Microbe Biology Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jessica Pan

Microbes, organisms that can only been seen through a microscope, are everywhere. They were the first forms of life on Earth, made and continue to make the Earth a space that we can live in, and they hold the trophy for being the most abundant and diverse organisms out there. There are microbes living 4 miles underground and at heights taller than Mount Everest, or at 130 degrees Celsius, or in 12.8 pH acids, or at pressures of 2000 atmospheres, or under extreme radiation.

So microbes is thriving everywhere you look (including in your eyes!), so let’s talk about them! How do they work? How can we study them if they’re so small? What do they do that we can learn from?


Class Style
Lecture

S15581: CRISPR: the molecular scissors
Difficulty: **

In this class, we will start from the basics of genome editing and go over the discovery and mechanism of CRISPR, a tool that led to revolution in biology and a Nobel prize in chemistry :)


Class Style
Lecture

S15565: Learn about everything from sustainable design to edible chemistry with MIT Spokes!
Difficulty: **

This summer, MIT Spokes, consisting of 8 MIT students, will be biking across the country, from DC to SF, and teaching STEM workshops along the way! Over the course of 80 days, our team will bike over 3,800 miles and host Learning Festivals in small towns. Come learn more about our journey, and check out our workshops to learn about polymers, edible chemistry, energy, rapid prototyping, and more!


Class Style
Activity

S15510: What's in a Nuclear Reactor?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Li Xuan Tan

Come learn what goes on inside a nuclear reactor! We'll talk about the physics behind how it produces energy, how we control this energy and keep it safe, and how to do useful things with it!


Class Style
Lecture

S15612: Make Your Own Metamaterial Full!
Difficulty: **

Metamaterials have weird and useful properties. They're also cool to watch in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tKj7wQtXxY. Learn about mechanical metamaterials like auxetics, and make your own to bring home.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
N/A

S15555: Let's Talk about Weather!
Difficulty: **

Have you ever wondered why hurricanes form? Or the science behind why the weather changes day to day?

In this class, we will explore some of the basic physics behind weather, and learn how to read weather maps to make your own forecast!


Class Style
Seminar

S15549: Fun with polymers! Full!
Difficulty: *

In this class, we will talk about what polymers are, what makes them different from other smaller molecules, and what they can be used for! Half the class will be a mini-lecture, while the other half will be a panel session where students can select specific categories of polymers to learn more about.
There may also be a couple of examples/demonstrations of different polymeric materials used in food or biomedical fields - join us to learn more!


Class Style
Lecture

S15478: Minerals Lab: Earth's Materials Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: H. Alex Chen

In this laboratory-based module, students will carefully examine and identify minerals to complete series of inquiry-based tasks related to earth's materials and their environments. Basic minerology will be introduced. In the final part of this module, students will explore the impact of minerals on earth's environments.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
None.

S15601: Herbal Medicine: Not Just Essential Oils!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alfonso Restrepo

If you've ever wondered about plants being used in medicine, this cool class might be of interest to you! The class will take a close look at Mexican traditional medicine in particular, so if you've ever had to take a "remedio" or know what Vix VapoRub is, then you'll do great! If not, you'll still do just fine! You'll get to smell a few herbs or so, and we'll explore what makes medicinal plants so special.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Common Sense: Please do not ingest non-food plant matter unless you are recommended to do so by an expert (like a doctor)

S15518: Underwater Earthquake Science: An Intro to Performing Research on Ships as a Marine Geophysicist Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Bailey Fluegel

Have you ever wondered what causes earthquakes? Do you want to learn more about what it is like to perform science on ships in the middle of the ocean for a job? If you are interested in learning more about the natural processes of Earth, then this is the class for you! In this course, we will cover the basics of earthquakes (with emphasis on the physical properties causing them) and how to study them in marine environments. We will have demonstrations and will also talk about what it is like to live and work on a research vessel. No prior Earth Science knowledge necessary.


