Voyagers Study Group List

Algebra is the foundation of modern mathematics, and you need to know algebra if you want to study any science. This is a standard first course in algebra, intended as the first year of a four-year high-school math sequence. We shall use a standard textbook, Foerster's Algebra I or equivalent (depending on what is good, cheap, and readily available), and I hope to cover all the material in the text in one year. There will be several hours a week of homework, because you cannot learn algebra without actually doing it.

• THE SECRET GARDEN (Burnett)

• THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND (Speare)

• THE SECRET ORDER OF THE GUMSTREET GIRLS (Primavera/Delany)

• HOLES (Hiaasen)

• AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS (Choldenko)

• A LONG WAY TO CHICAGO (Peck)

• JOSHUA’S SONG (Harlow)

• ELLA ENCHANTED (Levine)

• THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS (Boyne)

• MY ANTONIA (Cather)

I plan to include at least a few non-American authors. Please see this website for some of the possibilities: Teens Around the World Fiction: http://www.carnegielibrary.org/teens/books/

We will make our final selections based on the makeup of the group and their preferences, what they have already read and availability of the books. Participants should be able to manage reading approximately 150 pages per week. I plan to use the Harkness Method (reader-centered classroom with no formal lectures from a leader) in our discussions which will require that all participants do their best to get the reading done as their input will be crucial to the group’s learning. We will work on sharing and understanding our personal responses to the stories and why and how the authors’ succeed (or fail?) in making us think and feel certain things. We will develop discipline for finding details in the texts to support our opinions. I also hope we will have time to incorporate some art and acting into our group as well as “journaling.” Some writing will be required but the requirements will be modified for individual participants.

Readings will be age-appropriate in content but challenging. We will take on some serious topics but will avoid books which are too disturbing or mature in their content.

Julie Woods

Sample books include: Make Way for Ducklings, The Snowy Day, Officer Buckle and Gloria, Saint George and the Dragon, Ox-Cart Man.

Sample activities include: (Examples are for The Snowy Day theme). Define and make a list of onomatopoeia words starting with those used in the book (e.g., crunch, plop); create a collage to tell a story using materials like those used in book’s illustrations; go outside and re-create the types of footprints in snow that Peter makes (e.g., toes out, toes in, dragging feet slowly); pantomime different types of snowflakes falling (e.g., fluffy flakes, icy snow).

[Caltrops to Catapults-The History of Weaponry]

The Day Programmers believe that a group such as a chapter book read aloud is needed at this time. We need to have one or more volunteers to run it!

We're imagining that the books would take one or more sessions to read aloud (e.g. "Alice in Wonderland" or "Mister Popper's Penguins"). One day could be multiple picture books with the same author and different illustrators, another picture book day could be books by different authors but all one illustrator...

***

Come join me in a study group that will be spent watching classic movies and sharing interesting facts about the movies themselves and the people who made them. I will decide the course content based upon consensus of my group attendees. I consider the ages and interests of participants in deciding what gets shown. I will not show slasher-type horror films because they disturb me.

I don't think there will be any homework, though I ask that people who take this study group are prepared to be involved in discussion after the movie is over. It won't hurt you, much. Several films will contain mature themes, so Parents should be aware of that.

I also won't be showing anything that will horribly depress you, just because I think it's intelligent. If I show a film, my first reason for showing it will always be because I think it's a good and enjoyable movie. Whether or not it makes you think as well is my second priority.

If you attended my class last semester, then you shouldn't be lost here. Its the same as before, just for a full term and with different films.

I can also guarantee popcorn at every movie. =)

The parents will organize a schedule.

Some games I have at home that I think would be appropriate:

Blokus, Scrabble, Apples to Apples, Word Change, You've Been Sentenced, Cranium, In a Pickle, Set

I would use "thinking" games and not games of chance.

I'd bring in 1 or 2 games per week from home (depending on the game and number of participants) and set up tournaments every week.

Kids would need to be willing to play different games since I'd like to pick the games to bring in each week to mix things up and get kids to play a game that is new to them or they might not feel is their best game.

In this study group, participants will be learning basic guitar method.

For the very beginners, I will teach the different chords, the scale, how to read guitar tabs, tuning, and how to string the guitar.

For those who are more experienced, I can try to teach whatever they feel like learning to the best of my abilities.

****This is a cooperatively-led group, and a family-member of each participant is expected to lead one or more sessions, depending on the number of participants. Participants’ families will be contacted by email prior to the start of the session to discuss topics and scheduling.

Here is our tentative list of books for the Spring 2010 semester:

• Jackson/The Lottery
• Chopin/The Awakening
• Martel/Life of Pi
• Wharton/The Age of Innocence
• Voltaire/Candide
• Bradbury/Dandelion Wine or Kerouac/Big Sur
• Tan/The Joy Luck Club

However, I am open to suggestions! Send me YOUR list of what YOU would like to read and talk about. Below, you will find a list of works we have read in past semesters.

The focus of the group is on discussing the books. In addition to topics suggested by the subject matter, we also analyze the works for literary devices, do character studies, place the books in historical context and do background research on the authors. Discussion will also be informed by the use of literature guides. We often read background material aloud together during class time. There is sometimes other class preparation involved, for example when we do role playing or simulations. We occasionally have guest speakers. Expect to read approximately 200 pages per week.

Note that although the reading level might be within the capacity of younger members, the subject matter is best suited for those who are teens and older. Discussions often lead us into various areas, including history, sociology, psychology, science, music, and art. Topics in the past have included death, relationships, physical and mental illness, sexuality, and drugs. When in doubt, please consult with me.

If any group members wish to write essays based on any of the books during the course of this study group, I am happy to review and critique these and work on revisions with you. The list of books will be sent out a couple of weeks before the start of the semester so we can get started right away at our first session.

Previous Books: (I am willing to repeat if the group contains all new members)

• Dickens/Oliver Twist
• Vonnegut/Bluebeard
• Miller/Death of a Salesman
• Lowry/The Giver
• Huxley/Brave New World
• Kesey/One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• Kerouac/On the Road
• Poe/Short Stories
• Shelley/Frankenstein
• McCullers/The Member of the Wedding
• Sartre/No Exit
• Knowles/A Separate Peace
• Vonnegut/Slaughterhouse 5
• Gaines/Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
• Heller/Catch-22
• Miller/The Crucible
• Gunther/Death Be Not Proud
• Forster/A Room with a View
• Steinbeck/Of Mice & Men
• Williams/The Glass Menagerie
• Golding/Lord of the Flies
• Bradbury/Fahrenheit 451
• Orwell/1984
• Hersey/Hiroshima
• Austen/Pride & Prejudice
• Bronte/Wuthering Heights
• Stoker/Dracula
• Vonnegut/Cat's Cradle
• Salinger/Catcher in the Rye
• Orwell/Animal Farm
• Steinbeck/The Pearl
• Keyes/Flowers for Algernon
• Stevenson/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
• Twain/Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
• London/Call of the Wild
• Hawthorne/The Scarlet Letter
• Lawrence/Inherit the Wind
• Haddon/The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
• Wilder/Our Town
• Vonnegut/Welcome to the Monkey House

-- Main.ElizabethFox - 14 Nov 2009 --Betsy-- Main.ElizabethFox - 10 Apr 2009 -- Main.ElizabethFox - 09 Apr 2009 -- Main.ElizabethFox - 14 Nov 2008

This is intended to be a serious, full year, high school chemistry study group. Those with no prior chemistry background can participate as Chemistry I. Because of the nature of general chemistry(they just repeat the info in AP courses), this class would be suitable as a chemistry II study group for a participant who has had it before, and wishes to reinforce knowledge. Those who are serious about this can probably be successful on the AP exam and thus earn college credit or college placement out of general chemistry. This group will definitely meet requirements for Lab Science, as we will do a number of labs out of a college lab workbook.

