May Term 2026 Catalog

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 The educational objective for the course is to learn how to play tennis and information that is associated with playing tennis. This course will mostly be a hands-on / participation course with some traditional lectures.

In this course, we will study the nature of humanity by analyzing non-human characters in the Star Trek universe. Each day we will analyze a different character and discuss how that character’s experience describes the human condition. Characters we will study include Spock, Data, Q, Seven of Nine, Odo, Worf, The Doctor, the Borg, and even computer technology. The culminating activity for this course will be a brief essay describing how one of the character’s portrayal answers the central question, What does it mean to be human?

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.

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.

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!

Murder, Mystery, & Mishap is a course that deep-dives into crime-solving. How crime-solving tends to occur, the methods and procedures real investigators use, and further discussions on technologies to analyze evidence are all part of the course, including engaging with guest speakers from the Ball State University and the Muncie Community involved in criminal investigations or investigative education. Another part of this course is solving fictional mysteries and crimes via an immersive open-world board game, Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. The final project of this may-term is for each group to choose 1 case they solved to orchestrate a “mock trial.” They will present their case, the evidence they used to draw their conclusions, and create a skit of questioning “witnesses,” “suspects,” and other parties in their case, played by members of each group. The Jury are the rest of the class, Dr. Hook is the judge, and they will decide if the evidence was sufficient for a conviction…or not. And if so, what the punishment shall be!

Refight the critical battles of the American Revolution with tabletop miniature soldiers and diorama terrain. During the first week, students will learn about the armies and battles of the Revolutionary War, time will be spent in building the terrain for the tabletop war-games, and assembling the diorama for our first war-game. The second week students will be using model soldiers and the tabletop dioramas to refight the chosen battles of the war.

Immerse yourself in a hands-on, creative experience as you construct your own projects with various built-it sets and materials, design and construct Rube Goldberg machines with a partner, and create with your classmates a big box maze which other Academy students will have an opportunity to go through. So, fire up your imagination, find your hidden architect, and hone your mechanical skills. No previous experience with any of these things is required—just enthusiasm, a desire to learn and create, and an interest in being a part of unique, collaborative projects. All the work will be done during class time, so this course will have no homework.

Journey on adventures both real and imagined at Indiana parks. Hiking scenic vistas, we will unearth the artistic muse of the fascinating outdoor world to discover how creativity and philosophy bloom from nature. We will read about the poetic beauty of trees in the shade of mighty oaks, skip rocks on rivers to ponder spatial theories about waterways, and march past marshes to reimagine the music of birds and insects in our own language. This interdisciplinary course encourages an intellectual synthesis of detailed observation and deep thought to produce academic and artistic expression. (Assignments involving hiking, nature journaling, reading short scientific texts, reading poetry and philosophy, short writings, and general discussion).

In 2026, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of American Independence. No document impacted the beliefs and career of Abraham Lincoln as much as the Declaration. We will study the ideas and the values of the Declaration and the speeches and writings that illuminate how its ideals shaped Lincoln’s thinking and action. We will visit the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne to examine manuscripts, newspapers, and ephemera related to Lincoln and journey to Springfield, IL to explore the Presidential Library and museum, Lincoln family home, and burial site at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The class will culminate with a student produced oral history performance for the Academy community, school groups, and the general public that highlights the Declaration’s impact on Lincoln. This class is a once-in-a-250-year opportunity and it will be EPIC!

This course will focus primarily on French speculative fiction and film, including horror films and short stories, post-apocalyptic and dystopian films, and science fiction films. The first week will be devoted to watching and discussing films. In the second week, students will discuss both horror films and short stories. We will be focusing on stories by Maupassant and other nineteenth century horror writers. This course is open to all students, including those who have not studied French. We will be reading the stories in English translation and the films are subtitled.

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.

The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss have generated deep concern worldwide. Various approaches have been suggested for addressing these problems. This course will examine available data on nature-based solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. This will entail use of publicly accessible databases and software, data compilation, analysis, and writing. Students should bring a laptop to class each day. It is recommended that each student have an actual laptop computer rather than an iPad or other mobile device.