Fall+2012+Seminar+Descriptions

American Sign Language 101 (Dabbs) This seminar will examine and utilize the American Sign Language alphabet, number system, and a multitude of simple signs and phrases. This seminar is perfect for students who wish to study sign language in college, have a friend or relative who communicates in ASL, scuba divers, or friends who just want their own special language. Come join the quietest seminar yet! Becoming Human (Nettuno) At 7 billion people and counting, the human population is very diverse, yet you might be more closely related than you think. Recent discoveries have been transforming our understanding of our human origins. Explore the science evidence and the controversy behind the origin of modern humans. Brain Drain (Dabbs) Do you like puzzles? This is a chance to challenge your brain! Brain teasers and puzzles galore.

College Selection (Moeller)

Is that college choice looming ahead of you? Does it seem like a daunting task? In College Selection you will explore your options, hone your application skills, determine college costs, and learn about scholarship opportunities. Come join us and make a college choice that is a good fit for you and your personal goals.

Crafts of the World (Moeller)

Crafts are often an outgrowth of culture in a country or region, and many require precision, forethought, and even mathematical skill! We will try out origami, crocheting, pop-up books, and even explore the science of paper airplane-making. Once you’ve practiced each of these, you will design and complete a larger project using one or more of the techniques. You may even have gifts for family ready for the holidays!

Future Problem Solvers (Nettuno)

Future Problem Solvers is a national competitive organization that allows teams to find the most creative solutions to all sorts of real world problems. Come and see how your ideas stack up against others’! Ghost Hunters (Shackelford) The hit Sci Fi series Ghost Hunters and A&E’s Psychic Kids bring serious credibility to ghost hunting! We’ll look at techniques and methods used in the hit show as well as look at Roswell’s paranormal activity. We’ll have a guest speaker from Roswell’s own Paranormal investigators with recordings of real EVPs, and ghost hunting equipment as well as go on the Roswell Ghost Tour. The History of College Football (Shackelford)

From a soccer-style ball and a huge field of 120 yards to Doug Flutie and the Hail Mary pass to Herschel Walker and the Georgia Bulldogs to the BCS busting Boise State comeback over Oklahoma, we’ll follow the polls week by week. We’ll study individual positions, equipment advances, styles of defense and offensive (from the spread to the A-11), rules and regulations, and coaching philosophies. Students will pick a team and make a presentation at the end of the seminar explaining traditions and styles of play. It’s time for college football!!!

I Always Wanted to Know That (Various) Come to TAG and finally get a chance to study a topic that has intrigued you for years. The topics are limitless for this! You design this yourself or with a group of friends, including projects that will help you learn the material and show the group what you have done. Inside Link to the Outside World (Light) Take this seminar in order to learn about a variety of career options and create an employability portfolio. Although this seminar is required for any future TAG internship, it is an excellent seminar for any student who will be entering a competitive university or a professional career area. This seminar is not recommended for 9th grade students.

Let the Hunger Games Begin (Kouns) Are you hungry for more of The Hunger Games? We will undertake a study of the politics, mythology, and ethics behind The Hunger Games novel series. Students will engage in research, discussion, and presentation of elements from each of the novels; compare written texts to film texts; and compare popular literary archetypes to traditional ones.

Presidents and Their Election (Moeller) This is a presidential election year! That means there’s no better time to study the election process, current and previous candidates and look into factors that lead to a candidate’s election or defeat. We’ll review the electoral college and make our own predictions about which states will go for Obama and Romney. Of course, we’ll have plenty of time to study current issues in the campaign and take a stand on them.

Recycle Challenge! (Nettuno) Bring it! Design it! Build it! Each week you and your team will test your creativity and ingenuity against your classmates in unique challenges that require you to find a new use for your priceless garbage. Win points for your team as you reduce your carbon footprint. Science & Engineering Fair (Nettuno) Do you have a hypothesis? A driving desire to invent something to solve the world’s problems, or increase our knowledge of the world? Categories include, but are not limited to, Animal Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Medicine and Health Services, Microbiology, Engineering, Environmental Science/Management, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Chemistry, etc. Learn strategies to enhance your project and turn your idea into reality.

Show Me the Money (Kouns) What are you going to do with your next dollar? If you want to have more money than your parents ever dreamed of, take advantage of your best resource: time. Learn how to turn today’s dollars into millions over your lifetime with investments in the stock market. Create a portfolio of companies worth your investing dollars.

Wild Things (Light) Explore exotic wild animals from other continents through a virtual safari. We will study interesting and unusual species across the globe – their habitats, traits, and what makes them fascinating. You will pick your favorite one, research it and share your findings. Into the wild we go!