We will do lecture, homework problems, light lab experiments, and leader demonstrations. Regular attendance/homework is crucial to success in this course. We will also attempt to schedule a couple of mutually agreeable lab days during Voyagers break time. If participants are interested in studying for the SAT subject test or AP test, I will be willing to hold some extra study sessions after the end of the spring term

* Don't bother to take this class if you won't commit to doing at least some of the homework every week. It's not worth your time or mine. * Expect to spend about an hour a day on this -- I will help teach the study skills necessary for science.

To keep the group from being unremittingly tedious, I also plan to discuss some of the odd and interesting bits of math that you probably won't find on standardized tests: dimensions (1, 2, 3, and more), infinities (yes, there are different infinities), fractals, and who knows what else?

Because being able to do math is often as much a matter of practice as of understanding, you should expect to do several hours of work at home for each hour spent in class. If you really do the work, you should find that understanding actually grows out of the practice.

Please bring a copy of the book to the first meeting, having read the first two chapters. Note that these two chapters about canal travel can seem a bit of a slog - trust me that the book gets more exciting very soon.

In each session we will practice improv-yoga to explore themes of balance, strength, fluidity, chaos and stillness and will cultivate an attitude of curiosity, creativity and self awareness.

At times invigorating, at times relaxing, this study group will run the gamut from high-action to silence & stillness and will introduce many life-long practices that promote clear thinking, relaxation and increased vitality.

• able to take verbal and written instruction
• able to work independently or in small group
• able to work with distractions
• no drawing skill needed
• patience required!!!

• flipbooks
• zoetropes
• stop motion animation
• computer animation with scratch

Early sessions will focus on paper-based persistence-of-vision methods; we'll be using cameras by the middle of the term.

For stop motion, participants will learn to set up, illuminate, and record stop motion sequences, and learn computer-based post-production techniques with Windows Movie Maker (or equivalent).

This class will be designed to teach people with little to no previous experience in Japanese, and it will require plenty of hard work. And by "plenty of hard work", I mean "you'd better pace yourself with the homework, because you're not going to finish it in a single day". By the end of the term, you'll have your hiragana and katakana memorized, along with some basic kanji and functional, simple grammar. There will be drill sessions every class, and a brief grammar lecture; the in-class meetings will be primarily focused on building up oral fluency.

Lastly, and addition to all of that, I intend to make this class as fun and interesting as possible!

Please note: The cost is based on 12 sessions at $80/session.

Please be aware that this study group is intended for older and more mature audiences, as the content may include mild swearing and the like.

Also, various Japanese foods or snacks will be included. I can do my best to avoid allergies, but my options are, unfortunately, limited. Sorry!

-Brianna Lueders

The ability to understand very basic geography concepts is necessary (north, south, east, west, etc). Some basic reading & writing skills helpful but not necessary.

Some of the topics we will discuss include:

- daily life & responsibilities
- family life
- homes & food
- traditions & celebrations
- schooling
- entertainment/recreation
- transportation

It is intended participants will work on individual projects but a group project is always an option.

This is an all ages group and all styles of knitting are welcome including loom knitting, crochet, circular and straight needles.

For Parents: Please see the attached document (all the way at the bottom) with details about the structure and expectations of the game.

For Those With Courage:

I beseech you, do not agree to join this heroic band without first hearing my tale. For I hold the secret to the creation of Druidawn, and in fact, the knowledge to all realms of human myth. It was my people who brought the gift of magic to Earth thousands of years ago, before there were castles and knights, before the construction of the Grecian temples, when the great Egyptian pyramids were nothing but sketches in the sand. Surely you must have noticed, even at your young age, that none of the mythical creatures that your ancestors spoke of in their poetry, and depicted in their tapestries, and passed on to their children over many generations exist today. Haven’t you ever wondered why you can’t journey to visit the unicorns, or bond with your very own dragon friend? Why you can’t laugh with the giants, or dance in the fields with the faeries under the harvest moon?

The secret lies in the stars. My people are what you would call wizards from another planet far from Earth. We are immortal explorers, forever in search of new experiences. At least the others of my kind are fortunate enough to be out there exploring. I, myself, don’t currently have that luxury, but more on that later. I will start from the beginning so you will better understand the reason we created Druidawn, and what has happened there since its birth.

In the early stages of human evolution, my people, we call ourselves Druids, paid a visit to your little known world and were immediately entranced by the life and beauty we found there. We were surprised to find that the humans of Earth looked exactly like us, as if cut from the same mold. We don’t usually stay in one place longer than it takes to learn all we can about the cultures and nature of the environment, but Earth was different. We were warmly accepted by the primitive people, and there was so much life in every square inch of your world, we thought we would never complete the task of learning it all. We became overly attached to the humans as well. Some of us went so far as to marry in Earth traditions, and raised children as if we ourselves were human.

Even our pets and companions, various creatures we had collected from our journeys through space, grew attached to this alluring planet. The faeries, unicorns, mermaids, trolls, Elves, and other mythical creatures you’ve enjoyed reading stories about, were our most valued friends. When at last it became clear that my people had to leave Earth before we forgot who we were completely, the magical beings who came with us begged to stay. They never cared much for space travel, and this planet had everything they could ever want, temperate climates, vast oceans, endless unexplored lands, and all the foods required to sustain them.

It was difficult for us to let them remain behind. But we couldn’t deny their plea for happiness. When we departed your planet, it was with heavy hearts, for we had not only left behind our cherished creatures, but our human families as well. We would not have the means to return to Earth for several thousand years. By that time, our descendants, the wizards, witches, and Elementals who were part human and part Druid (round ears and all), wouldn’t know that we had played any role in their history. The creatures we left behind, though many had long life spans, would likely not remember us either.

We journeyed to distant, uncharted worlds, and experienced many wonders, but as the centuries went by, we realized that few of the other planets rivaled Earth’s beauty and life force. We came to miss it. You can’t realize what a strange feeling that was for us. We are Druids. We are eternal. Our purpose is to explore and learn. We have always done this with emotionless efficiency. In all our millions of years of existence, we had never become emotionally attached to a place. It was with this newfound realization that we at last headed back to the famed bluegreen world with great anticipation.

