May Term 2025 Catalog

This course will provide a brief introduction to issues dealing with the Appalachian region, particularly Southern and Central Appalachia. This course will focus primarily on how the region has been perceived in American popular culture through film. Students will acquire an understanding of the important issues of Appalachian history, as well as an understanding of the popular perception of the region.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

This May Term experience will explore the mathematics and problem solving strategies that are incorporated in the playing, and hopefully winning of board games. A variety of problem solving strategies in addition to mathematical concepts will be studied and applied in the board games chosen for this two week adventure. Included among these are optimization strategies, cooperative game strategies, risk vs. reward strategies, deductive reasoning, spatial orientation, and graph theory.

We will meet as a group 3 hours a day; you will independently meet 3 hours per day and keep a log of the time spent playing the games. Each individual will be required to submit a 2-page report on one of his or her favorite games played during the week. In this report, you should include a brief description of the game itself, why you liked playing the game, and explanation of the math and/or problem solving strategies you and others used to try to win the game, and which strategies seemed to be successful and which ones were not.

Do you want to learn how to play tennis? The goal of this class is designed for students with no previous tennis experience. Students will learn how to play tennis, basic tennis strokes, information on the history of tennis and famous tennis players. Participants will need to bring a tennis racquet and two NEW cans of tennis balls

Please see the Indiana Academy website for the requirements and application for a May Term Internship. Follow the directions and remember you still need to submit your Course Request Form along with the May Term Internship application materials. Please direct any questions about May Term Internships to Dr. Joel Olufowote in WA 172 and the completed application forms need to be submitted to Ms. Candace Manship in WA 170.

Follow the adventures of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men in a timeless narrative of friendship, duty and the cataclysmic struggle of good versus evil as envisioned by the world-renowned Oxford professor and fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien. Students will study Tolkien’s life and influences on his thinking, read and discuss The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy, and compare his works to Peter Jackson’s Hollywood adaptions.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

This course is an introduction to French cinema. We will watch films representing a variety of time-periods, subjects, and genres. Directors may include Cocteau, Godard, Truffaut, Marker, Malle, Palcy, Denis, Berri, Jeunet, Boon, and others. I anticipate that we will watch about 10 films and discuss them. This is a discussion-based class. The students will analyze and compare French films, learn about French culture, present information and arguments, write response papers, and participate in discussions. No previous experience in French is required for the class.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

A basic understanding of the evolution of electronic devices and computer systems is essential in today’s world considering the impact of computers. This course will look at the basics of digital technology and how the electronic technology has shifted from analog systems to digital systems. Although much of the current technology is based on digital electronics, analog electronics have some advantages over analog technologies. The course explores the transformation from analog to digital systems with a focus on the applications of Logic Gates as the building blocks for digital circuits. In addition, students will get a hands-on experience in designing basic electronic circuits using breadboards and electronic components. This will give the students an understanding of how technology has evolved from analog to digital, provide the opportunity to relate digital electronics to real-life experiences, and the opportunity to design an electronic device.

Students will learn about the systematics, morphology, physiology, behavior, and ecology of birds. Classes include lectures, lab exercises, and field trips. In lab, we will examine bird specimens. On field trips, we will learn to identify local bird species by sight and sound, and we observe their behavior in the wild. Several fieldtrips will involve the systematic collection of data to answer questions of interest concerning the behavior and ecology of wild birds. Three-hour sessions each morning, with two four-hour sessions for field excursions.

Do you enjoy participating in soccer matches? Do you enjoy following soccer? Do you enjoy debating and discussing soccer matches? Have you ever wished you could play soccer like a global icon but were never given the opportunity? This is your moment to express your opinions. This course aims to teach students, regardless of prior soccer experience, the fundamentals of the game and how to use fundamental statistical concepts to evaluate each game. Together with your peers, you will observe previous soccer matches, collect data, and then debate and evaluate the different variables you have collected data on. You will examine the data collected during each game using straightforward but relevant graphical representations. Less work will be assigned outside of class unless students are unable to finish a particular assignment.

