Class Updates, November 2024-January 2025
American Popular Music (fka History of Rock and Roll) (Melanie)
Since the beginning of November we have been watching documentaries and clips from TV programs and classic Hollywood films including: Hitsville: The Making of Motown; The Judy Garland Show Christmas Special; and Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark. To reflect our changing focus from the history of rock and roll to a broader survey of American popular music we have changed the name of the class.
Big Topics Book Club (Ellen)
We’ve read through Chapter 10 (Punishment) in The 1619 Project and continue to dive deep each week with this small but mighty group. The material is heavy and challenging, and the students have been bringing their full honesty and feeling to each discussion.
The Body (Josh)
Depending on who is present on a given day, we've been taking deeper dives into various topics, primarily by watching videos, about the Ear, the Immune System, the Gut, the Mammalian Diving Instinct, Breath and Optimal Snowboarding Balance.
Bread (Loran)
In this period, zooming from our respective homes, we have made Soft Pretzels, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, Pita, Cranberry Eggnog Bread, Cinnamon Star Bread, Orange Bread with Fresh Orange Syrup, Focaccia, and Blueberry Scones. We continue to alternate weekly between yeast breads and quick breads, and our recipe choices are often influenced by holidays and seasonally available ingredients.
Environmental Art and the Human Body (Emily)
Recent projects in Environmental Art and the Human Body include sculptural renditions of seashells using chicken wire and choice of clay or papier mache; tracing sections of brain cells, river patterns, tree/root systems, and plant cells into a 2D collage using ink or charcoal; and making small-scale sculptures using snow and ice in a study of ephemeral art.
Exploring the Voice in Writing (Airlie)
We have used the phenomenon of voice in writing as a central theme to explore topics like: written style, genre, scientific research, hypothesis testing, neurodiversity, and the challenges of accurately describing what is happening in the mind of another person. The class primarily consists of hands-on activities followed by class discussions. Students enjoyed completing psychological questionnaires that allowed us to discuss variation in the ways they experience the sound of text when reading silently. Recently, we’ve been paying careful attention to nuances of written style and interrogating the concept of authorial voice by challenging the students to try to tell the difference between human and AI authorship. This activity opened the door to conversations about the mechanisms behind Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT as well as GPTZero (a commonly used AI text detector).
Financial Literacy (Melanie)
Since November we have investigated the costs of things such as rent, cars, phone plans, etc as well as salaries for various jobs in order to create a hypothetical budget for a 25-year old. Before the winter break, we watched a clip from the 1967 heist comedy “Who’s Minding the Mint” and used it as a jumping off point for a discussion of our monetary system and how money is created through lending. The movie also inspired some class members to create a game of vault/fortress vs thieves. Two teams were given a budget and soon will face off in a D&D-esque type game. Those members who chose not to work on the game have been studying the compound interest formula and how credit cards work.
Fire Class (Tell Your Story) (Josh)
The challenge this dry and then cold winter has been to find good conditions for a fire, and a critical mass of students to make and tend the fire. Lately, there are a number of students who have helped gather wood and kindling and helped to
keep the fire going and chit chat each Friday morning.
Free your Mind (Saleem)
Every week in meditation class we experience a unique guided meditation based around mindfulness, stress reduction and present awareness. Most of the time is spent following the guided meditation with a curated selection of ambient soundscapes to promote a peaceful atmosphere. At the end of each session we reflect and share insights on our experience together.
Geometry (Josh)
In the past few months, I've returned to a lecture approach, touching on topics such as Astronomy, Number Theory, Prime Factorization, Shapes and Proportion. The concept of "proofs" has been introduced and demonstrated with respect to Pythagorean Theorem and some basic Geometric Axioms.
Hands-on Science (Melanie)
We continued working on our baking soda and vinegar rockets until the weather prevented us from launching. Then we did the elephant toothpaste experiment (decomposition of hydrogen peroxide) and compared the gas produced (oxygen) with the gas produced from mixing baking soda and vinegar (carbon dioxide) both practically and by examining the chemical equations for the reactions. By request we made slime using various ingredients. Also, by request, we did the floating candle experiment and discussed air pressure. After that we began an investigation into color by performing paper chromatography using sharpies and dry erase markers. We will continue doing short units of hands-on investigations until the weather improves and we can return to launching our rockets.
Hiking Group (Loran)
During this period, our hikes included McLeod Pond and South Catamount Road Loop, Sunderland Caves and Sugar Shack, Sunderland Town Park, Greene Swamp via Robert Frost Trail, Mt. Warner, MacLeish Field Station (West Loop to East Loop), Roberts Hill Conservation Area, Briar Hill Conservation Area, Beaver Brook (North-South and Lookout Trail Loop), and Sachem Head. Earlier in this reporting period we averaged 7-15 hikers, and as the weather grew colder our group dwindled to 3-6 rugged hikers each week.