When we arrived, we were not prepared for what we found there. As it happens, humans had evolved over the years into a violent species. They had created swords, built giant fortresses of stone, and took to riding horses so they could more easily and efficiently kill one another in war after endless war. When there was no battle to wage, the humans had taken to amusing themselves with the hunting, trapping and killing of our precious magical companions. Though the creatures possessed powerful magic, they were ultimately no match for the relentless humans who outnumbered them a thousand to one. Dragons were slain for sport, unicorns were trapped and forced to use the healing properties they channeled through their horns to mend warriors, who repaid them by destroying more of their fellow creatures. Wizards and witches, our direct descendants, were forced to use their spells to help kings rise to power or suffer the dire consequences of their disobedience. Witch burnings, born of ignorance and fear of all women, be they magic or not, had raged out of control, and our creature friends, those who had survived the brutality, had moved deep into the forests to hide.

Needless to say, we were stunned, disappointed, and angered, all new emotions for us. Earth was no longer the paradise it had been. It was littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers, burned villages, and human despair. We wasted no time sending out a psychic message to the remaining magical beings. “Rendezvous at the sacred sites for transport from this world,” we said. The sacred sites included Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor, Giant’s Causeway, Loch Ness, the center of the Bermuda Triangle for the water creatures, and the great pyramids for those who had traveled quite a distance from our original landing site. We gave them nearly a full Earth year to arrive at the rendezvous sites, and still not all of the creatures came. Some chose to remain on Earth despite the dangers. We bid those friends farewell, and we quickly left the blue green planet without a look back.

You would think that this would come as a great relief to them, but the creatures were never content living shipboard. Though they were safe from all harm, they craved a natural home to call their own. We knew from our long journeys that there was no planet nearby that had what our companions desired. They wanted Earth without the humans. Our only option was to build them a planet ourselves. It had to have all the climates, seasons, land types, and vegetation that Earth possessed, without humans or other life forms that would pose a threat. We found a frozen world in a perfect location, in a solar system with 15 other planets, none of which harbored humanoid life. The planet was on the small side, only two-thirds the size of Earth, but it held plenty of space for our companions to prosper and multiply. And it was the perfect distance from the large orange sun in order to maintain warm temperatures once we corrected the problems with the atmosphere.

Our best scientists went to work infusing oxygen and other crucial elements into the air. While they were at it, they added a magnetic protection field that would make it impossible for alien ships to land on the planet, thereby ensuring that our creature companions would never have their home threatened from outside forces. They slowly melted the ice that covered the healthy continents and channeled the water into oceans and lakes. It took many years to transform the barren world into a beautiful planet, thriving with life and fertile lands. When at last the world was deemed safe for habitation, we gave the planet to the creatures as a gift. It was our greatest creation. We named it Druidawn.

But my story doesn’t end there. Nearly a century later, but still in Earth’s recent past, my people became consumed with the urge to depart Druidawn and continue their explorations of the universe. They needed a volunteer to stay behind and guard the planet from any possible large threat. I never volunteered for the task, but when no one was willing to stay behind, I was elected. I was instructed to never interfere in the daily lives of the inhabitants of Druidawn, and to only use my powers of authority if something threatened the well being of the entire planet. I was given the illustrious title of “Guardian of Druidawn,” as if that would make it any easier for me to remain behind. Ah, well. I was relatively young at the time and anxious to please others. If they had elected me as I am today, I would have refused their decision. But now it is far too late. My people are long gone, seeing wonders I can only dream about.

My only consolation has been my sleeping chamber in my floating kingdom in the sky. After being abandoned here, I had decided that I would put myself in a deep sleep, in the isolated dome palace that never touches the ground, thereby preserving my body and mind until my people return for me one day. I have always had the ability to maintain my alertness while sleeping, so I could quickly awaken fully if the planet was in danger. Otherwise, my dream journeys have been my only comfort. I know what the creatures of Druidawn call me. I am the “Sleeping Guardian” to them, God of the Sky. It’s a fitting title, since they will never receive more from me than my dream musings can offer.

I did awake once, however, to a shocking sight. Not long after my people departed on their journey for the stars, war had erupted on Druidawn. I couldn’t fathom this, for we had just removed the creatures from the hostility on Earth. Apparently, it had taken little time to become hostile themselves. They had been tainted by the human race from all those years of witnessing the violence. The horrible sounds of their magic-based battles for dominance had disturbed me from my deep sleep. Nearly the entire planet was at war. My people hadn’t elected any leaders for Druidawn’s ten territories before they left; they hadn’t seen the need. Now there was a definite need for leadership and structure, and it was up to me to make this occur. I didn’t enjoy being awake, so I had to think of a way to elect strong rulers who could control their territories with confidence and power. Leaders whose authority would never be questioned, and who could maintain their positions for all time, so this would never happen again. After much contemplation of the problem, I decided to hold a contest. The ultimate contest. There would be many trials of mind, heart, and magic. The ten winners would be awarded a selected territory to rule, a unique dragon of their own, a castle or luxurious dwelling of their own design, and… eternal life. Yes, I have the power to stop the aging process in those I touch. I can even put a protective energy force around them so they can enjoy relative invulnerability. It was a calculated risk bestowing these ultimate gifts on others, however. For once given, I couldn’t take them away. I had to be sure the winners were truly deserving of this honor.

My only condition of the contestants was they had to be direct descendants of my people. Only wizards, witches, and Elementals were allowed to compete. If they had Druid blood coursing through their veins, they stood a greater chance of gaining the complete loyalties of the creatures in their realms. And I wouldn’t have to wake again. Here is a list of the winners, be they worthy or not. All of these individuals still maintain their power today, though if I could reverse the decision on some of them, I would have ages ago. However, even with the ones I’m not at all proud of, I must admit, Druidawn has been far more peaceful since their rise to power.

AERON – The gentle artist and musician, ruler of the Burgean Mountains. BETHEVAN – A shape-shifter of a quiet nature, overlord of the Araithial Woodlands. JALLORA – A crafty witch, the overlord of the beautiful Desiran Islands. KULAAN – An insane Air Elemental, overlord of the strange land Psychonia. MARINA – A Water Elemental, the lovely overlord of the sea. RAYTOR – The sinister wizard-ruler of the Swamps of Decay. RIANN – The hot tempered Fire Elemental, overlord of the Zevaar Desert. TIBARIOS – The neutral wizard, ruler of the Frozen North. URIELL – The exotic protector of animals and all things wild, ruler of Botania. VANDERIS - The evil shape-shifting ruler of the largest territory, Metamorphia.

There is only one part left of my story to tell. Now you know how and why Druidawn was created. You know how the overlords came to power. It’s time for you to know of the strange incident that changed Druidawn’s history forever. Though I wouldn’t necessarily say for the worst. It has actually made things far more interesting from my perspective. But I am the silent watcher. I never interfere in the affairs of this world unless the entire planet is threatened. The day humans came to Druidawn posed no immediate threat, so I sat back and watched. I waited to see what would happen. Things were finally becoming interesting. The magical creatures of Druidawn would not agree, of course, for they truly hate humans, as you can understand.