Adventure Korean Cultural Class is designed for students who are interested in Korean culture or Asian culture in general. Since the class is taught in English, all students are welcome. This class provides rich opportunities to experience cultural activities such as K-food, K-movies, and traditional Korean music. In a K-food class, they explore the characteristics of Korean food and cook some Korean food. They learn Korean dining etiquette by eating the food they prepare. Every Friday, students enjoy selected Korean movies that reflect Korean society and Korean people. Discover the wonders of Korea at the Indiana Academy for a full-immersion cultural experience!

Let’s Fly is an inter disciplinary team-taught exploration of the science, engineering, and joy of human flight. The class is a hands-on exploration of the human fascination with flying. Class activities include literary conversations, creative writing, and the construction of actual flight of kite and flying model airplanes. Some days will be spent building kites or planes; some days writing poems; and other days will be spent letting creations soar.

This course will take a deep dive into Alcott’s classic Little Women (1868) and its varied adaptations with a focus on the material conditions impacting Alcott’s writing process. Keeping in mind the fact that Alcott described Little Women as “moral pap for the young” that she wrote to financially support her family, the course will also highlight a selection of short stories she published before Little Women became a bestseller. Course films include clips from the 2019, 1994, and 1933 adaptations of Little Women, and short stories will include selections from Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott (1975). Students will also participate in discussions involving the historical contexts and literary themes presented in the writing and film adaptations.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

This course will analyze modern films to identify fallacies and inaccuracies in scientific concepts that permeate the storylines. Students will conduct guided discussions after viewing the films and compose essays to demonstrate their comprehension and evaluation of underlying scientific concepts. Students will be assigned daily writing prompts after viewing films such as Avatar, Jurassic Park, and Gattaca.

This course will include researching academic materials, interviews, and media sources to explore an aspect of safety or sustainability in IndyCar. Students will discuss their findings related to safety and sustainability and have a chance to take a field trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During the tour, students will get a chance to see the IMS environmental initiatives and the garage of one of the racing teams where they will explain the safety systems and equipment currently in use. Students will then present on their findings related to the topics researched.

This course examines the folklore surrounding legendary and mythical creatures throughout Latin America and the cultural and societal roles that they play. As part of this course, students will engage with these monstrous creatures through readings, videos, classroom discussions, as well as reflective, analytical and creative writing. By the end of this course, students will be able to reflect upon myths and legends in tier own cultures and compare and contrast them with those in Latin America. Students will be able to create and write about their own monster and its corresponding legends.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

In this course, students will engage in fictional crime solving in Sherlock Homes game setting. Students will also watch crime solving movies and tv shows. Students will engage in a who-done-it live-action pursuit against the clock that includes other students in the course. As part of the discussions of the course, the class will learn, debate, and research how real crimes are solved, what equipment is used, and what types of protocols are in place to ensure conviction. Students will also reflect on how their problem-solving skills adapt over time to the different fictional cases they solve.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

Students will read anthologized short stories and poetry from Poe, as well as present-day tales of terror inspired by Poe outside of class. Inside the classroom, students will view films and television shows that adapt Poe’s works, that were heavily inspired by Poe’s stories, or even media that features Poe as a character. The course will be a blend of traditional lecture and content with hands-on participation.

Note: This course will require parental permission from every enrolled student. Films/books/and classroom discussion may contain adult content in some form, whether it be violence, sex, drugs, language, or all the above. Even if the student is 17 or 18, parental permission will be required. Students will receive permission forms soon after enrollment is approved.

In this course, students will be exposed to the world of international politics and governance by role-playing country positions on a variety of global matters and concerns. As a country official and Unites Nations delegate, students will utilize their diplomatic influence as a world leader to bring solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Students will also expand their global knowledge, hone their research, writing, and critical thinking skills, debate, negotiate all while considering ethical, humanitarian solutions to complex problems.

This course will entail a mixture of film viewing, discussion, and in-class readings all related to the Cold War. Students will gain an understanding of how the US viewed the Soviet Union and East Germany as political threats to its government. Students will explore how various themes relate to the Cold War are depicted in American films through the decades of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.