Lunch Class (Ellen)
November to January Lunch Class made: Sheet Pizzas, Mee Goreng, Chili & Cornbread, Roasted Brussel Sprouts & Sweet Potatoes, Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup, Toasted Burritos, Rapid “Risotto,” Macaroni & Cheese, and Smoothie Bowls. What a wild ride it’s been! When every blender and processor broke down early on in our Smoothie class, we had to mince and mash by hand; students were patient and courageous and reported that when mixed with the granola it was like eating hearty yogurt. This class has come a long way in working well together as a team, from first prep to last clean-up!
Miniature Painting (Aaron)
We've built up a sizable group of regulars who anchor our classes. Classes are energetic and supportive, with lots of friendly chatting while everyone works on their individual projects. Everyone has a great understanding of our shared values and is good about cleaning up after themselves and taking good care of our supplies. Many painters are starting to step out of their comfort zones and experiment with different techniques.
Montague Sing (Josh)
Two or three students have been joining me every week for a jaunt over to Montague Common to sing with folks who have been coming out every day - rain, shine, cold, whatever! - since the pandemic began to sing and be in community with one another. The welcome North Star students have received has been heartwarming.
Mysteries of the Mind and Spirit (Ann)
Mysteries of Mind and Spirit continues to explore various topics relating to self-knowledge and developing intuition and self confidence. This semester so far we are studying the concepts of yin/yang and using Tarot interpretations to deepen intuitive skills.
Open Maker Room (Melanie)
This class is an opportunity for members to use all the resources in the maker room for their own projects and enjoyment. Some of the things teens have done include: woodworking, making armor and weapons out of foam core and cardboard, fabric painting, crochet, beading, working with wax, and electronics.
A People’s History (Adrie)
People's History has begun studying the history of Russia, starting with pre-Russia and moving towards the Russian Revolution and then onwards to our contemporary moment. Prior to the break, we learned about the (often surprising!) history of Christmas. Students continue to guide this class through their interests and requests.
Psychology (Ken)
We have been progressing through an introduction to various fields, most recently Social Psychology and the classic experiments of Asch, Milgrim, and Zimbardo. Now we will move on to neuroscience, mental health diseases and disorders, and treatments.
Rhythm (Josh)
A half hour of playing a drum with a group. We start in silence, and whoever feels moved begins making sound. The pieces increasingly gel, develop and come to their own conclusions in a natural way. Five students attended last week's class; the group is making lovely music and learning by doing.
RPG Adventures (Aaron)
Our rotating group of players have tried several role-playing games, including storytelling game The Quiet Year, fantasy actioner Draw Steel, bear caper comedy Honey Heist, steampunk crime drama Blades in the Dark, and superhero adaptation Marvel Multiverse. I've enjoyed telling stories with a variety of different players in a variety of different narrative sandboxes.
Scene on Radio (Ellen)
We have been steadily making our way through Season 2 “Seeing White” (only 2 episodes of that season to go!) and students have been attentive and honestly reflective in each class. The material is challenging and each week students show up for it fully.
Service Trip to Washington, DC (Loran)
During this time period, each member of our group made at least one researched presentation on topics from DC landmarks to characteristics of the town where we’ll be staying in our Air BnB (a Virginia suburb). We prepared for and held a major fundraising bake sale and silent auction. Members of the group have taken individual responsibility for tasks such as renting a minivan, reserving an Air BnB, contacting members of Congress, and planning our volunteer shifts in cooperation with DC nonprofits.
Shut Up & Write (Aaron)
Our group continues to be small but dedicated. I enjoy kicking off my North Star week with other motivated writers!
Social Issues (Ken)
This is a tough time for most of us following the news. So much is happening so quickly, particularly with the new Presidential administration. How much of it is legal? How much of it will last? How can we know what is going on, and what are some of our options in response? Can we find a “Hero of the Week?” Meanwhile, what is happening around the world? And locally?
The Star Wars Empire (Aaron)
We finished the original Star Wars films and moved on to the prequels of the early 2000s, discussing their impact on popular culture and the ways in which they were shaped by the political context of the time. We have now moved into Disney's modern era of Star Wars films, beginning with 2015's The Force Awakens, and the underpinning metanarrative around nostalgia for the original films.
Take a Picture (Saleem)
In photography class we've discussed the basic elements of composition, framing, light, space and balance. We've also done a range of activities from nature photo walks to viewing documentaries about public art and street photography. Most recently we've begun a unit on stop motion animation and are working on developing imaginative characters and capturing unique narratives.
The 20th Century (Josh)
We've been working through the 20th century, decade by decade. The past few months focused on the 30s, 40s and 50s. Primarily we've used Peter Jennings' 20th Century documentary series, with diversions into politics and culture (videos and lecture).
Volunteering at Amherst Survival Center (Loran)
We continue to have a strong and committed group of volunteers representing North Star at Amherst Survival Center every Friday morning. We typically start the day outside, preparing fresh food for distribution. After unloading the donations van, we divide ourselves into different stations (bread and desserts, vegetables, fruit) and sort through boxes of donated food, organizing and shelving it in the outside distribution shed. Several from our group work inside bagging fresh muffins and pastries. If we finish before the end of our shift, we all move inside to assist with miscellaneous pantry jobs. Because we have a large number of volunteers and limited car space, our teens often returned to North Star independently as a group on the bus at the end of the shift.