You must know that at the same time Druidawn was evolving into the planet it is today, Earth had long moved into its future; its “space-age” as you would call it. Colony ships had left the Earth in search of other planets to colonize, for humans had outgrown the space provided by their tiny world. One of these large ships, containing 1000 colonists, had become ensnared in Druidawn’s magnetic force. The force field was designed to repel ships from the planet, but wouldn’t you know it, the human ships were built differently from others we encountered. Instead of repelling the ship, the magnetic layer pulled it down toward the planet! It crashed deep into the surface of Druidawn, in the land of Metamorphia. Amazingly, the ship was only partially destroyed, and nearly all of the colonists survived the impact.

I watched with my mind’s eye as the colonists sent their strongest members to climb from the well their crash had created, to discover more about this Earth-like world. From the first scouting party of ten, only one half-dead survivor returned. The colonists were bewildered and horrified. The only survivor told them that they must not return to the surface – that it was filled with magical creatures who claimed that all humans must die. The colonists failed to heed this warning however, and sent further scouts to the surface to investigate. Out of twelve, only one survived. At last convinced that they couldn’t risk any more colonists, the people scraped the hull of their ship and reused it to build a dome, with secret air vents and escape hatches to the surface, cleverly disguised from the world above by holographic projections. They also used their holographic projectors to hide the gaping hole their ship had created in the planet surface while they worked steadily for months to fully cover the opening. When their self-contained city was finally completed, hundreds of feet below ground, and entirely secret, the colonists at last began to relax. Their attention returned to the task of every day living in their artificial world. Their most valuable possession was their distress beacon that sent endless pulses out into space, in hopes of rescue. The colonists have come to call themselves the Technics, and they have been quite amusing to observe ever since, almost worth coming fully awake for.

Now, I know what you’re going to say, “Humans on Druidawn! Why did you let them live? It’s your duty to keep humans away from the planet!” Listen well. The creatures made it clear to the first 22 surface explorers that humans weren’t welcome on Druidawn. The colonists built their home deep under the ground and sealed it off completely from the world above, so this planet is still for the most part human-free. If I cared to, I could cause an earthquake severe enough to crush their little Technic City to dust. But they keep to themselves, and I enjoy watching their fascinating home. The other consideration is that as a rule, I don’t kill. If the magical creatures find the humans, I will be powerless to stop them from destroying their city, but I would never participate in such violence myself.

One incident already put the Technic City in great danger. If anything like this ever happens again, they will be done for. Not long after the city, called “Haven” was established, thirty people, women, men, and children, the original colonists’ second generation, decided that they couldn’t bear life underground any longer. They would have rather died above than live the rest of their days never seeing the sun again. Though Haven has a “sun” of sorts, it’s nothing more than a bright light and an artificial projection, just like the fake moon that rises at night, and the artificial grass that covers the plastic parks. (It’s quite an amazing place they built down there!) The thirty people fought their way to the planet surface and left the Technic City far behind. None of them ever mentioned the underground world again.

The thirty travelers were surprised to encounter no dangerous creatures at first, and they slept under the real stars for many nights and drank in the warmth of the real sun by day, believing that they had truly found paradise. Then one day a terrible disease rapidly killed all ten of the males in the group, leaving the females completely untouched. I didn’t know we had such a disease. Apparently it only affected the human male Y chromosome. It caused rapid cellular disintegration until the males turned to dust. I have since eliminated the virus from the planet, but I’m afraid my actions were too late for the human men. The women and girls were devastated, but their fierce will to survive spurned them onward. Their strength was remarkable. They made a long journey through the forest until they encountered a band of Elves. The women expected to be killed then and there, but a magical thing happened that saved their lives. No, I didn’t have anything to do with it, though it was a certain gift from my people th t spared them. The Orb of Erudition, a glowing ball lifeform, worshipped by the Elves, merged with the leader of the colony women. The orb and the woman became a part of each other, and the Elves immediately believed the women must all be Druids. The Elves welcomed them with reverence into their society.

As more time went by, the Elves built a huge kingdom where they insisted the women live as the highest royalty. Though the women didn’t feel they deserved all the attention they were getting, they played along with the Elves and didn’t deny that they were Druids. They were simply glad to be alive, and to be free of the Technic City. The incredible palace that was built in their honor was a welcome gift, and the women stepped easily into their new roles as the matriarchy of the Elves. To this day, they call their kingdom the Dissenter City, and no Elf has ever questioned why they chose this name.

The Dissenter City is opposite of the Technic City in every way. It is completely without technology, and everything is naturally or magically made. Each city has prospered well in the following centuries. The Technics never venture to the world above, except for the chosen few who change the air and water filters. The Dissenters never speak of the world below that they left behind. The Dissenters’ children have become the “halflings,” half Elf and half human (or half druid as the Elves believe), and the Orb of Erudition chooses the new ruler of the city whenever a queen dies. The members of the Dissenter City have come to have less and less human blood in their veins, but the more “Druid” they are, the more valuable they are considered to be to their kingdom.

Which takes us to the present. This is Druidawn as it is now, darkness and light, the world above and the world below. The realm of magic and the domain of technology, coexisting on the same unique planet. Druidawn is a world without limits. The more you imagine it can be, the more it is. Write it, play it, and watch the magic unfold.

For Parents: Please see the attached document (all the way at the bottom) with details about the structure and expectations of the game.

For Those With Courage:

I beseech you, do not agree to join this heroic band without first hearing my tale. For I hold the secret to the creation of Druidawn, and in fact, the knowledge to all realms of human myth. It was my people who brought the gift of magic to Earth thousands of years ago, before there were castles and knights, before the construction of the Grecian temples, when the great Egyptian pyramids were nothing but sketches in the sand. Surely you must have noticed, even at your young age, that none of the mythical creatures that your ancestors spoke of in their poetry, and depicted in their tapestries, and passed on to their children over many generations exist today. Haven’t you ever wondered why you can’t journey to visit the unicorns, or bond with your very own dragon friend? Why you can’t laugh with the giants, or dance in the fields with the faeries under the harvest moon?

The secret lies in the stars. My people are what you would call wizards from another planet far from Earth. We are immortal explorers, forever in search of new experiences. At least the others of my kind are fortunate enough to be out there exploring. I, myself, don’t currently have that luxury, but more on that later. I will start from the beginning so you will better understand the reason we created Druidawn, and what has happened there since its birth.

In the early stages of human evolution, my people, we call ourselves Druids, paid a visit to your little known world and were immediately entranced by the life and beauty we found there. We were surprised to find that the humans of Earth looked exactly like us, as if cut from the same mold. We don’t usually stay in one place longer than it takes to learn all we can about the cultures and nature of the environment, but Earth was different. We were warmly accepted by the primitive people, and there was so much life in every square inch of your world, we thought we would never complete the task of learning it all. We became overly attached to the humans as well. Some of us went so far as to marry in Earth traditions, and raised children as if we ourselves were human.