Class Style
Lecture

S15522: Discovering Biology Using Lasers and More
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Matias Vergara

Ever wondered how we know the shape of DNA? Come shoot LASERS with me to replicate this famous 1952 experiment. How about the result of the replication of two 3 BILLION base long DNA strands? Find out how two famous biologists exploited 1 neutron and spinning to answer this very question. Interested in programming? Explore protein models generated in the last few years that will propel the future of biological research in years to come! You yourself are biology; come explore how we've come to understand so much and yet have so much left to uncover in
the field.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
No prerequisites, just a curiosity of how biologists have explored their own curiosities.

S15558: Gravitation and Electrostatics: The Forces of our Universe
Difficulty: **

Ever wondered how the planets move? Ever wonder how some of the major forces in the world function? We will be learning about some important physics concepts using mathematical analysis in this class. We will cover the basic laws of gravitation and electrostatics.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Algebra I recommended, Prealgebra required


Walk-in Activity

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W15571: Eating Alternative Oatmeal!
Difficulty: **

Alternative Oatmeal is a cool way of eating cereal! We'll go over how to make it and also make/eat some ourselves!


Class Style
Activity

W15545: Bracelet Making!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lily Smith

Let's make bracelets! From matching with your friends to representing your favorite sports team, we can make bracelets of any size, color, and pattern. In this class I will show you the different types of knots, threads, and patterns to help you create the bracelet that is best for you.


Class Style
Activity

W15564: Nertz: Competitive Speed Solitaire!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Serena An, Eunice Zhang

Learn how to play Nertz, a card game that combines elements of Solitaire and Speed!


Class Style
Activity

W15572: Origami: The Art of Paper Folding
Difficulty: **

Come learn to fold paper crafts of all types!


Class Style
Activity

W15533: Tea Tasting: Learn about MITea
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Vivian Hir

Do you like drinking tea? Want to sample all types of tea from peppermint to pomegranate? Then come to this walk-in activity! You can also come if you want to hear the tea about MITea (pun intended).


Class Style
Activity

W15614: Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream

Do you like ice cream? Want to see it made at sub-zero temperatures right in front of you? Come to LN2 to watch (and eat) the fascinating process of instantaneous freezing caused by nitrogen that has been cooled into a liquid.


Class Style
Activity

W15617: Board games!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zawad Chowdhury

Come play some board games, like SET or Love Letter!


Class Style
Activity

W15615: Not Ruby Red Appreciation
Difficulty: **

ESP loves to drink juice. Come learn to appreciate the best juice: not Ocean Spray Ruby Red!


Class Style
Activity

W15623: Ruby Red Appreciation
Difficulty: **

Have you ever heard of Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice? It is very yummy and during this time we will be growing in awe of this revered concoction


Class Style
Activity

W15519: Journal Systems and Task Management Strategies
Difficulty: **

Join us to create a personalized task management system to help you stay organized and on track! Learn about various task management techniques, software, and tactics. Using plain notebooks, washi tape, stickers, and pens, you will have the chance to design a unique journaling system fit for you. (:

We have limited blank journals, so if you have your own, please bring it!


Class Style
Activity

W15535: Create Your Own Shrink Art!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Anne Gvozdjak, Kate Lu

Come make shrink art with us! Shrink art, also known as shrink plastic, begins as a colored drawing on a thin sheet of polystyrene plastic; the plastic is then baked, causing it to shrink and thicken, resulting in a hard plastic object approximately half its original size. Come have fun making custom keychains, ornaments or jewelry!


Class Style
Activity

W15611: Cross Stitching!
Difficulty: **

Come learn how to cross stitch with a needle and yarn! All skill levels welcome.


