Blast Off!
Get ready to move beyond basic rocketry! Build a two-stage rocket from scratch. Then, don’t forget the onboard camera(s) to take awesome video of the flight. See our little corner of Fort Worth from a new perspective!
Instructor: John Cordell
Blockbuster Beginnings: Screenwriting Workshop
Like many art forms, movies begin in the minds of people. One of those people could be you! Screenwriters create all the moments you’ve come to love in your favorite movies and television shows. They are the ones who craft the catchy dialogue of the characters you quote. In this course, we will dive into the unique writing style and format screenwriters use to launch the first phase of the movie-making process. We will also carefully watch film clips to analyze their character development and story structure. Finally, each student will write the first ten pages of their own original speculative screenplay. So, bring your movie ideas, your movie questions, and your movie popcorn!
Instructor: Loren Sammons
Bridge Building
Students will learn the basic components of modern bridges including how they are constructed and why they have strength. Students will use introductory CAD software to design truss bridges. We will use a CNC machine to cut components of their bridges from wood stock, assemble them and then bench test them for their load bearing strength. Students will learn about the different types of truss bridges as well as introductory engineering terms associated with bridges. This course is limited to 12 students who have not previously taken this course.
Instructors: Steve Uhr and Chuck Kraus
Location: TEAM/Robotics Room
DNA Detectives
Police have just been called to a crime scene on the FWCD campus. Are you good at solving crimes? Come and test your skills in this Forensics based crime scene investigation. You will learn how to gather evidence, analyze data, and determine a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. Topics covered will be lifting fingerprints, comparing fibers and hair, determining blood type, and calculating time of death. You will also get a crash course in DNA structure and extraction, protein synthesis, and DNA fingerprinting using gel electrophoresis. Based on the evidence you have collected you should be able to help the police solve this crime. The odds of solving a crime after 48 hours decreases by 50 percent. We need your help! Limited to students who have not previously taken this course.
Instructors: Sherri Reed and Katherine Perkins
Financial Literacy Through Board Games
Financial literacy is one of the most important practical skills students can learn to promote a healthy future for themselves and their communities. As most adults know, it can take years to learn how to be successful in a market economy, and this education often involves learning “the hard way” of acquiring debt or losing money outright. But what if students could acquire knowledge and skills about financial literacy in a short time while having fun?
This program aims to teach the essentials of financial literacy through the board games Monopoly and Cash Flow while also considering whacky ideas about the future of economics through critical discussions. In between rounds of ferocious financial competition, we will consider the broader implications of how our saving, spending, and investing shape our communities.
Instructor: TBD
The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb: Exploring Egypt’s Golden Empire
Who were the ancient Egyptians? Why did they create such monumental constructions and such magnificent works of art? The culture, history, art, architecture, and religion of ancient Egypt has long captured the imagination of people across the world. From royal pyramids, court artisans and powerful pharaohs, to grandiose temples, mysterious gods and foreign invasions, participants will experience the world of ancient Egypt, its highs and lows, and the rich tapestry of its culture. We will study a wide variety of subjects, including World History, Geography, Science, Art, and Religion. Join us as we go on a journey that spans over 500 years and examines all facets of life in ancient Egypt.
Instructors: Alison Gee and Jennifer Hannah
Uke Can Do It!
Have you ever wanted to learn to play a little Ukulele? How about MAKE your OWN ukulele, learn the science and physics behind why it works, and learn a few chords and catchy melodies. The class will build ukuleles using kits, mathematics, and introductory knowledge of acoustics and physics. Class time will be divided between physics lessons and ukulele lab construction time. The course is limited to 10 students.
Instructors: Heather Peace and Chelsy Merrill
Write, Critique, Revise: Fiction Writer’s Workshop
This short story writing seminar for the Duke TIP Scholars’ Weekend focuses on elements of writing, critiquing as a prelude to revision, and marketing short fiction online. Students need to submit one piece of writing (2-5 pages, double-spaced) prior to the weekend so that I have one set of stories read and ready for conferencing; thereafter individual conferencing will be staggered with in-class writing time. The expectation is that students will write several new works, take part in group critiques, and possibly submit a story to a magazine or anthology. Students may bring their personal laptop with them for in-class writing if they want, however, laptops will be provided. The course is limited to 13 students.
Instructor: Jon Shipley
Location: Library 104