Even our pets and companions, various creatures we had collected from our journeys through space, grew attached to this alluring planet. The faeries, unicorns, mermaids, trolls, Elves, and other mythical creatures you’ve enjoyed reading stories about, were our most valued friends. When at last it became clear that my people had to leave Earth before we forgot who we were completely, the magical beings who came with us begged to stay. They never cared much for space travel, and this planet had everything they could ever want, temperate climates, vast oceans, endless unexplored lands, and all the foods required to sustain them.

It was difficult for us to let them remain behind. But we couldn’t deny their plea for happiness. When we departed your planet, it was with heavy hearts, for we had not only left behind our cherished creatures, but our human families as well. We would not have the means to return to Earth for several thousand years. By that time, our descendants, the wizards, witches, and Elementals who were part human and part Druid (round ears and all), wouldn’t know that we had played any role in their history. The creatures we left behind, though many had long life spans, would likely not remember us either.

We journeyed to distant, uncharted worlds, and experienced many wonders, but as the centuries went by, we realized that few of the other planets rivaled Earth’s beauty and life force. We came to miss it. You can’t realize what a strange feeling that was for us. We are Druids. We are eternal. Our purpose is to explore and learn. We have always done this with emotionless efficiency. In all our millions of years of existence, we had never become emotionally attached to a place. It was with this newfound realization that we at last headed back to the famed bluegreen world with great anticipation.

When we arrived, we were not prepared for what we found there. As it happens, humans had evolved over the years into a violent species. They had created swords, built giant fortresses of stone, and took to riding horses so they could more easily and efficiently kill one another in war after endless war. When there was no battle to wage, the humans had taken to amusing themselves with the hunting, trapping and killing of our precious magical companions. Though the creatures possessed powerful magic, they were ultimately no match for the relentless humans who outnumbered them a thousand to one. Dragons were slain for sport, unicorns were trapped and forced to use the healing properties they channeled through their horns to mend warriors, who repaid them by destroying more of their fellow creatures. Wizards and witches, our direct descendants, were forced to use their spells to help kings rise to power or suffer the dire consequences of their disobedience. Witch burnings, born of ignorance and fear of all women, be they magic or not, had raged out of control, and our creature friends, those who had survived the brutality, had moved deep into the forests to hide.

Needless to say, we were stunned, disappointed, and angered, all new emotions for us. Earth was no longer the paradise it had been. It was littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers, burned villages, and human despair. We wasted no time sending out a psychic message to the remaining magical beings. “Rendezvous at the sacred sites for transport from this world,” we said. The sacred sites included Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor, Giant’s Causeway, Loch Ness, the center of the Bermuda Triangle for the water creatures, and the great pyramids for those who had traveled quite a distance from our original landing site. We gave them nearly a full Earth year to arrive at the rendezvous sites, and still not all of the creatures came. Some chose to remain on Earth despite the dangers. We bid those friends farewell, and we quickly left the blue green planet without a look back.

You would think that this would come as a great relief to them, but the creatures were never content living shipboard. Though they were safe from all harm, they craved a natural home to call their own. We knew from our long journeys that there was no planet nearby that had what our companions desired. They wanted Earth without the humans. Our only option was to build them a planet ourselves. It had to have all the climates, seasons, land types, and vegetation that Earth possessed, without humans or other life forms that would pose a threat. We found a frozen world in a perfect location, in a solar system with 15 other planets, none of which harbored humanoid life. The planet was on the small side, only two-thirds the size of Earth, but it held plenty of space for our companions to prosper and multiply. And it was the perfect distance from the large orange sun in order to maintain warm temperatures once we corrected the problems with the atmosphere.

Our best scientists went to work infusing oxygen and other crucial elements into the air. While they were at it, they added a magnetic protection field that would make it impossible for alien ships to land on the planet, thereby ensuring that our creature companions would never have their home threatened from outside forces. They slowly melted the ice that covered the healthy continents and channeled the water into oceans and lakes. It took many years to transform the barren world into a beautiful planet, thriving with life and fertile lands. When at last the world was deemed safe for habitation, we gave the planet to the creatures as a gift. It was our greatest creation. We named it Druidawn.

But my story doesn’t end there. Nearly a century later, but still in Earth’s recent past, my people became consumed with the urge to depart Druidawn and continue their explorations of the universe. They needed a volunteer to stay behind and guard the planet from any possible large threat. I never volunteered for the task, but when no one was willing to stay behind, I was elected. I was instructed to never interfere in the daily lives of the inhabitants of Druidawn, and to only use my powers of authority if something threatened the well being of the entire planet. I was given the illustrious title of “Guardian of Druidawn,” as if that would make it any easier for me to remain behind. Ah, well. I was relatively young at the time and anxious to please others. If they had elected me as I am today, I would have refused their decision. But now it is far too late. My people are long gone, seeing wonders I can only dream about.

My only consolation has been my sleeping chamber in my floating kingdom in the sky. After being abandoned here, I had decided that I would put myself in a deep sleep, in the isolated dome palace that never touches the ground, thereby preserving my body and mind until my people return for me one day. I have always had the ability to maintain my alertness while sleeping, so I could quickly awaken fully if the planet was in danger. Otherwise, my dream journeys have been my only comfort. I know what the creatures of Druidawn call me. I am the “Sleeping Guardian” to them, God of the Sky. It’s a fitting title, since they will never receive more from me than my dream musings can offer.

I did awake once, however, to a shocking sight. Not long after my people departed on their journey for the stars, war had erupted on Druidawn. I couldn’t fathom this, for we had just removed the creatures from the hostility on Earth. Apparently, it had taken little time to become hostile themselves. They had been tainted by the human race from all those years of witnessing the violence. The horrible sounds of their magic-based battles for dominance had disturbed me from my deep sleep. Nearly the entire planet was at war. My people hadn’t elected any leaders for Druidawn’s ten territories before they left; they hadn’t seen the need. Now there was a definite need for leadership and structure, and it was up to me to make this occur. I didn’t enjoy being awake, so I had to think of a way to elect strong rulers who could control their territories with confidence and power. Leaders whose authority would never be questioned, and who could maintain their positions for all time, so this would never happen again. After much contemplation of the problem, I decided to hold a contest. The ultimate contest. There would be many trials of mind, heart, and magic. The ten winners would be awarded a selected territory to rule, a unique dragon of their own, a castle or luxurious dwelling of their own design, and… eternal life. Yes, I have the power to stop the aging process in those I touch. I can even put a protective energy force around them so they can enjoy relative invulnerability. It was a calculated risk bestowing these ultimate gifts on others, however. For once given, I couldn’t take them away. I had to be sure the winners were truly deserving of this honor.