Class Style
Activity

W15593: Learn to Make a Flower Crown!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Michelle Escobar

Want to make and wear a super cute flower crown? Want to wear a little symbol of spring to take your mind off how cold it is outside? Simply want to take a brain break from all the cool classes Splash has to offer? Come and have fun braiding your very own flower crown into existence! Braiding experience not required, and we'll have a variety of flowers to choose from


Class Style
Activity

W15604: Exploring Information Theory in 2-player Zero-Sum Games: A case study on Clash Royale
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Orion Foo, Theo Jiang

come beat us in clash royale.

prizes for winners


Class Style
Activity

W15620: Reading/Writing Ambigrams
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alex Jiang

Ambigrams are words/text that are stylized to read the same/another word upside-down. Come to learn how ambigrams are created and try your hand at your own.


Class Style
Activity

W15619: Finger Loop Braiding!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Cindy Zhang

Learn how to make finger loop braids with 3 or 5 strands!


Class Style
Activity

W15621: Firefly puzzles!
Difficulty: **

Considering that the program theme this year is fireflies, it would be pretty thematic to do some firefly logic puzzles!


Class Style
Activity

W15622: Learn Albanian Traditional Dance!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Heidi Durresi

Come learn Albanian traditional dance with us!


Class Style
Activity


Miscellaneous

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X15559: Let's talk NFL & Fantasy Football!
Difficulty: **

What does the Super Bowl mean for Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts? How do you win your fantasy football league next year? This and everything NFL-related: let's talk about anything y'all want to discuss! 🏈

(We will not be entertaining strong political views, it'll just be football talk!)


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
A decent knowledge of the NFL.

X15575: Taekwondo
Difficulty: ***

Students will learn the kicking and punching techniques used in Sport Taekwondo competition, as well as traditional forms and stances. Class is dynamic and upbeat, and the students will get a good workout.
Class is intended to be introductory, so students that have done a significant amount of Taekwondo before will probably not find the class to be very interesting.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
The class will involve physical exercise, so if you are unable/unwilling to do so, I would advise taking a different class.

X15569: Intro to Unicycle Riding
Difficulty: **

Come learn a fun new to get around (and a new way to impress your friends)! All levels welcome


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Comfortable clothing and close-toed shoes.

X15537: Knottical Nonsense
Difficulty: *

Whether you're a thrill-seeker, an adventurer, or just someone who loves to learn new things, 'Knottical Nonsense' is the perfect class for you! You'll discover the knots used by sailors to secure their ships, climbers to reach new heights, and riggers to lift heavy loads. This hands-on class is full of fun activities and challenges that will have you knotting like a pro in no time.


Class Style
Activity

X15603: GeoGuessr - Let's Explore the World
Difficulty: *

In which countries do people drive on the left side of the road? Which countries have crosses on the back of their road signs? Which countries have yellow license plates? Come play some GeoGuessr with us and learn some tricks and techniques that can help you guess where you are in the world!


Class Style
Activity

X15583: Bears!!
Difficulty: *

Do you like bears? Come to this class to learn cool facts about bears!


Class Style
Lecture

X15596: Let's Talk About the NBA Full!
Difficulty: **

Come discuss storylines from this year's NBA season, predictions, statistics, etc. You'll get to shape the discussion based on what topics interest you most.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Passion for Basketball and the NBA

X15577: Living a Better Life with these Tips for Managing the Rough Spots
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Patricia Craig

Every person has times in their life when it is really tough. Whether a grandparent just died, or parents are getting divorced, or not fitting in at school - - - life can get really tough. This course will provide some helpful hints on managing those rough patches so that you can be happier and be more open to fun.


Class Style
Activity

X15562: REMODEL Middle School Health Class
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Zara Poon

I hate middle school health class.

It's important don't get me wrong, but because it is so important I believe it is necessary we get the information right. A particularly controversial topic I want to focus on is nutrition and exercise education in school. In my experience, lessons can be inaccurate and even promote disordered habits. It doesn't have to be this way! In this class, I want to explain how health is NOT a one-size-fits-all policy. It is NOT a rule book, nor a standard that determines your self-worth. We will discuss your thoughts on outdated health assignments like calorie tracking and whether your experience in health class so far is a positive or negative one. Most importantly, we'll brainstorm some ideas to improve middle school health class to make it a safer, more inclusive space for everyone!


