J-Term 2010

Civil Rights in Mississippi

Students studied the relationship among Mennonites, African-Americans, and Choctaw Indians in Noxubee County Mississippi, and then traveled there to experience these relationships first hand. A highlight for Chris Minter was singing a solo, and with the church choir, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Macon, Miss. A group highlight was being interviewed by a German television station as they met with Philadelphia mayor James Young, the first African-American mayor in a town known for one of the more infamous race-related crimes in U.S. history: the 1964 murder of three civil rights workers by white supremacists that inspired the 1988 movie Mississippi Burning. This course also helped give greater context to a novel the junior English class recently studied, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Ceramics I

During the first week, students worked with different types of clay, learning to throw clay on the wheel, and hand-build multiple projects. During the second week students glazed and fired pieces in a raku firing, an electric kiln, and loaded and helped fire the school's wood kiln, which was e a nice source of heat in January! Students tried naked raku--don’t worry, everyone had their clothes on--which is the name potters use for a specific decoration used in raku firing. The class visited the Art Institute of Chicago and the local studios of Marvin Bartel or Lehman-Goertzen Pottery. The class did a joint art show with the Watercolor Painting students.

 

 

     

 

 

Comparative Mythology

Mythology functions as a window into the human experience of the supernatural across cultures. Students read accounts of Greek and Roman mythology and compared common stories of creation, a flood, evil, good, and heroes from other world cultures. They explored mythological origins and current symbolism of plants, animals, and other elements of the natural world. The course included literature, film, storytelling, mime performance, working with desktop clay as well as canvas to portray myth as art. Students also visited the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis.

 

 

Forensic Science

Students gained an understanding of the use of science and technology in forensic testing and analysis abd learnd the value of forensic analysis in criminal, civil, and environmental investigations. Activities included fingerprint collection and matching, DNA analysis, testing of arson samples, tours of a crime lab and a medical examiner’s office, and guest speakers. See also newspaper articles on this class by the Goshen News and Elkhart Truth.

 

 

   

 

 

Watercolor Painting

This course was a studio-based and hands-on introduction to watercolor painting. Through daily practice and experimentation, a range of subject matter and techniques were explored. Students learned control of the medium, various techniques, color theory, and composition and took day trips to working artists’ studios (Sibyl Graber Gerig and Judy Wenig Horswell) and the Art Institute of Chicago. The class also did a joint art show with the Ceramics students

 

 

 

 

 

Biking and Camping 

This course included one week of class time in January and one week of self-contained biking (250 miles) and camping to three state parks in June. Class time focused on bicycle safety/maintenance, camping plans, trip mapping, and the history and geography of northern Indiana state parks. The class also worked out on stationary bicycles and volunteered at Chain Reaction Bicycle Program in Goshen. For more on this, see bike trip.

 

      

 

New Testament

Students explored the depths of the New Testament in classroom setting and in an exciting simulation. The first week covered the centrality of the Jesus story, and the second week was a simulation of living in Christian community, while under the threat of persecution. In this way, they class explored the stories of Jesus and the early church through both text and experience.

Legoland

Students investigated the history of Lego’s from their creation to the world phenomenon they have become. Each student planned, designed, and built a one-of-a-kind creation using the online Lego CAD program. For the final project students created detailed step-by-step instructions for their unique creations, which they got to keep.

Creating Drama

Students explored the creation of drama, from analyzing stories for possible use, to writing scripts and staging small plays. Students learned basic theater terminology, developed their reading and writing skills, and performed a one-act play. They also visiedt a local theater to see what happens behind the scenes.

 

Duck Detectives	Frog and Toad

 

 

Life on the Frontier

Students explored life during the frontier period of American history and examined the cultures and conflict between Native Americans and Anglo-European settlers from first contact through modern times. Activities included frontier arts (making baskets and moccasins), games and leisure activities, hunting and trapping demonstrations, and a field trip.

 

    

     

 

 

Cars

Students studied the history, design, and inner workings of cars from the early days of electric and gas to today’s fossil fuel, electric, hydrogen, and hybrid cars. All students helped take apart a car to discover how it works and built a model car. The class also visited the Auburn car museum.