My only condition of the contestants was they had to be direct descendants of my people. Only wizards, witches, and Elementals were allowed to compete. If they had Druid blood coursing through their veins, they stood a greater chance of gaining the complete loyalties of the creatures in their realms. And I wouldn’t have to wake again. Here is a list of the winners, be they worthy or not. All of these individuals still maintain their power today, though if I could reverse the decision on some of them, I would have ages ago. However, even with the ones I’m not at all proud of, I must admit, Druidawn has been far more peaceful since their rise to power.

AERON – The gentle artist and musician, ruler of the Burgean Mountains. BETHEVAN – A shape-shifter of a quiet nature, overlord of the Araithial Woodlands. JALLORA – A crafty witch, the overlord of the beautiful Desiran Islands. KULAAN – An insane Air Elemental, overlord of the strange land Psychonia. MARINA – A Water Elemental, the lovely overlord of the sea. RAYTOR – The sinister wizard-ruler of the Swamps of Decay. RIANN – The hot tempered Fire Elemental, overlord of the Zevaar Desert. TIBARIOS – The neutral wizard, ruler of the Frozen North. URIELL – The exotic protector of animals and all things wild, ruler of Botania. VANDERIS - The evil shape-shifting ruler of the largest territory, Metamorphia.

There is only one part left of my story to tell. Now you know how and why Druidawn was created. You know how the overlords came to power. It’s time for you to know of the strange incident that changed Druidawn’s history forever. Though I wouldn’t necessarily say for the worst. It has actually made things far more interesting from my perspective. But I am the silent watcher. I never interfere in the affairs of this world unless the entire planet is threatened. The day humans came to Druidawn posed no immediate threat, so I sat back and watched. I waited to see what would happen. Things were finally becoming interesting. The magical creatures of Druidawn would not agree, of course, for they truly hate humans, as you can understand.

You must know that at the same time Druidawn was evolving into the planet it is today, Earth had long moved into its future; its “space-age” as you would call it. Colony ships had left the Earth in search of other planets to colonize, for humans had outgrown the space provided by their tiny world. One of these large ships, containing 1000 colonists, had become ensnared in Druidawn’s magnetic force. The force field was designed to repel ships from the planet, but wouldn’t you know it, the human ships were built differently from others we encountered. Instead of repelling the ship, the magnetic layer pulled it down toward the planet! It crashed deep into the surface of Druidawn, in the land of Metamorphia. Amazingly, the ship was only partially destroyed, and nearly all of the colonists survived the impact.

I watched with my mind’s eye as the colonists sent their strongest members to climb from the well their crash had created, to discover more about this Earth-like world. From the first scouting party of ten, only one half-dead survivor returned. The colonists were bewildered and horrified. The only survivor told them that they must not return to the surface – that it was filled with magical creatures who claimed that all humans must die. The colonists failed to heed this warning however, and sent further scouts to the surface to investigate. Out of twelve, only one survived. At last convinced that they couldn’t risk any more colonists, the people scraped the hull of their ship and reused it to build a dome, with secret air vents and escape hatches to the surface, cleverly disguised from the world above by holographic projections. They also used their holographic projectors to hide the gaping hole their ship had created in the planet surface while they worked steadily for months to fully cover the opening. When their self-contained city was finally completed, hundreds of feet below ground, and entirely secret, the colonists at last began to relax. Their attention returned to the task of every day living in their artificial world. Their most valuable possession was their distress beacon that sent endless pulses out into space, in hopes of rescue. The colonists have come to call themselves the Technics, and they have been quite amusing to observe ever since, almost worth coming fully awake for.

Now, I know what you’re going to say, “Humans on Druidawn! Why did you let them live? It’s your duty to keep humans away from the planet!” Listen well. The creatures made it clear to the first 22 surface explorers that humans weren’t welcome on Druidawn. The colonists built their home deep under the ground and sealed it off completely from the world above, so this planet is still for the most part human-free. If I cared to, I could cause an earthquake severe enough to crush their little Technic City to dust. But they keep to themselves, and I enjoy watching their fascinating home. The other consideration is that as a rule, I don’t kill. If the magical creatures find the humans, I will be powerless to stop them from destroying their city, but I would never participate in such violence myself.

One incident already put the Technic City in great danger. If anything like this ever happens again, they will be done for. Not long after the city, called “Haven” was established, thirty people, women, men, and children, the original colonists’ second generation, decided that they couldn’t bear life underground any longer. They would have rather died above than live the rest of their days never seeing the sun again. Though Haven has a “sun” of sorts, it’s nothing more than a bright light and an artificial projection, just like the fake moon that rises at night, and the artificial grass that covers the plastic parks. (It’s quite an amazing place they built down there!) The thirty people fought their way to the planet surface and left the Technic City far behind. None of them ever mentioned the underground world again.

The thirty travelers were surprised to encounter no dangerous creatures at first, and they slept under the real stars for many nights and drank in the warmth of the real sun by day, believing that they had truly found paradise. Then one day a terrible disease rapidly killed all ten of the males in the group, leaving the females completely untouched. I didn’t know we had such a disease. Apparently it only affected the human male Y chromosome. It caused rapid cellular disintegration until the males turned to dust. I have since eliminated the virus from the planet, but I’m afraid my actions were too late for the human men. The women and girls were devastated, but their fierce will to survive spurned them onward. Their strength was remarkable. They made a long journey through the forest until they encountered a band of Elves. The women expected to be killed then and there, but a magical thing happened that saved their lives. No, I didn’t have anything to do with it, though it was a certain gift from my people th t spared them. The Orb of Erudition, a glowing ball lifeform, worshipped by the Elves, merged with the leader of the colony women. The orb and the woman became a part of each other, and the Elves immediately believed the women must all be Druids. The Elves welcomed them with reverence into their society.

As more time went by, the Elves built a huge kingdom where they insisted the women live as the highest royalty. Though the women didn’t feel they deserved all the attention they were getting, they played along with the Elves and didn’t deny that they were Druids. They were simply glad to be alive, and to be free of the Technic City. The incredible palace that was built in their honor was a welcome gift, and the women stepped easily into their new roles as the matriarchy of the Elves. To this day, they call their kingdom the Dissenter City, and no Elf has ever questioned why they chose this name.

The Dissenter City is opposite of the Technic City in every way. It is completely without technology, and everything is naturally or magically made. Each city has prospered well in the following centuries. The Technics never venture to the world above, except for the chosen few who change the air and water filters. The Dissenters never speak of the world below that they left behind. The Dissenters’ children have become the “halflings,” half Elf and half human (or half druid as the Elves believe), and the Orb of Erudition chooses the new ruler of the city whenever a queen dies. The members of the Dissenter City have come to have less and less human blood in their veins, but the more “Druid” they are, the more valuable they are considered to be to their kingdom.

Which takes us to the present. This is Druidawn as it is now, darkness and light, the world above and the world below. The realm of magic and the domain of technology, coexisting on the same unique planet. Druidawn is a world without limits. The more you imagine it can be, the more it is. Write it, play it, and watch the magic unfold.