Class Style
Discussion

X15540: Brief History and Science of Chocolate Full!
Difficulty: *

Become a chocolatier and join us to learn all about how chocolate is made! Led by the MIT Lab for Chocolate Science (LCS), this unique experience will take you through the rich history, science, and modern techniques of chocolate production. You'll gain an appreciation for the diverse origins, quality, and manufacturing techniques of chocolate by tasting and comparing various types of chocolate.


Class Style
Lecture

X15554: 2.97 Seconds Per Pokemon !?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jeffery Li, Alan Zhu

Join us as we attempt to name all 1008 Pokemon in 50 minutes! The website we will be using is pkmnquiz.com.


Class Style
Activity

X15587: Locked Doors Aren't As Secure As You Think Full!
Difficulty: *

A locked door seems secure. Right?

Actually, it turns out that most locked doors can be bypassed in a variety of ways. We'll talk about some of the flaws in common door systems, give some practical demonstrations, and have you try it out for yourselves. Whether you've locked yourself out of your house or you're trying to get into your sibling's locked room, this class is for you!

Disclaimer: please use your discretion as to when you apply these techniques, and always follow the law.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Must have opened a door

X15609: How To Run A Spark
Difficulty: *

Spark is run by undergraduate and graduate students at MIT. And beyond MIT, there are other similar educational programs at universities and high schools nationwide. How does it all happen, and what are some of the things behind the scenes that you don't usually get to see? Come learn about all of the intricacies that go into running a massive program like Spark and find out how you can do it too! We'll cover what goes into organizing Spark at MIT, as well as resources and next steps if you want to run something like Spark at your own school. Presented by former Spark directors :)


Class Style
Lecture

X15497: Cookie Lab: The Science of Baking! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Lisa Kondrich

Why do we bake cookies the way we do? Put in the amount of flour/butter as we do? What does baking soda/powder do? What happens if we stray from the recipe? Come find out! Bake (and enjoy) cookies the right way and the not so right way...


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Please do not attend this class if being in a room with wheat flour, eggs, butter, sugar, baking soda or chocolate will cause an allergic reaction. Otherwise, no baking experience necessary, just come with curiosity!

X15511: Saving Lives: CPR and Stop the Bleed Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Sabrina Liu, Julia Situ

You will learn how to respond in emergency situations, including providing life-saving CPR, using an AED, as well as learning how to stop bleeding - all of which could very well save a life!


Class Style
Activity

X15624: Patrol Full!
Difficulty: *

Shoot your friends!! It's Patrol!!

Patrol is a game sponsored by the MIT Assassins’ guild. Participants are divided into a number of teams. Each player is armed with a dart gun and a small number of rubber darts. Each player also wears a colored headband denoting what team they are on and whether or not they are currently alive. The object of the game is to shoot members of the other teams without getting shot. If shot, the player can resurrect by visiting the resurrection zone. The main goal, however, is to have fun.


Class Style
Activity

X15496: Competitive Tetris: How to Play and How to Cope
Difficulty: ***

Get ready to take the first step in your journey to becoming a Tetris god. We discuss T-spin setups, forecasting, good downstacking, and more to guide you in reaching the next level of Tetris play.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
This class requires computers and the ability to play Tetris on the website tetr.io

X15591: Experiential Cartography
Difficulty: *

From cave paintings to the digital world, follow us into an exploration of how maps have evolved throughout human history. Through activity-based learning exercises, we will learn more about mapping.

Maps have been around since ancient times, with the earliest known maps being found in caves. These maps were simple drawings that represented landscapes and were used as a tool for navigation and as a way to communicate information about the environment. As civilizations developed and expanded, so did the complexity and sophistication of maps. In the Middle Ages, maps became more detailed and accurate as exploration and trade expanded across the world. The invention of the printing press allowed for maps to be mass-produced, making them more widely available.

With the advent of technology, maps have continued to evolve and improve. The invention of aerial photography and satellite imaging in the 20th century allowed for the creation of much more accurate maps, and the rise of digital technology has led to the creation of digital maps and GIS systems that allow for the storage and analysis of vast amounts of geospatial data.

Today, maps are used for a variety of purposes, from navigation and exploration to urban planning and scientific research. With advancements in technology, the possibilities for what maps can do and how they can be used are constantly expanding, making maps an essential tool in our understanding of the world.

Experiential mapping refers to a type of mapping that focuses on creating an immersive and interactive experience for the user. It's a way of presenting information in a dynamic and engaging manner, rather than just displaying data on a flat map.

Experiential maps can be created in a variety of ways, including using augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and interactive web-based maps. These maps often use a combination of imagery, video, sound, and other sensory inputs to create a multidimensional experience for the user.

Experiential mapping is becoming increasingly popular as technology continues to evolve and users demand more engaging and interactive experiences. By providing a multisensory experience, experiential maps have the potential to enhance our understanding and appreciation of the world around us.


Class Style
Activity

X15512: Intro to Business and Finance

So you’ve heard about finance... but what does that ~actually~ mean?
Come join our team of Sloan Business Club members to learn about general finance topics in an interactive 50-min session. After a brief lecture introducing you to the world of finance, you will engage in small groups with one of our members who will provide you with some tools to conduct simple analyses on potential investments.


Class Style
Lecture

X15588: Medieval Warfare

Learn about the art of warfare in medieval times, from strategies that the Romans used to the evolution of swords, and even warfare in the Lord of the Rings.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
Nothing!

X15502: Puzzle Passionately, Procrastinate Productively
Difficulty: **

It's true! Logic puzzles are a fun way of putting off homework and responsibilities while benefitting by becoming smarter, and they're absolutely not a waste of time, MOM.

We'll introduce the rules to some logic puzzles like Sudoku, Slitherlink (aka Loopy), KenKen (aka Keen/TomTom), and more! We'll cover all the main categories of logic puzzles, so you're sure to find something you'll like. We'll then go over some puzzles together while explaining our reasoning, and then you'll have lots of time for trying to solve puzzles on your own, while we go around and help.


Class Style
Activity


Social Studies

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Z15553: Law & Order: MA Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Pavitra Chari

You may know about the United States Supreme Court and its nine justices...but what about the courts in your neighborhood?

Our state courts have been handling disputes and administering justice for hundreds of years. Come learn more about our different types of state courts, the role they play in the administration of justice, and some of the landmark cases decided right here in Massachusetts.


Class Style
Lecture

Z15597: Basics of Political Polling Full!
Difficulty: **

This last election season, you may have seen lots of people talking about what the polls predicted would happen and whether they were right or wrong. But where do these mysterious numbers come from in the first place? Learn from someone who worked in the polling industry about the process that goes into a poll, what polls are used for, and how you can be smarter reading and analyzing polls out in the wild!


Class Style
Lecture

Z15536: (Super)human Nature Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Clio Macrakis

Villains are evil and heroes are good... or is it the opposite? Who gets to decide right and wrong? Drawing on examples from DC and Marvel comics presented during this class we will discuss what makes us human and how heroes and villains fit into the world.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
No prior knowledge of superhero stories is necessary

Z15505: Humans and Plants: A Love Story
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Eldar Urkumbayev

$$Ya like some ~jazz~ plants?$$
Since the dawn of humankind, we dwelled in, ate, and otherwise used the greenery around us.
You can distinguish red and green? Thank the plants. Enjoying that whole upright walking? Plants (probably) did that as well! Remember you chummed down two bags of popcorn when Moana came out? Plants can sing Maui's "You're Welcome" in response, rest assured :)
In less than an hour, we will go on a tour through time and space to explore how our sprouty friends shaped us, and how we changed them in return.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Know what evolution is, and general interest in plants