This study group is based on the Life With Principle curriculum which is geared to high school and up but I will adjust as appropriate for participants. Due to mature themes, this study is intended for pre-teens and teens.

This is a continuation of Life With Principle study from Fall 2009. However, newcomers are welcome. Newcomers should borrow my DVD and watch the segments we covered in the Fall and be willing to do some short contemplative and writing assignments and touching base with me in order to acquaint them with this program.

Henry David Thoreau was a writer who lived 150 years ago. He was an open-minded individual who was considered a radical in his time. He went to jail rather than pay taxes supporting a war he believed was unjust. He retreated from society for 2 years to live alone in a small rustic cabin he built by Walden Pond and delve deeply into profound questions about himself, society and life.

This program is based on Thoreau's ideas and questions, and their implications in today's world, but the emphasis is NOT on Thoreau. Instead, the emphasis is on our own lives, the challenges that confront us and the choices we make. Study group leaders will not be taking any particular position on what are sometimes controversial issues but instead will advocate that participants think about these issues and questions and how they are relevant to their own life and today's society.

In this study group we will view the Life With Principle DVD in 10 minute segments over the course of the semester, as a starting point for contemplation, discussion, and activities. The six topic areas are as follows: Hearing That Different Drummer; Being Awake, Aware and Alive; Examining Desperate and Deliberate Lives; Living in Society; Living in Nature; Confronting the Mean and the Sublime. (see website for more details about each of these topics). This semester we will be covering the "Examining...", "Living in Nature", and "Confronting...." segments while incorporating the other three we explored in the Fall.

A sample lesson on "Hearing That Different Drummer" might look something like this: watch video segment that explores what it means to be an individual in today's world and includes interviews with high school students, a minister, an attorney, an activist and a fire-fighter. Think about and discuss questions like, "What are the ramifications of living according to your conscience? What will you need to consider if you intend to stand up for your principles? How are non-conformists viewed in your group, your town, etc.? Are there times when it's admirable to be a conformist?" Homework might include writing a short personal essay about one's own "different drummer" and where the "drumbeat" leads you or an essay about a time in your life when you showed courage that made you proud of yourself, or doing a short research piece on a well-known person who exemplified the kind of moral courage Thoreau celebrated, or cutting out magazine ads and analyzing whether each one encourages individualism or the "herd instinct" or something else.

Whales, porpoises, walruses, manatees, otters, and their marine relatives live in a challenging environment. Their biology allows them to function quite happily, though. We will learn about individual animal species and how they live in the oceans, so we will probably cover comparative anatomy (including neuroanatomy, because I always have to throw in some neuroanatomy), a little evolutionary biology, and some environmental science, at least as it relates to habitat. We will study particular animals in-depth as the interests of the participants dictate. We may study international whaling, too.

There are at least two obvious, good field trips that I hope to schedule associated with this study group: one to the New England Aquarium (http://www.neaq.org/index.php), and one to the New Bedford whaling museum (http://www.whalingmuseum.org/).

Interesting link: http://www.theporpoisepage.com/

PLEASE NOTE: I do not believe age or grade level designations are relevant or helpful. What is very important, however, is the desire to learn and a skill level appropriate for learning some fairly intensive biology. Students MUST be willing and able to: ask questions when they're unsure or confused; participate constructively in a group setting. Parents, please discuss with your children what their goals and interests are before registering--unwilling participation will not be any fun for them, their fellow study group members, or me.

The book provides 40 questions and is divided into 4 sections Values, Knowledge, Reality and Critical Thinking.

Some questions presented include: How do you know who your friends are? Is it your duty to give to charity? Are there times when you should be violent? Can another person understand your feelings? Do you perceive things as they are or only as they seem to be? Are you the same person you were five years ago? Can you think about nothing at all?

Each question contains a short reading section, information regarding a philosopher/philosophy, quotes by philosophers, etc. and activity and discussion questions and notes for further thought.

The books keeps the topics interesting and accessible and provides good questions for discussion.

The study group would be for those who enjoy participating in civil discussion and are able to listen respectfully.

We will bake different kinds of pies and eat them. Proceeds from pie sales will go toward the Kiva club after reimbursing Manoj for the ingredients.

This study group will provide an opportunity to discuss current state, national, and international news. Each participant will commit to reading the front page of a major newspaper of their choice (e.g. Boston Globe, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Lowell Sun, Worcester Telegram, or on-line versions of those). Ideally, participants will read the newspaper daily. If participants want to get additional news from television or the radio, that is fine, but we will consistently use papers. We will discuss the news each week in an informal manner. The group leader will guide the discussion in a way that includes multiple points of view, but won't impose her perspective on anyone. Our goal is to treat topics like major conflicts around the globe, climate change, energy costs, the economy and other subjects that arise. We will not focus on primarily sensational news stories, even if they capture the attention of the nation.

Throughout our lives we all want and need to convince and inspire others to do or believe something. This group will help you organize your ideas that you want to convey to others, and be more comfortable and effective in saying them. The topics/skills we will cover (see below) are applicable to every age of learner. Everybody will make a presentation every week and by the end of the season, I guarantee that everyone will be great! I have run this group with homeschoolers before and they all practiced and all were wonderful. If there is enough interest (and time), we will also work with some or all of the group on debate.

Here is a rundown of possible goals for the group and range of topics:

Preliminary Goals for the Group (list to be developed by the group):

Build speaking and general confidence

Public speaking basics

Organize what you want to say

Improve the art and skill of speaking

Learn to speak more elegantly

Brevity

Separating emotion from logic

Practice extemporaneous speaking

Learn how one sounds

Improve listening skills

Learn critical listening skills

Learn how to critique arguments

Learn to recognize & avoid “ad hominem” and tautological arguments

More generally:

Practice at establishing personal goals

Become more organized

Learn research skills

Improve logical thinking

Possible Topics:

Types of speaking and debate: Informational, persuasive, consensus building

Types of statements & arguments, Evidence v. opinion

Thinking about your audience

Research!

Organizing your ideas

Stating the goals of your talk in the beginning

Approaches to organizing ideas: Chronological, general to specific, weakest to strongest, mixed

Transitions from one thought to another

Logic and emotion balance

Refining, editing and summarization:

Vocabulary choices

Quotes

Recognizing and avoiding tautological and ad homanim arguments

Visual and other aids

Great listening

Focus on speakers

Note taking

Techniques and use of active listening

Elements of formal debate (if desired):

Teamwork

Timing in a debate

Organizing your resources

Rebuttal

Ethics of speaking and debate

Speaking confidence

The ”Act” of speaking: mental focus, body position, eyes, breathing, How I sound?, How do I look?

Consensus building

Other public speaking formats: extemporaneous, expository

Please note: The fee is based on 20 hours. In addition to the regular study group time slot, there will be 2 additional rehearsals during club time and a 2-hour rehearsal on the Sunday before the final performance.

We'll also cover some hand sewing techniques; for easy repairs on socks, jackets, skirts; repair buttons, hems, etc...

1. Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy Review: Possibly reviewing anatomy and physiology with a game, possibly with a project involving 3-d construction with candy or with fruit. Very amusing and also educational. Starting with anatomy is sort of a trial by fire but I think that a fundamental knowledge of anatomy is pretty important to understand many other concepts.

2. HIV 101 and STD Risk Reduction: Basics of HIV with an eye to the next class with an HIV+ speaker. Also an interactive activity about risk factors.

3. HIV+ speaker: We work with PERY speakers (Positive Educators Reaching Youth) to bring a personal story to HIV education. We work with many speakers with diverse stories but all are amazingly powerful and inspirational. This may also encompass personal experiences with addiction, abuse and other risk increasing factors but is delivered in an age-appropriate and personal manner. (If we decide to do this I will strongly encourage all interested parties to attend.)

4. Protection- Birth Control and STD prevention: Familiarize participants with all methods of pregnancy prevention and risk reduction. Hands-on and factual, non-judgmental, I strongly believe that all people should be reasonably well educated about these methods, whether they plan to use them or not.

5. Sex, Consent and the Law: Discuss consent, assault, age of consent, statutory rape, “sexting” and liability for STD transmission in the form of several local and recent court cases. Possible mock trials.

6. Sex, Gender and Sexual Orientation: Discuss the definitions of Biological Sex, Gender, Gender Role, and Sexual Orientation and how these categories may fail to live up to our preconceived ideas about them.

7. Relationships, Communication and Decision-making: Angle on this discussion heavily depends on group needs.

Google SketchUp is a free drawing/drafting/rendering computer program that is fast becoming a standard in the field. This SketchUp Studio study group will be a chance to develop SketchUp projects and share techniques with other users. The goals of the study group is to increase your skill in using the program and to complete a major (major for you, that is) SketchUp project. It would also be great if we could all come out of our learning together with improved collaboration skills.

While we welcome EVERY level of users, to get the most out of the study group, please start doing SketchUp now before the group begins. Down load SketchUp at http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/ If you have never used the program, take the nice free online tutorials, including the one about using the online "warehouse" of objects.

Participants are expected to work respectfully and cooperatively as a team. While some of the project work will be done through group brainstorming and consensus building, each participant will be responsible to complete a different task when we implement the group’s plan. In the first two sessions, we will choose as a group the level of effort we wish to spend on the project, ranging from simple and predominantly achievable during the study group meeting periods, or more sophisticated - requiring the participants to work outside the meeting time on model and set building, writing, and scoring.

Participants having a wide range of skill levels ranging from lower to upper elementary are invited to join, as a wide range of tasks need to be undertaken representing different skill sets (e.g., set design and build, scripting, technical implementation).

We'll discuss the book and do an activity.

Through hands-on activities, reading, and discussion, we will explore the origins of complexity.

We will start by building a thermostatically-controlled heated box, and then jointly explore ways of controlling the inevitable temperature fluctuations that occur in such systems. We will progress to a general study of complex systems including computers, biological systems, and economies. To learn about business cycles, the group will run a simulation of an economy.

The discussions should be suitable for participants with a wide range of previous experience. There will be no restrictions on age or level. However, much of the material studied would be suitable for a college seminar.

We will be using a good deal of material from this book:
"Complexity: A Guided Tour" by Melanie Mitchell. I recommend it highly.

Additional materials (reading, building, etc.) will be provided by the instructor.

Members who want to learn (or already can do) layout and design are encouraged to join! (As in, I'm begging you!)

We're going to cover United States History from pre-Columbian times through the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. Each week, we'll meet for an hour, exploring particular themes and periods. In the half hour after it, those who wish to do the AP in US History will stick around to go deeper and do more work.

There will be a fair amount of reading and some project work - with more and higher expectations for the AP level participants.

You can already write; how do you become a better writer? What makes good writing, anyway? What can you learn from past masters of the art while still retaining your own voice? What does that have to do with academic writing (and do we even care)? We will use our time this semester to try and find out, by practicing as much as possible. I will introduce (or possibly repeat, if we've worked together before) a number of different techniques for working around writer's block, and will also suggest ways of creating variety in your work. I tend to focus on helping writers become more aware of structural choices in written work, and on guiding greater precision with language. I will provide writing exercises, samples of different technical choices, and (occasionally) (if you are very good) (and I don't forget) cookies. Nothing is so terrible that a good cookie can't make it a little better.

Expectations: This is not intended to be a first introduction to structured writing. Accordingly, participants will have some experience with writing, preferably for an academic audience, and will have discovered their own areas of difficulty. I intend to address those difficulties to the extent possible. Please expect to write during group time every week, and come prepared and equipped to do so. More extended pieces will require work outside study group time; participants should therefore also expect to do some writing and reading on their own time. I am happy to work with students individually as time allows, or answer questions via email.

I am presently investigating the possibility of getting outside presenters in for a couple of nature presentations. The cost would be split among whomever wanted to attend. We might also attend a presentation at Harvard Museum of Natural History (this would be on a Saturday morning most likely).

This study group is intended to be a discussion. Each participant is welcome to bring ideas and questions, and is expected to help find answers, examples, and information.

For example, when we talk about headlines and how they are used to direct opinions, participants should bring something that has caught their attention. When we discuss forms, we will need items that can be filled out, such as driver's license applications, 1040EZs, or job applications. If we talk about formal or traditional events (such as weddings), participants can bring in examples in which they are interested, and do the research to find out what appropriate attire and behavior would be.

Participants may use this group as an opportunity to create a personal folder for themselves with items such as their birth certificates, Social Security numbers, and medical histories. (Blank forms can be shared, but private information is not to be turned in!)

Possible topics:
- How to check validity of sources.
- How to read headlines.
- How to identify biases or agendas.
- Getting your message across.
- Following instructions.
- Email literacy.
- Online communication.
- When & how to double-check yourself.
- How to survive lectures.
- How to fill in a survey or application.
- How to take a multiple choice test.
- Paperwork for traveling abroad.
- How to get road service.
- What is required or expected at special events - cultural, religious, traditional...
- Personal paperwork - birth certificates, travel documents, medical histories.
- Dealing with sticky situations (and using poker faces).
- Types of literacy (cultural, critical, functional...).
- How jobs are advertised. Headhunters. Resumes.
- How gambling works, and lotteries.
- How not to be scammed.
- How to differentiate between cause & effect and correlation.

As I created this list, and brainstormed about it with others, I also jotted down many topics that relate to personal finances. We could and may discuss some of these during this group, especially those which are currently important to participants. However, I believe it would be useful to have another study group in the future that would be focused just on these topics.

Personal finance topics - maybe another group:
- Bank fees.
- ATM fees.
- Loans - simple interest vs. amortized. "Zero Down" loans. Fees.
- Mortgages. PMI.
- Credit card interest & fees. Cash out fees & interest.
- Credit card "rewards".
- Credit versus debit cards.
- Store credit cards.
- Building a personal credit rating.
- Memberships & ski passes - yearly fees, extra fees, cost vs usage patterns.